From the Pit to the Palace: Seeing Christ in Joseph

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Today, I want to talk about something that's very near and dear to my heart, the story of Joseph.
[00:00:08] Now, those of you who have been reading our Bible reading plan, our chronological plan that we gave out at the beginning of the year, they're on the back table if you don't have one.
[00:00:22] It's the Blue Letter Bible Chronological Reading Plan.
[00:00:25] You can download it online for free.
[00:00:27] Today's reading is actually Genesis 38 through 40.
[00:00:32] Well, two of those chapters are the story of Joseph, and yesterday's reading was Genesis 35 through 37.
[00:00:40] 37 begins the story of Joseph.
[00:00:43] So as we're beginning to read the story of Joseph, I felt it would be a good time to have a message on Joseph.
[00:00:51] Joseph, as I've mentioned many times, is the clearest type and foreshadow of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.
[00:00:59] In the Old Testament, we have prophecies like in Isaiah 53 and other places that explicitly talk about Christ coming, about his work, and about his sacrifice and his suffering.
[00:01:12] We have things about his resurrection.
[00:01:15] We have all sorts of explicit prophetic references.
[00:01:19] But there are also types and foreshadowings, individuals in the Old Testament and scenarios of the Old Testament that foreshadow events in the New Testament.
[00:01:32] And haven't we been preaching about that the last couple times in 1 Corinthians?
[00:01:37] Why don't we go to 1 Corinthians 10 just to remind ourselves of a principle there.
[00:01:42] And if you remember, we were preaching about this idea that all that happened in the Exodus and the Jews and coming out of Egypt was all historical and accurate and yet it was also emblematic and foreshadowing pointing forward to what happens to us.
[00:02:00] And without going back through all of that, I just want to show you two verses in that chapter to remind you of this.
[00:02:06] It says in verse 6, Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
[00:02:17] So these Old Testament events were examples for us New Testament believers.
[00:02:24] Okay?
[00:02:25] And that's talking about the Old Testament events of the Exodus.
[00:02:29] Okay?
[00:02:30] And Angelo, by the way, there's a Bible right under your hand if you want it.
[00:02:33] Right where your hand is.
[00:02:35] Right there.
[00:02:35] There's a Bible.
[00:02:37] Also, verse 10, don't you love sitting on the front row?
[00:02:41] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
[00:02:46] Verse 11, Now all these things happened unto them for examples, and look at this, and they are written, this is the Old Testament, for our admonition.
[00:02:59] upon whom the ends of the world are come do you see that so these things in the old testament are true and historical and right and yet god he didn't he didn't write down everything i mean you've got uh you know four thousand years of history from adam and eve until jesus came so obviously we don't have everything so what he chose to write by his spirit is specifically for us to learn from
[00:03:26] and that's what it's saying there also real quickly a parallel passage in first peter just a couple verses to illuminate this thought further in first peter chapter one it's also very explicit in how the old testament is there to teach us in the new testament first first peter chapter one
[00:03:49] verse 10 through 12 notice it says of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you this is old testament prophets searching water what manner of time the spirit of christ which was in them
[00:04:07] did signify when it testified beforehand in the Old Testament the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.
[00:04:16] And here it is, verse 12.
[00:04:18] Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, that is the Old Testament saints,
[00:04:24] But unto us, the New Testament saints, they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things angels desire to look into.
[00:04:39] So what's being said here is that the gospel is not just in the New Testament.
[00:04:44] The gospel is in the Old Testament.
[00:04:46] New Testament Christians can't just throw away the Old Testament.
[00:04:49] As a matter of fact, the Old Testament preaches the gospel just as the New Testament.
[00:04:54] It's just coming at it from a different side.
[00:04:56] The Old Testament looking forward to the Gospel manifest in Christ, New Testament looking back to that Gospel, and then forward to the consummation when the Lord returns.
[00:05:06] So with that in mind, we should find different things in the Old Testament that point us to Christ.
[00:05:12] Yes, there are many prophecies, but there's also types, examples.
[00:05:16] Those words in 1 Corinthians 10, examples, in the Greek is tupos.
[00:05:20] Tupos is from which we derive our word, type.
[00:05:23] and so Joseph is the most complete type of Jesus in the Old Testament and it's really quite amazing we're going to go through a lot of that today and I want you to be amazed at how many ways the story of Joseph looks like the story of Jesus and I want you to be able to appreciate that not only is that not coincidence but God
[00:05:52] shaped history all of history not just israel but egypt and all of the nations in such a way that the very events that he was controlling were all to point to jesus it's a beautiful thing and that's saying jesus who loved us and gave himself for us so let's look at the scripture reading today's reading for those of you who are following our bible reading plan
[00:06:19] is Genesis 38 through 40.
[00:06:22] We're going to read today 37, 39, and 40.
[00:06:28] The story of Joseph actually goes from Genesis 37 to the end of the book of Genesis.
[00:06:35] Joseph and his story take up more space than any other Old Testament patriarch, but there is one interesting
[00:06:45] So from Genesis 37 to Genesis 50, 13 chapters of the story of Joseph.
[00:06:51] it starts in 37 but we're not going to read chapter 38 and the reason is chapter 38 leaves the story of Joseph altogether and recounts an interesting story of Judah and so you go back and read that one of one of Joseph's brethren but we're not going to read that today but what's significant before we do read the story of Joseph what's significant about Judah among the tribes
[00:07:17] Judah is the one through whom the messiah is going to come right all right well let's go to genesis 37 and if you everyone will stay awake and hang with me we're going to read 37 39 and 40. now again the story of joseph goes all the way through 50. we'll just read these three chapters and it'll give us on a good uh footing to understand the story and then i'll summarize the story and then we're going to see
[00:07:43] How many ways, and we're not going to look at all of them today, but how many ways Joseph is a perfect type of Christ.
[00:07:51] And not only are we going to see the amazing correlation, but we're going to be reminded of what that correlation points to about us and what Christ has done for us.
[00:08:01] Genesis chapter 37 beginning in verse 1.
[00:08:04] By the way, who is Joseph's father?
[00:08:08] Jacob.
[00:08:09] And that's why it says Jacob here.
[00:08:10] Genesis 37 verse 1, And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
[00:08:17] These are the generations of Jacob.
[00:08:19] Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives.
[00:08:29] And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
[00:08:33] In other words, Joseph is telling on his brethren.
[00:08:36] His brethren are doing some naughty things.
[00:08:38] Joseph goes back and tells dad.
[00:08:40] Now Israel, who's Israel?
[00:08:44] Jacob.
[00:08:45] Jacob's name is also Israel.
[00:08:47] Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.
[00:08:50] Ah, he's got a favorite.
[00:08:52] Because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors.
[00:08:57] And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.
[00:09:06] and Joseph dreamed a dream and he told it to his brethren and they hated him yet the more and he said unto them here i pray you this dream which i have dreamed for behold we were binding sheaves in the field and lo my sheaf arose and stood upright and behold your sheaves stood round about mine and made obeisance to my sheaf in other words their sheaves bowed down to him
[00:09:31] He's the youngest, right?
[00:09:33] Or the next to the youngest.
[00:09:34] How do you think his older brothers liked this?
[00:09:36] And his brethren said, verse 8 to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us?
[00:09:40] Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?
[00:09:43] And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.
[00:09:47] And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more.
[00:09:53] And behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
[00:09:58] Wow.
[00:09:59] Bow down to Joseph.
[00:10:01] And he told it to his father and to his brethren.
[00:10:04] And his father rebuked him and said unto him, What?
[00:10:06] What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?
[00:10:08] Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
[00:10:14] And his brethren envied him, but his father observed the saying.
[00:10:19] And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
[00:10:24] And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem?
[00:10:29] Come, and I will send thee unto them.
[00:10:32] And he said to him, Here am I.
[00:10:34] And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks, and bring me word again.
[00:10:41] So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
[00:10:44] And a certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field.
[00:10:48] And the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
[00:10:50] He said, I seek my brethren.
[00:10:52] Tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
[00:10:54] And the man said, They are departed hence, for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan.
[00:10:59] And Joseph went after his brethren and found them in Dothan.
[00:11:03] By the way, Pastor Andy is born in Dothan.
[00:11:06] That is Dothan, Alabama.
[00:11:07] And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
[00:11:15] So his brothers said, let's kill our brother.
[00:11:17] Let's kill Joseph.
[00:11:18] and they said one to another behold this dreamer cometh come now therefore and let us slay him and cast him into some pit and we will say some evil beast has devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams and Reuben the oldest heard it and he delivered him out of their hands and said let us not kill him and Reuben said unto them shed no blood but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again
[00:11:48] and it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren that they stripped Joseph out of his coat his coat of many colors that was on him they took him cast him into the pit and the pit was empty there was no water in it and they sat down to eat bread and they lifted up their eyes and looked and behold a company of ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh going to carry it down to Egypt
[00:12:13] And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?
[00:12:19] Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.
[00:12:25] And his brethren were content.
[00:12:27] Then there passed by Midianites, merchantmen, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
[00:12:40] So they sold their brother as a slave.
[00:12:43] And Reuben returned unto the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit, and he rent, or tore his clothes.
[00:12:49] And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not, and whither shall I go?
[00:12:52] And they took Joseph's coat, and they killed a kid of the goats, and they dipped the coat in blood.
[00:12:59] And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said,
[00:13:04] This have we found.
[00:13:06] Know now whether or not it be thy son's coat.
[00:13:09] And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat.
[00:13:12] An evil beast hath devoured him.
[00:13:14] Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
[00:13:17] and Jacob rent his clothes and put on sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days and all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him but he refused to be comforted and said for I will go down unto the grave and to my son mourning thus his father wept for him and the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh's and captain of the guard
[00:13:46] So here's the first part of the story of Joseph.
[00:13:49] Joseph being hated by his brethren and envied, sold as a slave.
[00:13:55] They were going to kill him.
[00:13:56] They sell him as a slave.
[00:13:57] He ends up as a slave in Egypt, and he's in Potiphar's house.
[00:14:02] Now chapter 38 is an interesting insertion of a story about Judah.
[00:14:06] Go home and read that.
[00:14:08] But let's pick up the story in chapter 39, verse 1.
[00:14:11] So Joseph's in Egypt.
[00:14:13] What happens next?
[00:14:14] Verse 1 of 39, And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
[00:14:26] And Joseph, the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
[00:14:34] Notice, Joseph was a slave, and yet it says the Lord was with him.
[00:14:39] And the Lord prospered Potiphar's house because of Joseph.
[00:14:43] Verse 3, And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
[00:14:50] And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
[00:14:58] And it came to pass, from the time that he had made him overseer in the house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field.
[00:15:12] And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he knew not aught he had save the bread which he did eat.
[00:15:19] And Joseph was a goodly person, that is, handsome and well-favored.
[00:15:25] Came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, Lie with me.
[00:15:33] But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth, that is, knows not, what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand.
[00:15:43] There is none greater in this house than I, neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife.
[00:15:50] How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?
[00:15:54] And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her to lie by her, or to be with her.
[00:16:02] and it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business and there was none of the men of the house there within and she caught him by his garment saying lie with me and he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out
[00:16:18] And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, that she called unto the men of the house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought a Hebrew unto me to mock us, and he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
[00:16:35] And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice, and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
[00:16:43] And she laid up his garment by her until the Lord came home.
[00:16:47] And she spake unto him, saying these words, saying, The Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us came in unto me to mock me.
[00:16:55] And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled out.
[00:16:59] and it came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife which she spake unto him saying after this manner did the servant to me that his wrath was kindled and Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison a place where the king's prisoners were bound and he was there in the prison but the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison and the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison
[00:17:28] And whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
[00:17:31] The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
[00:17:43] Isn't it interesting?
[00:17:45] We're going down, down, down.
[00:17:47] First we go to a slave, and now a slave that's a prisoner.
[00:17:54] But, each time it says, but the Lord was with him.
[00:17:58] and even though he is in these bad situations the Lord was with him and in that situation he caused him to prosper there ends a lesson for us we ever find ourselves in difficult circumstances let us not be so concerned about the circumstances if we know who the Lord of the circumstances are and we know that he is with us because nothing can be too difficult for us
[00:18:20] If we are the Lord's and he is sovereign and we are his child, he will watch over us just as he did Joseph.
[00:18:27] And as we will see, Joseph's going down to be a slave and then to be a prisoner was actually the way up because he's going to be exalted later.
[00:18:38] Isn't that just what Jesus says?
[00:18:40] He who humbles himself, I will exalt.
[00:18:45] But he who exalts himself, I will humble.
[00:18:48] And Joseph's the perfect example of that.
[00:18:51] So now Joseph's in prison, falsely accused.
[00:18:54] He shouldn't be there, but even in prison he's prospering, if that's something we can grasp.
[00:19:01] Now let's read just one more chapter, and we'll stop at chapter 40, and then I'll fill in some details for you, and then we'll look at all of these many parallels and sum up, I think, with some really interesting final thoughts here in a little bit.
[00:19:16] So in Genesis chapter 40, he's in prison, and remember, Joseph is a dreamer, but he also has a gift of interpreting dreams, so let's see what happens in the prison.
[00:19:28] Chapter 40, verse 1.
[00:19:30] And it came to pass after these things that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt, or Pharaoh.
[00:19:39] And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers and the chief of the bakers, and he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, where into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
[00:19:51] And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued a season in the ward.
[00:19:57] and they dreamed a dream both of them each man his dream in one night each man according to the interpretation of his dream the butler and the baker of the king of egypt which were bound in the prison and joseph came in under them in the morning and looked upon them and behold they were sad
[00:20:13] And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly today?
[00:20:20] And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.
[00:20:25] And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God?
[00:20:29] Tell me them, I pray you.
[00:20:33] The chief butler told his dream to Joseph and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes.
[00:20:47] And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
[00:20:54] And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it.
[00:20:58] The three branches are three days, yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup unto his hand, after the former manner, when thou wast his butler.
[00:21:12] But think on me, or remember me, when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
[00:21:21] For I indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
[00:21:31] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head.
[00:21:42] In the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
[00:21:50] And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof.
[00:21:53] The three baskets are three days.
[00:21:55] Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
[00:22:07] And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants.
[00:22:11] And he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
[00:22:15] He restored the chief butler unto his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
[00:22:21] But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted them.
[00:22:25] Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
[00:22:31] Interesting.
[00:22:33] So we leave Joseph for a moment.
[00:22:36] In prison, forgotten, he's there probably for a few years.
[00:22:41] Can you imagine?
[00:22:42] He's sold as a slave, he's an exile in a foreign country, he's a slave, he's in a foreigner's house, then he's falsely accused, and then he's sold in the prison, he's in prison for years, he helps this right hand, not right hand, but the butler of Pharaoh, and he says, please remember me and do something for me, and...
[00:23:06] and the butler forgets all about him and in the meantime he's rotting away in prison.
[00:23:11] I think most of us would probably be tempted to be a little bit sad, a little bit depressed, a little bit, God, what are you doing?
[00:23:21] Why am I here?
[00:23:24] However, this is exactly where God wants him.
[00:23:28] because of what's about to take place.
[00:23:30] And so you need to read the rest of Genesis to hear this beautiful story.
[00:23:35] Refresh yourself with it.
[00:23:37] I'm going to fill in some blanks because we're going to go to the different types and comparisons of Joseph and Christ.
[00:23:44] So the rest of the story, if you remember, Pharaoh has a dream.
[00:23:48] and nobody can interpret it and that's when the butler remembers oh yeah there's this there's this Hebrew guy in prison and we had dreams and he told us exactly what it was and it happened he said pharaoh says go get him so they get Joseph out of prison they clean him up he comes in he tells pharaoh exactly what the dream is pharaoh is amazed and what it is is there's going to be seven years of plenty and great
[00:24:13] Produc of the earth followed by seven years of terrible famine and Joseph says what you need to do then is you need to gather up grain and store up as much as you possibly can in the seven years of plenty so you'll be ready for the seven years of famine and he said and also you should appoint someone wise who be able to do this Pharaoh says well who's as wise as you
[00:24:35] You be the one.
[00:24:36] Pharaoh not only has him to do this, Pharaoh, who's like the king, right?
[00:24:42] He makes Joseph second in command of all of Egypt.
[00:24:48] He gives him his seal ring, his authority.
[00:24:51] He says, you go.
[00:24:52] No one in Egypt will be higher than you except me in the throne.
[00:24:57] And so Joseph's in the lowest place.
[00:25:01] Now he's at the very highest place.
[00:25:03] And then Joseph is over this.
[00:25:05] He does a great job.
[00:25:06] And what happens after the seven years of plenty, the seven years of famine come, all the nations around are starving.
[00:25:12] Hey, there's grain in Egypt.
[00:25:14] They come to Joseph for grain.
[00:25:16] Joseph is the one who's in charge of not just taking care of the Egyptians, they have food, but selling it to other nations.
[00:25:24] And guess what?
[00:25:25] There's a famine in Israel.
[00:25:27] And who shows up looking for grain?
[00:25:30] Ah, Jacob's sons, Joseph's brethren who sold him into slavery.
[00:25:35] They are hungry now.
[00:25:36] There's a famine.
[00:25:38] And they come looking for food.
[00:25:41] Joseph sees them and recognizes them, but they don't recognize him.
[00:25:45] And so when he speaks to them, he won't speak to them in Hebrew, he uses an interpreter, acts like he doesn't know what they're saying, you know?
[00:25:53] And so there's a whole story there, you need to go read about it, but he tries them, he tests them, he puts one in prison, he asks them about their father, he asks them about their family,
[00:26:03] and all of this and he wants to see his little brother Benjamin because he has only one full brother of Rachel that's still in Israel says you can't come back unless I see him and so finally he lets him go back he puts the grain in their sacks but then he also puts his money their money back in the sacks and then they're all afraid oh no we can't go back to Egypt and we go home to Jacob Simeon one brother who might have been the one the ringleader of putting Joseph in the pit
[00:26:32] Is in prison in Egypt, and he says, you're not going to get Simeon until you bring back this youngest son, Benjamin, whoever he is, which is Joseph's brother.
[00:26:40] So Jacob is already so upset that Joseph is dead in his mind, right?
[00:26:46] And now they come back, Simeon's in jail.
[00:26:49] And then they say, we can't go back unless you give us Benjamin, the youngest, which is the only other son of his favorite wife, Rachel, Joseph's brother.
[00:26:58] He said, oh no, you'll never take Benjamin.
[00:27:00] I'll never let you go back with Benjamin.
[00:27:03] Well, after a while, they get hungry again.
[00:27:08] And Joseph still got the grain.
[00:27:10] So it could have been as much as a couple years.
[00:27:12] And they come back.
[00:27:14] and Joseph has fun with them and then finally he reveals himself to them and they are truly contrite and they are truly asking for forgiveness and you see that Joseph says bring all of your family and bring my father and come down and live and you can live in the in the land of Goshen and land of plenty
[00:27:36] And so through the rest of the story, Israel, because that's the whole nation of Israel.
[00:27:41] Jacob, his name is changed to Israel.
[00:27:43] His sons are the 12 tribes, Joseph and Judah and Reuben and Simeon.
[00:27:48] That's the whole nation of Israel, them and their wives and their children.
[00:27:51] They come, that's how they got into Egypt, the first place.
[00:27:54] We're talking about Moses 400 years later in 1 Corinthians 10.
[00:27:58] By that time, different Pharaohs, they've made slaves out of the Jews, but they didn't come in that way.
[00:28:04] They came in as VIP, diplomats, well favored, well taken care of, the family of the second person in the command of all of Egypt, which was probably the most powerful nation in the world at that time.
[00:28:20] Wonderful story.
[00:28:21] I want you to be with me here and see how many parallels we can find of Joseph and Jesus.
[00:28:29] Let's take a look.
[00:28:30] First of all, both of them have a miraculous birth.
[00:28:34] Now, Jesus' birth, of course, we know is miraculous, virgin birth by Mary.
[00:28:41] But Joseph, he's the son of who?
[00:28:47] Rachel.
[00:28:48] Rachel Jacob had two wives Leah and Rachel both Iraqis but that's another story and and so Rachel was his favorite now he also had two handmaids uh there was um Bilhah and Zilpah they were mentioned earlier that was their children is who Joseph was playing with you see it back in Genesis 37 verse 2 Bilhah and Zilpah
[00:29:16] And so all of the tribes of Israel, the twelve tribes, came from Leah and Rachel and Bilhah and Zippor, which were the handmaids.
[00:29:26] Rachel only had two.
[00:29:28] And Joseph's birth is miraculous.
[00:29:31] Why?
[00:29:35] Rachel was barren.
[00:29:36] Very good, Ron.
[00:29:37] Rachel was barren, and God opened her womb, and so she has Joseph.
[00:29:44] And when she had Joseph, Joseph means God will add.
[00:29:48] And if you go back and read about Joseph's birth in Genesis, Rachel says, God will add to me another son.
[00:29:55] And he did, because later she has Benjamin, but she dies giving birth to Benjamin.
[00:30:03] So both Jesus and Joseph have a miraculous birth.
[00:30:06] Both spoke truth in exposing sinful behavior of their brethren even though they knew it would cause hatred against them.
[00:30:18] Both were shepherds.
[00:30:20] Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep.
[00:30:22] Joseph was a shepherd.
[00:30:24] Both were the beloved son of a wealthy father.
[00:30:29] Jesus, my only begotten son.
[00:30:31] Joseph, the favorite, right?
[00:30:34] Both were hated by their brethren without a cause.
[00:30:40] Israel, did they hate Jesus?
[00:30:42] Yeah, so much they put him on the cross.
[00:30:44] And did Israel hate Joseph?
[00:30:47] The whole nation of Israel were his brethren and they all hated him and envied him and wanted to kill him.
[00:30:52] Same as Jesus.
[00:30:55] They were hated for, Jesus and Joseph were hated for telling the truth.
[00:31:00] His dreams end up becoming true because when they come to Egypt, they do bow down to him.
[00:31:05] But they hated him for it.
[00:31:07] Jesus comes and says, you all need to be born again.
[00:31:09] You need to be humbled.
[00:31:11] They hated him for it.
[00:31:12] Same thing.
[00:31:14] both foretold the position their future position as an exalted king we already talked about that with joseph and of course with jesus both parents treasured in their hearts the news that their children would be a future king remember mary when she hears uh about he's going to be the messiah how she treasured up these things in her heart joseph when he hears this dream about the sun moon and 11 stars are going to bow down to me it says that joseph
[00:31:43] Observed, I mean, Jacob, his father, observed these things.
[00:31:48] Notice it says in verse 11 of chapter 37, And his brethren envied him, but his father observed this same.
[00:31:58] Just like Mary with Jesus.
[00:32:00] Both were persecuted out of jealousy.
[00:32:03] They were very jealous of Joseph.
[00:32:05] And they were very jealous, the Pharisees and the scribes and chief priests of Jesus.
[00:32:09] Very jealous.
[00:32:11] It says that several times in the New Testament.
[00:32:13] They envied him.
[00:32:15] Both lived with their father before they were sent on a divine mission.
[00:32:18] Remember, all of the children of Jacob are out here doing shepherd work.
[00:32:24] Joseph is with the father.
[00:32:26] Go and check on your brethren and see how they're doing.
[00:32:30] Jesus is in heaven with the father.
[00:32:33] Go and check on your brethren and give me a report.
[00:32:37] And that's the idea, coming to earth.
[00:32:41] Both were plotted against by their own brethren.
[00:32:45] And remember they said when they were getting ready to kill Joseph, they said, let's see what will become of his dreams now.
[00:32:53] And when Jesus is on the cross, he said he was the Son of God.
[00:32:58] If he is, let's see him come down now and show it.
[00:33:04] There are many, many, many more.
[00:33:06] We're just getting started and the rest are even better, many of them.
[00:33:10] both had their robes stripped off from them jesus at the cross by the romans that were crucifying him joseph at the pit with his brethren that were going to kill him now this one is really something who was the brother that said let's sell joseph instead of let's sell him as a slave it comes to me which one was it do you remember good guess it was another one it was judah
[00:33:39] Now, Judah, in the New Testament, some of the names are a little different.
[00:33:44] Who is the one who sells Jesus for 30 pieces of silver?
[00:33:52] Jesus.
[00:33:54] Judas.
[00:33:56] Judas is the Greek form of Judah.
[00:34:02] Judah sells Joseph.
[00:34:05] Judah sells Jesus.
[00:34:07] 20 pieces of silver in the time of Joseph, they say, would equal 30 pieces of silver in the time of Jesus, which was the common price of a slave.
[00:34:19] Interesting.
[00:34:20] All these coincidences.
[00:34:22] Could God be involved in this at all, you think?
[00:34:26] Anything here intentional?
[00:34:32] There were leaders in both cases that tried to rescue them.
[00:34:36] Remember Pilate?
[00:34:37] Pilate tried to keep Jesus from being killed.
[00:34:40] He says, what did he do?
[00:34:41] You know, he even says, look, you know, you do it yourself.
[00:34:44] My hands are clean.
[00:34:45] And Reuben, it says, tried to rescue him from being killed.
[00:34:49] Interesting.
[00:34:52] Goat blood was sprinkled on Joseph's coat.
[00:34:56] Jesus' own blood was sprinkled on his.
[00:35:00] Interesting.
[00:35:01] also a false story was told about their death and many people were deceived for a long time remember joseph jacob was told oh must have been a wild animal so jacob thinks joseph has been killed and eaten up by a wild and what did they tell a false story about jesus
[00:35:25] They paid the guys who were the centurion, the soldiers who were guarding the tomb, and they said, well, tell them that while you were asleep, his disciples came and stole the body away.
[00:35:40] Interesting parallels, huh?
[00:35:43] Both were taken to Egypt as a youth and thereby escaped death.
[00:35:50] They were going to kill Joseph, but instead he escaped death by being sold to Egypt as a slave.
[00:35:56] Herod was going to kill Jesus, and what did they do with baby Jesus?
[00:36:01] Fled to Egypt.
[00:36:04] You say, are there any more, Pastor Joseph?
[00:36:06] Ah, we're just getting started.
[00:36:09] And as we add one upon the other upon the other upon the other and multiply, I hope this will increase your faith.
[00:36:19] and the God who is in control even of history.
[00:36:24] And He knew that we would be here in Mooresville in 2026 showing His glory by what He did 2,000 years before Christ and what He wrote through His Spirit in the Word of God.
[00:36:40] 1400 years before Christ through Moses here in Genesis.
[00:36:43] Notice more.
[00:36:46] Both of them became a slave or a servant.
[00:36:49] Jesus became a servant.
[00:36:51] He humbled himself to the form of a servant.
[00:36:53] Though he was in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, he made himself of no reputation, humbled himself to the form of a servant.
[00:36:59] Dulos in the Greek, which can also be translated slave.
[00:37:02] Joseph too, son of Israel, becomes a slave or a servant.
[00:37:10] Both were tempted, yet without sin.
[00:37:14] Was Joseph tempted?
[00:37:15] Did he sin?
[00:37:19] Was Jesus tempted?
[00:37:20] He didn't sin.
[00:37:22] Both were falsely accused.
[00:37:26] Unlike many other Bible characters, no specific sin of Joseph is recorded.
[00:37:32] Jesus was truly sinless.
[00:37:37] God bless you, Angela.
[00:37:38] We're praying for your shoulders.
[00:37:42] Both suffered for another's sin.
[00:37:47] It was the sin of Joseph's brethren that caused him to suffer.
[00:37:53] It was our sin that caused Jesus to suffer.
[00:38:02] Both were sentenced with two criminals.
[00:38:06] One saved, one lost.
[00:38:08] Remember in the jail?
[00:38:09] There's the cupbearer.
[00:38:11] and then there's the baker.
[00:38:14] The cupbearer is saved and the other one is lost, he's killed.
[00:38:19] And Jesus is between two criminals.
[00:38:22] One goes to heaven and is saved, one ends up going to hell and is lost.
[00:38:27] What a coincidence.
[00:38:30] How about this?
[00:38:33] The cupbearer and the baker
[00:38:40] How many days was it until the prophecy was fulfilled?
[00:38:45] Three days.
[00:38:46] Anything significant about three days?
[00:38:48] In three days they'll lift up your head and for the baker and they hung him on a tree.
[00:38:56] But the other one was good.
[00:38:58] In three days you'll lift up your head, the butler, and you'll be restored to your place at the right hand of the king.
[00:39:05] So too Jesus was on the cross.
[00:39:09] On a tree, but after three days, right hand of the Father.
[00:39:16] Interesting.
[00:39:18] By the way, here's something that I think is amazing.
[00:39:23] The two criminals that he was with, they weren't criminals, really, one was, the other wasn't, but the one was a butler, and what was he doing for the king?
[00:39:30] Do you remember the butler?
[00:39:33] He was the cupbearer.
[00:39:36] and what would what drink did it say he was what would he use to make drink grapes wine or grape juice and the baker what would he make bread wine bread wine bread three days cross crucifixion wine bread any connection there
[00:40:06] Amazing.
[00:40:08] I want to write a book about this.
[00:40:09] I really do.
[00:40:11] But I never have any time.
[00:40:12] You guys keep me busy here.
[00:40:16] So, continuing on.
[00:40:17] It's beautiful.
[00:40:18] The best book is the Scripture, but I do have an idea about a book for this.
[00:40:22] And it's really, it's a beautiful, beautiful story.
[00:40:25] There's so much.
[00:40:27] By the way, both were exalted after suffering.
[00:40:31] So here's the picture.
[00:40:32] So Joseph is a son of Israel.
[00:40:36] He's the beloved son of the father.
[00:40:39] And he is persecuted by his brethren and is going to be killed.
[00:40:44] And so he goes, actually, he becomes a slave and he's down.
[00:40:48] In Egypt, which, remember, signifies, in 1 Corinthians 10, Egypt signifies kind of hell or the unredeemed state, where Pharaoh signifies Satan, you see, in the old idea, when they're coming out of bondage and freedom under Moses 400 years later.
[00:41:05] So Joseph goes down into prison, into the dungeon, into the low part, and that's a picture of Jesus
[00:41:14] when he is falsely accused and he is killed and crucified by his brethren and what do we say on the apostles creed he descended into but from that lowest place in prison and slavery where does joseph go next to the very highest place at all the world the right hand of the king so to jesus when he goes uh descended into hell
[00:41:44] On the third day he rose again, and he ascended into heaven, and he sitteth where?
[00:41:51] At the right hand of the Almighty.
[00:41:56] Isn't that what Joseph did in a figure?
[00:42:00] Isn't this all just coincidence?
[00:42:03] No.
[00:42:04] God was in every single detail.
[00:42:08] But there's more.
[00:42:11] There is much more.
[00:42:13] I'm not going to read all the ones I have before me because we'll go too long, but it's just, it's really quite amazing.
[00:42:19] All will pay homage and every knee will bow.
[00:42:23] Real quickly, in Genesis chapter 41, here's a place that we didn't read from.
[00:42:28] Look what is going to take place with Joseph in Egypt after he is exalted.
[00:42:36] This 41 verse 40 through 43.
[00:42:41] Pharaoh tells Joseph thou shalt be over my house according to thy word shall all my people be ruled only in the throne will I be greater than thou I've set thee over all the land of Egypt verse 41 look at verse 42 and Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand seal ring put it upon Joseph's hand arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck and look at this verse 43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot Joseph
[00:43:08] which he had and they cried before him bow the knee and he made him rule over all the land of egypt and jesus humbled himself wherefore god hath highly exalted him philippians chapter 2 that at the name of jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that jesus christ is lord joseph when he goes they say bow the knee oh i get cold chills sometimes this amazing
[00:43:39] Amazing.
[00:43:41] There's more here.
[00:43:44] We have this idea, both were given all power and authority save one.
[00:43:49] In Joseph's case, Pharaoh.
[00:43:50] In Jesus' case, the Father.
[00:43:53] Joseph was given a seal ring from Pharaoh, right?
[00:44:00] And that seal ring is the name of Pharaoh, that is authority, to open and close letters, because they used to seal letters with wax seals.
[00:44:12] Joseph was given a seal ring for seven abundant years and seven years of famine and death.
[00:44:19] Jesus broke seven seals in Revelation
[00:44:23] that caused famine and death.
[00:44:30] Everyone in the world, if they want bread, they have to go to Joseph.
[00:44:37] What about Jesus?
[00:44:38] Look at John chapter 6, verse 35.
[00:44:47] John 6, 35.
[00:44:49] I am the bread of life.
[00:44:52] He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
[00:44:57] Everyone in the world, if they want to be saved physically, they got to go to Joseph for bread.
[00:45:02] Everyone in the world, if they want to be saved spiritually, they have to go to Jesus, the living bread.
[00:45:09] Wow!
[00:45:12] Unrecognized by his own.
[00:45:14] Israel comes down, the brothers, they don't recognize Joseph.
[00:45:19] Jesus comes,
[00:45:21] And look at John chapter 1.
[00:45:24] It says, He came to his own.
[00:45:28] Verse 11.
[00:45:30] Actually, verse 10 of John 1.10.
[00:45:32] He was in the world, Jesus, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
[00:45:38] Just like the brethren didn't know Joseph.
[00:45:41] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
[00:45:45] Wow.
[00:45:49] The betrayers that betrayed Jesus felt remorse.
[00:45:53] Remember Judas was sorry later?
[00:45:55] And so too we find that Joseph's brothers, if you read on later, were very sorry that they had done this, that they said, ah, God is getting us back essentially for what we've done, you know, this kind of thing.
[00:46:09] The accusers and betrayers held responsible for shed blood
[00:46:17] Yes, Judas even.
[00:46:19] And both Joseph and Jesus wept for the wicked.
[00:46:24] Remember, Jesus is crying over Jerusalem.
[00:46:28] Jesus is crying over the wicked Pharisees when he raises Lazarus from the dead.
[00:46:35] And Joseph is crying over his brethren when they apologize and ask forgiveness and everything for their sins.
[00:46:43] Amazing grace given to the wicked.
[00:46:46] Joseph returned his brother's money and food in Jesus' grace to us.
[00:46:52] When John chapter 13, the night before Jesus is on the cross, they broke bread and they washed their feet.
[00:47:00] When Joseph's brethren come to Egypt the second, the last time, and he reveals himself to them, he has them over to their house, it says, and they broke bread and water was given to them to wash their feet.
[00:47:12] Interesting.
[00:47:15] Both were astonished.
[00:47:17] When Jesus is risen from the dead, they're astonished at Jesus.
[00:47:21] And when they recognize that Joseph is really Joseph, they're astonished and amazed.
[00:47:28] Both became a savior of the people.
[00:47:34] Jesus Christ, Joseph and Jesus, both suffered according to the predetermined plan of God.
[00:47:44] Joseph actually says this.
[00:47:45] Look at Genesis chapter 45.
[00:47:48] Actually, I think a better summary verse of this is at the end of Genesis, I believe it's chapter 50.
[00:47:59] You see, at the end of Genesis, Jacob dies, the dad dies.
[00:48:03] And when the father dies, what happens to the brethren?
[00:48:08] They say, you know,
[00:48:11] He might get revenge now that Dad's dead.
[00:48:14] Let's go be nice to him and ask for our lives, right?
[00:48:20] And so verse 15 of Genesis 50, Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead.
[00:48:25] They said, Joseph will pervert or hate us and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
[00:48:32] and they sent a messenger unto Joseph saying thy father did command before he died saying so shall you say unto Joseph forgive I pray thee now the trespass of thy brethren and their sin for they did it unto thee evil and now we pray thee forgive the trespass of the servants and the God of thy father and Joseph wept when they spake unto him and his brethren also went and fell down before his face and they said behold we be thy servants now look at this Joseph said unto them fear not
[00:49:02] For am I in the place of God?
[00:49:05] But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive.
[00:49:18] Through the wicked, satanic hatred and envy and murderous desire of Israel against Joseph, Joseph gets sent to prison
[00:49:30] becomes the right hand of pharaoh and becomes the very means of salvation for israel and all the gentiles who would come to him and ask for bread so to jesus through the hatred and envy of israel against him he is crucified and the devil was no doubt pleased but that wicked work was the very means by which salvation is open to israel and to all the gentiles throughout the earth
[00:49:59] We're almost done.
[00:50:00] Hang in there.
[00:50:03] The first news about Jesus, about Joseph being alive, when Jacob heard it, he didn't believe it.
[00:50:10] And the first people who, the disciples, when they heard from the women about Jesus being alive, the women came back, what did they say?
[00:50:17] Ah, women.
[00:50:19] They didn't believe them.
[00:50:22] But of course it was true.
[00:50:24] Same thing.
[00:50:27] Fearful hearts are brought to peace in both Joseph and Jesus.
[00:50:32] A substitutionary atonement, innocent Joseph and innocent Christ suffered for guilty brethren.
[00:50:39] Evil turned into blessing, turned intentional harm into good, comforted those who betrayed him and felt guilt.
[00:50:47] Remember Jesus after Peter had denied him?
[00:50:51] Jesus, you know, goes back and encourages him and confirms him in the faith.
[00:50:55] So too Joseph his brethren.
[00:50:58] The Hebrews under Joseph and Christians under Christ were exempt from losing their blessing but enjoyed all physical and spiritual blessings while the rest suffered.
[00:51:09] And you can see that in the story of Egypt and you can see that in history in many ways.
[00:51:14] And interesting, one more here.
[00:51:17] Who did Joseph marry?
[00:51:22] An Egyptian woman.
[00:51:24] She was the daughter of the priest.
[00:51:26] She was a Gentile.
[00:51:28] Joseph had a Gentile bride.
[00:51:31] How about Jesus?
[00:51:32] He's married to the church, which includes the Gentiles.
[00:51:39] Well, before we end, I want to remind you of Rachel.
[00:51:45] We're almost done.
[00:51:47] We're actually going to finish a sermon before 12.
[00:51:49] Amazing.
[00:51:52] Lord willing.
[00:51:54] So we have this story in Genesis 30 verse 22 to 24.
[00:51:58] Notice it says, God and God remembered Rachel because remember Rachel was barren.
[00:52:03] She couldn't have a baby.
[00:52:04] Here's the miraculous birth.
[00:52:05] God remembered Rachel who had prayed and asked Jacob to pray for her to have children.
[00:52:12] God remembered Rachel.
[00:52:13] God hearkened unto her and opened her womb.
[00:52:16] She conceived and bare a son and said, God hath taken away my reproach.
[00:52:21] And she called his name Joseph and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
[00:52:27] And he does.
[00:52:29] We're going to see in a minute.
[00:52:30] It's Benjamin.
[00:52:32] But Joseph, the Lord shall add to me another son.
[00:52:35] Who is Joseph the preeminent type of?
[00:52:40] Jesus.
[00:52:42] And by the way, where did Rachel, when she died, where was she buried?
[00:52:48] Bethlehem.
[00:52:50] God shall add to me another son.
[00:52:53] Well, it does refer to Benjamin, her literal son, but I think it's also pointing forward to Christ, because she's the favorite bride of Israel, Jacob.
[00:53:06] So, in Genesis 35, verse 16 through 18,
[00:53:10] And this is Rachel, the birth of Benjamin and Rachel's death.
[00:53:15] And they journeyed from Bethel, and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath.
[00:53:18] And Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
[00:53:22] And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not, thou shalt have this son also.
[00:53:28] And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, for she died in child labor, that she called his name Benoni, but his father called him Benjamin.
[00:53:41] And Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
[00:53:46] So Rachel is dying.
[00:53:48] She calls the son Benoni.
[00:53:50] But the father has the last say here and he says, no, his name shall be Benjamin.
[00:53:55] That's how we remember it.
[00:53:56] So what does Benoni mean?
[00:53:59] Ben in Hebrew is son.
[00:54:01] Benoni, son of my sorrow.
[00:54:04] Because she was in sorrow, right?
[00:54:06] He says, no, no, we're not going to go with that name.
[00:54:09] How about Benjamin, which means son of my right hand?
[00:54:15] Remember Joseph, God will add to me another son.
[00:54:19] Benjamin, who also is a type of Christ, because Jesus is the son of my sorrow.
[00:54:28] But after he's raised, son of my right hand.
[00:54:33] Benoni, son of my sorrow.
[00:54:36] Benjamin, son of my right hand.
[00:54:39] Both point to Christ.
[00:54:42] And then finally, if that's not enough, Matthew chapter 1.
[00:54:49] This is the genealogy of Jesus, the legal genealogy.
[00:54:54] There's two genealogies of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
[00:54:57] Matthew chapter 1 is the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, who was not his physical father, but his legal father.
[00:55:05] The genealogy in Luke chapter 3 is a physical genealogy through his mother, Mary, whom he is born.
[00:55:14] So this legal genealogy of Jesus, listen to how it ends.
[00:55:21] Matthew 1.15 And Eliad begot Eliezer, and Eliezer begot Mathan, and Mathan begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary,
[00:55:34] of whom was born Jesus.
[00:55:39] In the Old Testament, Jacob has a son.
[00:55:43] His name is Jesus.
[00:55:47] Jacob, I'm sorry, Jacob has a son.
[00:55:50] His name is Joseph.
[00:55:52] In the New Testament, Jacob's son is Joseph and Joseph is the legal father of Jesus.
[00:56:00] And Joseph is the perfect type of Jesus Christ.
[00:56:04] Isn't that interesting?
[00:56:07] Jesus' father was Joseph.
[00:56:10] And Joseph is the greatest type.
[00:56:12] Not Joseph from the Old Testament, of course.
[00:56:15] Joseph is the preeminent type of Christ.
[00:56:18] And Joseph in the Old Testament was the son of Jacob.
[00:56:21] And so Jesus' legal father's name is Joseph.
[00:56:25] And his father's name is Jacob.
[00:56:27] And Joseph points to Christ.
[00:56:30] And so here again, no coincidence.
[00:56:34] So what does all of this tell us?
[00:56:37] God is the God of history.
[00:56:41] His story.
[00:56:43] He is ultimately in control.
[00:56:45] He is in control in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, He is in control now.
[00:56:52] And no matter what happens to us, if we are His children,
[00:56:57] We are to walk in faith and not in fear because in the most difficult circumstances, lo, I am with you always.
[00:57:05] I'll never leave you, even to the end of the age.
[00:57:07] And that was the story of Joseph.
[00:57:10] He was forsaken by his brethren, but God was with him.
[00:57:13] He was thrown into Potiphar's house, but God was with him as a slave.
[00:57:17] He was falsely accused, thrown in the jail, God was with him in prison.
[00:57:22] And God was with him.
[00:57:24] And it would be easy.
[00:57:25] What are you facing today?
[00:57:26] What kind of problems?
[00:57:27] What kind of challenges?
[00:57:28] Whatever they are.
[00:57:30] Some physical, but many other kind of problems.
[00:57:32] and many kind of circumstances things that you don't like places you say why am i here why has god brought me here why is whatever you name it why is my family like this why is my marriage like this why is my job like this why am i suffering this or that but if you're a child of god understand that the most difficult and what seems to be unfair circumstances you can even imagine may be the very next step
[00:58:01] To be exalted to the very right hand of the Father.
[00:58:05] God is in control.
[00:58:08] God can be trusted.
[00:58:11] We are not the God of our circumstances.
[00:58:14] He is.
[00:58:15] We bow the knee to our King who knows what is best for us.
[00:58:19] No matter what comes our way, what the devil means for evil, God means for good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose.
[00:58:30] And isn't that what Romans 8.28 says?
[00:58:34] Everything that happens to us is not good.
[00:58:37] But if we are the children of God, God has promised to take all things and to use them for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
[00:58:51] So stop being afraid of things.
[00:58:54] Stop being afraid of bad news.
[00:58:58] I know that that speaks to a lot of people.
[00:59:01] Sometimes we need to turn off this.
[00:59:04] We need to have a burning of the cell phone day.
[00:59:06] I think Pastor Andy volunteered to lead that.
[00:59:10] But stop being afraid of circumstances, of bad news, from the doctor, from the news station, from your phone, from your neighbor, from your body, from whatever it is, and stop
[00:59:26] Being controlled by fear and what the devil would have you in bondage.
[00:59:32] Remember we've been freed from that.
[00:59:34] That's the whole picture of salvation.
[00:59:36] And even though Joseph was in bondage in the prison, the next day he's the most free man in all of Egypt.
[00:59:50] No one greater than him except Pharaoh.
[00:59:53] And that's for us.
[00:59:54] No matter what we're facing, no matter what trial, no matter what challenge, God is on the throne.
[01:00:01] He is our Father.
[01:00:02] He can be trusted.
[01:00:04] He will see us through.
[01:00:06] For he's not only the author of our faith, but he is the finisher.
[01:00:10] And to him be all the glory, honor, and praise.
[01:00:13] In Jesus' name, now and forevermore.
[01:00:16] Amen and amen.
[01:00:17] Praise the Lord.
[01:00:19] Y'all pray for me that I can write that book.
[01:00:22] Now, we are going to be singing in just a moment, Come ye that love the Lord, march into Zion.
[01:00:31] I know you all know it.
[01:00:32] I know you're going to do a great job.
[01:00:34] Those of you who are out there can help us.
[01:00:36] But before we do, let's have a prayer.
[01:00:39] Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful story of Joseph.
[01:00:44] Lord, help our people to read and to be amazed at these parallels and to know this is your fingerprints are all over it because you are not just the one who inspired Moses to recount this history, but this is your history and this is our history that we are a part of even now.
[01:01:03] And just as you are with Joseph before Christ pointing forward to him,
[01:01:07] May you be with us especially as our lives point both back to what he did for us at the cross and forward to what he is to do with us at his glorious appearing and the marriage supper of the Lamb when our salvation and our marriage to him will be eternally consummated.
[01:01:28] What a wonderful and glorious thought.
[01:01:30] Help us, Lord, not to lose the wonder and the awe at your majestic power.
[01:01:36] Your sovereign grace and your love for us through your precious Son, Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb, sacrificed for us.
[01:01:46] In his name we pray and thank you, Lord.
[01:01:49] Amen.
[01:01:50] Joseph was on a march.
[01:01:53] So too we and everyone else who are truly born again.
[01:01:56] We're all headed to one place, Zion, the heavenly Zion.
[01:02:01] You'll find in your hymnal number 550
[01:02:06] I know those of you who are in the Pilgrim's Progress class, especially at home, will be standing and singing with us.
[01:02:13] Maybe you'll be marching around the living room or kitchen as you sing.
[01:02:17] Praise God.
[01:02:17] The Lord loves a cheerful heart and a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.
[01:02:23] Why don't we stand