WE KNOW NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING, BUT AS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST WE KNOW WHO BRINGS THE DAY. GOD IS PROVIDENTIALLY WORKING IN THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE. WE REJECT THE VIEW OF THE DEIST, WHO BELIEVES GOD IS CREATOR BUT IS NOT OPERATIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE.
LOOKING AT GENESIS 37:12- 36.
JOSEPH WAS ACTING IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER AND FIND HIMSELF IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. OBEDIENCE IS NOT AT EXEMPTION FROM TRIALS TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS.
LIFE ONLY CAN BE SEEN CLEAR IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. JOSEPH”S SITUATION WAS ALL THE PROVIDENTIAL PLAN AND WILL OF GOD. GOD DID NOT CAUSE HIS BROTHERS TO ACT AS THEY DID, BUT GOD IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF JOSEPH’S LIFE.
JOSEPH HAD NO CLUE WHAT HE WOULD ENCOUNTER ON THAT DAY HIS FATHER SENT HIM TO CHECK ON HIS BROTHERS; HAD HE KNOWN WHAT HIS BROTHERS WERE GOING TO DO TO HIM, MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE RETURNED WHEN HE DIDN’T FIND THEM IN SHECHEM.
AS I LOOKED AT THIS PASSAGE I SEE:
THE ACTIONS OF HIS BROTHERS
DEVIOUS
DEADLY
DECEITFUL
Genesis 37:18–20
[18] They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. [19] They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. [20] Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” (ESV)
REUBEN THE OLDEST BROTHER KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG, BUT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH HE KNEW. WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT YOU OUGHT TO DO RIGHT.
THE DECEPTION OF HIS BROTHERS
SIN MAY START AS A SMALL THING, BUT UNDEALT WITH IT WILL INCREASE. IN THEIR ACTIONS THERE WAS NO STAND FOR TRUTH, BUT IN THEIR DECEPTION THERE WAS THE SILENCE OF TRUTH, AS THEY STAND BEFORE THEIR FATHER. THEY WILL PRESENT HIM WITH FALSE EVIDENCE FOR HIM TO MAKE A FALSE CONCLUSION. JACOB CONCLUDES HIS SON IS DEAD. THEY CAME HOME DELIBERATELY TO DECEIVE THEIR FATHER.
Sin is so destructive in its ultimate results and yet it can be so subtle in its iniatial stages.
IT IS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THEIR DECEPTION TO JACOB AND JACOBS DECEPTION OF ISAAC IN GEN. 27. THE SAME INGREDIENTS
LIED TO FATHER
LIED ABOUT BROTHER
USE OF CLOTHING IN DECEPTION
USE OF A GOAT
LESSON: BE NOT DECEIVED GOD IS NOT MOCKED. OUR SIN HAS A WAY OF COMING BACK TO US AND ON US.
THE RESPONSE OF JACOB
Genesis 37:34–35
[34] Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. [35] All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. (ESV)
JACOBS HEART IS BROKEN, HIS SON WHO HE LOVES GREATLY HE BELIEVES HE IS DEAD. THE BROTHERS STAND THERE.
HOW CAN THEY COMFORT THEIR FATHER KNOW THEIR OWN DECEIT?
THROUGH THIS STUDY I SEE JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST, NOT IN CHARACTER BUT IN CIRCUMSTANCES.
- SENT BY HIS FATHER
- TO FIND HIS BROTHERS
- REJECTED AND HATED BY HIS BROTHERS
- SOLD FOR MONEY
SO JACOB THINKS JOSEPH IS DEAD. GEN. 37:35 SAYS HE WEPT FOR HIS SON. NOTICE EVEN THOUGH HE WEPT HE HAD HOPE OF SEEING HIM AGAIN. I THES. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
SO INSPITE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE BROTHERS AND THE DECEPTION OF THE BROTHERS AND THE RESPONSE OF JACOB, THE CHAPTER DOES NOT END WITH VERSE 35 IT ENDS WITH VERSE 36
Genesis 37:36
[36] Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. (ESV)
PROVIDENCE OF GOD. JACOB RECKONED THAT JOSEPH WAS DEAD BUT HE WAS ALIVE.
ALL THAT JOSEPH HAS EXPERIENCED HE WAS YET ALIVE. ALL THAT HIS BROTHERS PLANNED AND PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, YET HE IS ALIVE.
AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST MANY TODAY RECKON THAT HE IS DEAD. THIS IS NOT SO HE WAS DEAD BUT HE IS ALIVE FOREVER MORE. HALLELUAH TO THE LAMB!
MANY MAY PLOT AND PLAN OUR DEMISE, BUT GOD TAKE WHAT OTHERS USE AGAINST US AND WORK IT FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY!
REGARDLESS OF WHAT A DAY MAY BRING, GOD WORKS IT ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THEM THAT LOVE THE LORD AND ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
Romans 8:28