January 21, 2002

BaptistWay Bible Study for Texas lesson for Feb. 10

Joseph's life characterized by faith, not 'if only'

_Genesis 41:15-16, 25-45, 53-57 ___15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." ___16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." ... ___25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. ___28 "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. ___33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." ___37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" ___39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." ___41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. ___44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. ... ___53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you." ___56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

_____By Jim Gerlt
___"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, my friend, anyone can start from now and make a brand new end."--Carl Bard
___Twenty-five years ago, I found that quote and put it on a plaque. It sits on my shelf as a reminder that things don't have to remain as they are. God, in Genesis 41, is writing a new ending for Joseph.
___Joseph's story has been the basis of hope for many unemployed and underemployed people. In only one day, he went from prison to power. What a promotion! (And what a contrast from some of today's politicians--many have, in one day, gone from power to prison.) Regardless of your situation, God can change your circumstances rapidly.
___For such a time
___God's timing always is perfect and he always has a person in place to accomplish his purpose. In Esther 4:14, Mordecai told Esther: "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" She had.
___Paul explained God's timing like this: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son ..." (Galatians 4:4).
___All the hardships Joseph had faced were used by God to get him in the right place at the right time. He was poised to fulfill God's promise to Abraham: "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3b). Famine was coming to the world. Without God's provision, all the families of the earth would be cursed.
___What if Joseph had not endured the hardships? What if his brothers had just ignored him instead of selling him into slavery? What if Mrs. Potiphar had not lied about him? What if Potiphar had arranged for his death instead of his imprisonment, which was the normal punishment for rape? What if Joseph had finally had enough in prison and totally shut down? What if ... what if ... what if? Our God is Lord of the "what ifs."
___Faithfulness
___Do you feel like you're always getting the short end of the stick? Does it seem like the people who are not obeying God get the breaks and you get broken? Perhaps it even seems like you're suffering for following God. Joseph is the poster child of the philosophy "No good deed ever goes unpunished."
___Think about it. Joseph really had not done anything wrong, with the exception of exercising poor judgment with his brothers. They wanted to kill him, but he surely didn't deserve the death penalty.
___He'd had a dream that one day he'd be a leader and in his excitement bragged about it to his siblings. They didn't take it very well and plotted to do him in. Into the pit he went--first time wronged. The brothers were pragmatic and decided to make some money off him. After all, what's a dead bratty brother worth? They sold him into slavery--second time wronged.
___Potiphar purchased, worked and promoted him. Things were beginning to turn around. Then along came Mrs. Potiphar. She lied about him, and he was off to prison--third time wronged.
___Just as cream rises to the top, Joseph began to rise within the prison system. He was assigned the supervision of two former royal servants. Miraculously, they each had a dream the same night and Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams when God told him the meaning. One prisoner was executed while the other was returned to Pharaoh's court. He promised Joseph to intercede on his behalf and obtain justice--fourth time wronged.
___Meanwhile, the brothers were building an empire, the Potiphars were building a business and political career while the royal cupbearer was enjoying the good life. Where is the justice? "Joseph, why not heed the advice of Mrs. Job to her husband at the peak of his misery, 'Curse God and die.'"
___When you are a child of Abraham and a son of God's covenant, you don't lose hope. Joseph maintained his faithfulness even when it seemed God was not faithful to him. All the while, God was engineering a plan to get Joseph exactly where he needed to be.
___Location, location, location
___The old rule of real estate says the three keys to prime real estate are location, location and location. In the story of Joseph, the key to his ability to be a blessing to all the nations was "location, location, location." God was working to get him away from Canaan and into Egypt so he could interpret Pharaoh's dreams and be elevated to rule Egypt.
___In this story, we observe God at work and Joseph being faithful during difficult times. Probably the biggest lesson for us from the life of Joseph is our need for faithfulness, even during the tough times.
___If you're about to give up on God, don't! Who knows how close you are to a breakthrough. Who knows how many missed opportunities are in your background because you gave up too quickly. Joseph was in some type of bondage for many years. Yet these years were necessary for him to be the kind of leader God needed and to be positioned to lead.
___Not many resumes will list under experience--"dreamer, kidnap victim, slave, personal servant, property manager, accused rapist, inmate, interpreter of dreams." Your resume might not look impressive. That's OK; God does incredible things with folks who do not fit the "incredible" model.
___Examining the life of Joseph causes me to wonder what God could have done with Adam had he remained faithful. Adam was brought into a world filled with possibilities and untainted by sin. He didn't leave well enough alone and contaminated the world. If only ... .
___Joseph's life wouldn't be described by "if only." He was faithful, and God positioned him to be a great leader able to bless all people.
___Leadership
___"Everything rises or falls on leadership."--John Maxwell
___The value of a great leader is beyond description. Our world cries out for men and women who have the character and ability to lead. Corporations will pay exorbitant salaries to people who can lead. Often the only difference between companies that make it big and those that don't is the quality of leadership.
___Churches need quality leaders. Our Christian churches serve the same Lord and face basically the same challenges. Usually the difference in effectiveness between churches boils down to leadership. Unfortunately, we don't have a surplus of men and women who are willing and qualified to lead with integrity.
___Joseph is an example of how to become an effective and successful leader. Observe these traits in the man who would lead a nation:
___ He was a visionary. Even as a young boy, he was aware of the need for leadership. Somehow God gave him a dream of leadership. While only a select few will rule a country, all of us can lead in God's kingdom. For us to be useable to God we must see the big picture.
___If you are having trouble grasping the "big picture," let me suggest a couple of things. First, look to see where God is working around you. Jesus told us, "My Father is working until now, and I myself am working" (John 5:17). This will give you an indication of what God wants you to be doing.
___Also, review the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19 –20. What are you doing in light of the mandate to take the gospel to all people groups. What are you doing to "... obey all that I have commanded you."
___ Joseph remembered who and whose he was. Even in Potiphar's house and in prison, he remembered his heritage. You and I must remember the One to whom we belong.
___ Joseph fulfilled all his assignments. Whether being a personal servant or running a prison, he did it to the best of his ability.
___ He didn't try to do things on his own. Joseph was aware of God's hand upon him. Rather than try to exploit or resist, Joseph lived his life under God's care. This wasn't always easy for him and it isn't for us. However, if we're to become the man or woman God can and wants to use, we must yield to him. God was able to do much with Joseph because he was yielded.
___ Joseph was able to speak with authority because he was in God's will. Pharaoh's dream seems simple enough to us, but it was confusing to the wise men of Egypt. Even Joseph didn't understand it at first. Because he sought and listened to God, he found the truth and spoke it. Pharaoh, not a follower of God, understood truth when he heard it.
___ Joseph had authority also because he kept his life pure. He didn't disqualify himself with Mrs. Potiphar or anyone else.
___Our world cries out for successful Christians who can step forward to lead in times of crisis. God is calling you to such a role. If you're not ready, look to see what God is doing in your life to prepare you. Allow God to finish his work in you.

Questions for thought and discussion
___ What is your definition of success? Does your definition have more to do with position, possessions and power or with following God?
___ It was 13 years from the time God revealed his plans for Joseph until they were fulfilled. Are you willing to wait on the Lord, even if it takes a long time? What are some areas of faithfulness you are exercising now? What areas of your life need to be altered so you can be faithful to the Lord?
___ Joseph could have given up on the Lord many times. He could have given in to Mrs. Potiphar; he could have become bitter when falsely accused; he could have become a rebellious prisoner needing constant attention. He would have missed out on God's best plans for him. That would have been a poor choice. What steps have you taken to make certain you don't give up too soon on the Lord? Are you seeing him work in your life? If not, why do you think he's not doing anything at the moment?
___ Are you willing to be used by the Lord?
___ Who are the leaders in your church? What are you doing to support them?
___ If everyone in your church lived exactly as you are living, what kind of a church would yours be? Would you want to be a member?

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