The Sovereignty of God

• 1^st – Sold to Egypt… vs. 1-6
  • 1^st – Sold to Potiphar – the captain of the guard… vs. 1-2
    • Joseph was not just purchased – purchased by a very powerful and wealthy man…
      • If he had any thought of escaping – he was now owned by the captain of the guard!
      • He was stuck – there was no getting out – no where to go…
      • It would have been easy to be overwhelmed / discouraged at this point…
      • It would have been easy to think that God had abandoned him!
      • It is very hard for us to look beyond our circumstances – like HUGE wall…
      • We cannot see beyond them – we do not know what will happen next…
      • Too often we focus on the negative – and as a result miss what God is doing…
      • When we do – we are bound to be overwhelmed – filled with doubt and fear…
      • Anytime we get our eyes off Jesus and onto our circumstances we are in trouble!
    • But the Lord was with Joseph…
      • Far from being forgotten by God – the Lord was right with Joseph…
      • The challenge was no looking at the circumstances – instead keeping his eyes on the Lord!
      • When we do look to the Lord – we will see God is right there with us…
      • Far from abandoning us – those are the times when we are the closest to the Lord…
      • When things in life are easy – we tend not to rely on the Lord…
      • In the hardships we are the most dependent on God – glued to Him!
      • It is by keeping our eyes on the Lord we see beyond the moment…
      • We will know when we get our eyes of the Lord – because we get overwhelmed!
      • II Corinthians 4:18 – “We don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen [Jesus]. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” [NLT]
  • 2^nd – Joseph was successful… vs. 2
    • Because the Lord was with Joseph – God caused him to be (hiphil) successful…
    • We all know what it is like to fail in life – we have all experienced disappointment…
    • Maybe we have faced / or are facing – the frustration of coming up short…
    • No matter what we do – not matter how hard we try – it just seems to fail!
    • But the key to success in life – is putting things in their proper order…
    • We must learn to put God first – then everything else will fall into place!
    • Blessings in life do not come from what we do – but who we know!
    • Luke 12:31 – “Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
  • 3^rd – Joseph found favor – [חֵן] in the sight of Potiphar… vs. 3-6
    • Potiphar made him overseer of his house…
      • Rather than being resentful for being sold as a slave – Joseph faithfully (piel) served…
      • It is easy to get frustrated – think that the work we are doing is insignificant!
      • Zechariah 4:10 – “For who has despised the day of small things?”
      • Most of us can relate to the day of small things – unimportant / seemingly insignificant…
      • But the day of small things is incredibly important – it is preparation…
      • God does not promote us straight into a position of responsibility – He prepares us!
    • He made him second in command of his whole house…
      • Potiphar only knew what he ate – everything was entrusted in the hands of Joseph…
      • As a result the Lord blessed the House of Potiphar for the sake of Joseph!
      • A lot of people step up and say they want to be used by God…
      • Only to be handed a broom / or asked to wash the dishes…
      • And they walk away – because they think they are better than menial work…
      • Or they start serving – but do not continue because it is not important to them!
      • I have noted two traits on the people God uses…
      • They have humility – realizing it is not about them – but all about Jesus…
      • And they do not give up – they persevere – do not quit hanging on to Jesus!
      • John 15:4-5 – “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me…. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

• 2^nd – Sin against God… vs. 6-9
  • 1^st – Joseph was handsome in form and appearance… vs. 6-7
    • After some time – the wife of Potiphar cast longing eyes on Joseph…
      • And she commanded (imperative) him to lie with her!
      • The suggestion is that she was not an unattractive woman – perhaps even beautiful…
      • This would have been a very real temptation – day after day!
    • This is the will of God – our sanctification…
      • I Thessalonians 4:3 – “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.”
      • Sexual immorality – porneia – can be pornography / adultery / or sex before marriage!
      • The battle over sexual immorality is not just fought in what we do…
      • We avoid sexual immorality by fighting the battle in our mind – Matthew 5:28
      • Temptation becomes sin when we dwell on – fantasize about it – then act…
      • We allow our mind to dwell on a desire – then that desire turns to action – sin!
      • James 1:12-15 – “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it… brings forth death.”
        
  • 2^nd – The response of Joseph… vs. 8-9
    • Joseph refused because of the trust Potiphar had placed on him – his whole house…
    • But more important – how could he do this wickedness – sin against God!
    • The right perspective – the sin would not be against Potiphar only – against God!
    • When King David fell into the sin with Bathsheba – it was not just him who paid…
    • It cost Uriah his life – and brought the sword against the house of David for the rest of his life…
    • But when he confessed – he declared above all else – it was against God his sinned!
    • When we choose to sin – our sin does affect others – but the sin is against God!
    • That is why forgiveness comes from God – any / every sin we commit is against Him!
    • Psalm 51:1,4 – “Have mercy upon me, O God…  Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight.”

• 3^rd – False accusations… vs. 10-23
  • 1^st – Day after day she spoke (piel) intensely with Joseph… vs. 10-12
    • But Joseph would NOT listen – until one day when they were alone… 
    • Joseph came in to do his work in the house – and all the men were not there…
    • And the wife of Potiphar grabbed Joseph and demanded (imperative) he sleep with her…
    • He wiggled free – left his tunic and RAN – but it would have been better not to be there!
    • The best solution to sin – is to avoid it!
    • If we are tempted to have sex outside marriage – do not be alone with the opposite gender!
    • If we are tempted to look at pictures / cell phone – do not go near them!
    • Be accountable – do not trust ourselves because given the chance – we will likely sin!
    • II Timothy 2:22 – “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue… the Lord out of a pure heart.”
  • 2^nd – When the wife of Potiphar saw she had been rejected… vs. 13-15
    • She took his coat – left as he fled – and told her own version of the story…
      • She told everyone – Joseph had tried to rape her – when she screamed – he ran…
      • In the process he left his clothing behind – evidence to validate her story!
      • What got Joseph into so much trouble – was being ALONE with the wife of Potiphar…
      • There was no accountability – no one who could refute her version of the story!
      • We must be VERY careful being alone with people of the opposite gender…
      • We may have pure intentions – but it might open the door of temptation…
      • I have known godly men – pastors – who have fallen to sin because of opportunity!
      • There is also no way to defend ourselves if people make accusation…
      • If someone says something happened when you were alone – your word vs theirs…
      • Bottom line – 3 or 4 is fine – 1 on 1 with opposite sex – married or not – bad news!
    • But if false accusations come – God is our defense…
      • If you are falsely accused – when you are falsely accused – say nothing
      • You only have two options – you can defend yourself – or let God be your defense!
      • God will do a whole lot better job that you can – let Him!
  • 3^rd – When Potiphar came home… vs. 16-23
    • She spoke with him these words (piel) – the Hebrew you brought in mocked me…
      • This is the second time in the Bible that the word HEBREW is used – Genesis 14
      • HEBREW – 34x in OT – one from beyond – Joseph was not an Egyptian / stranger!
    • When she repeated her accusation – it aroused the anger of Potiphar…
      • And he had Joseph thrown into prison – [בֵּית הַסֹּהַר] – the house of the round…
      • There is a good chance Potiphar did not believe the full story…
      • No doubt if he had Joseph would not have been thrown into prison – but killed!
        
        
    • No matter WHERE he was – even in prison – the Lord was with Joseph…
      • The Lord gave Joseph mercy and favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison…
      • He committed all of the prisoners into the care of Joseph…
      • He did not even look into anyone in his care – he had so much confidence in him!
      • Because WHATEVER Joseph did – the Lord caused (hiphil) to prosper!
    • Standing for Jesus – having the Lord on our side – does not mean an easy life…
      • God does not promise us that others will love us – be nice to us…
      • God does not promise to keep us from temptation – false accusations…
      • God double – that can often leave us quiet discouraged!
    • But standing for Jesus – living for Jesus – does mean…
      • God has promised He will prosper us in life!
      • Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the LORD… whatever he does shall prosper.”
      • More than that we are promised we are never alone – God is with us!
      • Hebrews 13:5 – “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• 4^th – The butler and the baker… vs. 1-19
  • 1^st – Offended the King – the Pharaoh of Egypt… vs. 1-4
    • IT CAME TO PASS – the second time we see this word in our text – Genesis 39:7
      • The phrase at face value seems to represent happenstance – life just happened…
      • But in hindsight we see God supernaturally turning events to accomplish his will!
      • This is a VERY encouraging truth – even when life seems to just be happening…
      • When life seems uncertain – we can be confident ultimately God is in control!
      • Ephesians 1:11 – “According to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…”
    • The Baker and Butler offended the King of Egypt…
      • The likely scenario is that someone attempted to poison the Pharaoh with food…
      • The Pharaoh did not know who was responsible…
      • The Baker who made the food – or the Butler who delivered / tested the food…
      • Till an investigation found the guilty party – both were thrown in prison…
      • While they were in prison – both were put under the care of Joseph!
  • 2^nd – One morning Joseph came in and found both men looked sad… vs. 5-7
    • They both had a dream the night before – both with their own interpretations…
      • Joseph asked them – WHY do you look so sad today…
      • WHY is an interesting word in HEBREW – [מַדּוּעַ] – WHAT [מָה] / to SEE [יָדַע]…
• In other words – Joseph was asking them WHAT did you SEE to make you sad!
• Joseph was a prisoner just like them – but he had been falsely imprisoned…
  • If anyone had a right to be sad – it was Joseph!
  • Joseph – who had nothing to be happy about – ministered to others!
  • The solution to a dark room is not to focus on how dark the room is…
  • The moment we turn on the light – the darkness is no longer a problem!
  • In the same way if we focus on our problems – we find we are still in darkness…
  • It is easy to be afraid when we look at the overwhelming circumstances facing us…
  • Because when we focus on the problem – we are not looking at the solution!
  • Joy does not come as a result of our situations – how good or bad things are…
  • Joy is when we get our eyes off ourselves – off our problems – focusing on the Lord…
  • True JOY comes from our priorities – Jesus first – Others second – You last!
    

• 3^rd – No one to interpret the dreams… vs. 8
  • Joseph answered – interpretations belong to God – tell me (imperative) the dreams…
    • Joseph was not special – he could not interpret dreams – but God could!
    • We are able to understand things that others miss – not because we are so smart…
    • It is because we have the Holy Spirit in us – revealing things of the Lord to us!
    • I Corinthians 2:14 – “People who aren’t [Christians] can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.” [NLT]
  • The wisdom of God is not the same thing as knowledge we learn in the world…
    • If you want knowledge you go to school – and you will be taught…
    • But even the most educated people – often lack wisdom in their lives! 
    • Because wisdom is not learned – it is a gift of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12:8
    • Knowing the best choices to make in life – having Godly understanding…
    • The only way to get wisdom – is simply to come to the Lord and ask for it!
    • James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
• 4^th – The Dreams… vs. 9-19
  • The BUTLER…
    • Saw a grape vine with three branches – it budded and blossomed – with ripe grapes…
    • He then took a cup and pressed the grapes into juice – handing it to Pharaoh…
    • The interpretation – 3 branches are 3 days – the butler would be restored in 3 days…
  • The BAKER…
    • When the Baker saw the interpretation was good – he shared his dream…
    • He saw 3 baskets on his head – the top basket was filled with pastries for Pharaoh…
    • Birds came and ate the pastries out of the basket on his head…
    • The interpretation – 3 baskets are 3 days – in 3 days pharaoh will behead you…
    • He will hang you on a pole – and the birds will eat your flesh!
  • The life of Joseph was tied up in DREAMS…
    • Joseph had 2 DREAMS that caused him to be the envy of his brothers – Genesis 37
    • He also interprets the DREAM of the Baker and Butler – AND the Pharaoh – Genesis 41
    • That leaves the question to be asked – can the Lord speak to us through DREAMS!
    • Jacob – Jacob DREAMT of a ladder to heaven – Genesis 28:12
    • Daniel – Interprets the DREAM of King Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2
  • It is not just limited to the men of the Bible – God says He will give us DREAMS …
    • Joel 2:28 – “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”
    • I suppose that means if you admit to having dream from the Lord – you are old!
    • For myself – I only have visions – though sometimes with my eyes closed!
  • We need to be careful of DREAMS…
    • God speak to us through DREAMS – but that does not mean all DREAMS are from God…
    • Ecclesiastes 5:7 – “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.”
    • A dream from last night might be from the Lord – or from eating too much lumpia…
    • Before we make any rash decision based on dreams – we must test them!
    • The way to test the dream is to compare it to the Word – know our Bible!
    • If the dream contradicts the Word – then reject the dream!
    • Luke 2:33 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
      
    • God does not make mistakes – He also does not change His mind…
    • So if the DREAM ends up not coming true – it was not from the Lord!
    • Deuteronomy 18:22 – “If the prophet predicts something in the Lord’s name and it does not happen, the LORD did not give the message.”
    • The bottom line – if it is from the Lord – it will draw us closer to Jesus…
    • If it does not – then the DREAM is not from the Lord!
    • John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”

• 5^th – All but forgotten… vs. 14-15 / 20-23
  • 1^st – Remember me… vs. 14-15
    • Joseph – knowing the Butler would be released – asked him a favor….
    • Mention him before Pharaoh – free him (hiphil) from the prison…
    • He was stolen from his home – and put in prison by false accusations!
  • 2^nd – IT CAME TO PASS… vs. 20-23
    • Three days later the Pharaoh threw a birthday party – Butler and Baker were brought up…
      • He restored the Butler – but he hanged the Baker…
      • The likely conclusion of his investigation finding the Baker guilty of trying to kill him…
      • All of which occurred just as Joseph has said!
    • Yet the Chief Butler forgot (perfect) about Joseph…
      • It would have been easy for Joseph to be VERY discouraged by this…
      • It would mean he would end up spending another two YEARS in prison!
      • Yet God had a plan – and in His time – Joseph would not only be set free…
      • He would also rise to become the second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt!
      • If Joseph had gotten out sooner – none of that would have taken place…
      • The apparent forgetfulness of the Butler – was actually part of the plan of God!
      • It is easy to become discouraged when we depend on others – and they fail…
      • Yet it is not others we should be depending on – it is God who never fails us!
      • People will make mistakes – people will forget – people can be mean…
      • When we look to the Lord – even the MISTAKES of others – are just part of HIS plan…
      • As the Lord uses all things to complete His good work in our lives!
      • Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Philippines 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”