Joseph’s Perseverance
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Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers,
“I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.4 Then Joseph said to his brothers,
“Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no ploughing and reaping.7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.
10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me -you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise, you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honour accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterwards, his brothers talked with him.
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17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up. 22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
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.”
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Perserverence
Introduction
The main characters in Genesis are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. The largest portion, a quarter of the book is devoted to Joseph - Genesis Chapters 37-50. God’s sovereignty is a major theme. God is in control, his providence shapes our lives if our trust is in Him.
Joseph got that, he said to his brothers in Genesis 45:5 “Do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” He repeats that in Genesis 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. Gen 50:20 “What you meant for evil God meant for good.”
God always, finds a way to keep his covenant promises. The perseverance of Joseph (despite his hardship) and God’s providence enables God to bring healing in that family and preserve the remnant (We will look at God’s procedure). Joseph in this story is centre stage but he is really a supporting actor, God is the main actor in this drama.
I mentioned three P’s there, I wonder did you notice, three peas in the pod?
I would like to open up this passage by looking at God’s Providence, God’s Procedure and Joseph’s Perseverance.
God’s Providence
God’s Procedure
Joseph’s Perseverance
God’s Providence
Providence is a word we often use when we see (often in hindsight) that God has been at work, planning, directing, resolving.
Joni Eareckson said Joseph was a real inspiration for her, “God is not a sweep-up boy who follows you with a dustpan and brush, second-guessing how everything will fit into a divine pattern for good. God’s hands stay on the wheel of your life from start to finish so that everything follows His intention for your life.”
I am assuming you know that Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers. Then he was slandered by Potiphar’s wife and was imprisoned. In prison, providentially, he met members of the king's court. Through those prison meetings, God gave Joseph insight to interpret Pharoh’s dream. There would be a great famine. Only a sovereign God could foretell 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph was put in charge of the grain storage in preparation for the famine (Genesis 41:17-36)
Providentially Joe’s skills as an administrator were developed in Potiphar's house – so that he was equipped for the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer under Pharaoh. His wise planning and his skills as administrator are used for Egypt and surrounding countries (to survive 7 years of a great famine). The story of Joseph is a great illustration of God’s providence, his omniscience/omnipotence.
Genesis 42 records the second year of the famine when Joe’s brothers turn up. God is at work. Now in a position of power, Joseph wants to see his father Jacob and younger brother Benjamin again. Through Joseph’s longing and God’s providence, Jacob and the eleven brothers who became the (twelve) tribes were preserved through that famine. Especially Judah, the Great Grandfather(x8) of David (and twenty-eight more generations to Jesus). God ordained their survival using Joe’s role as a ruler in Egypt to give Jacob’s entire family land, dwellings and livestock in Goshen in the district of Rameses (Genesis 47:11). They were still in Egypt 300 years later along comes Moses (Exodus 2 – when Pharoh’s daughter pulled the baby from the bullrushes) - the rest is history. God’s story - His story.
When Paul says in Romans 8:20 All things work together for good – he is saying God is sovereign. God providentially uses our circumstances both for his triumph and for us to become more Christ-like. Look at Joseph. God transformed him from being arrogant, and haughty to being servant-hearted - Christ-like.
On 1 January 1979, a young 22-year-old Christian sportsman wrote in his diary as he looked into the new year 1979: “I don’t know what the year ahead holds for me. There will be some surprises. I believe my hockey will be affected, maybe something to do with my legs.”
I wrote that not knowing what was in store, but the sovereign Lord was providentially preparing me and strengthening me for the toughest ordeal of my life. Five months later I was in a car crash and yes you could say, ‘it was something to do with my legs.’
Friends, Our God is a great (big) God, we can trust him with our lives, he knows the plans he has for us and Ephesians 3:20 “He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
I am reminded of the children’s chorus: "Our God is a great big God, and He holds us in His hands. He’s known me and He’s loved me, Before the world began. How wonderful to be a part of God’s amazing plan.”
God revealed through Joseph, for our benefit, how He also providentially works in our lives. As you trust in him be encouraged as you face your own trials and sufferings today.
God’s Procedure
God is sovereign, notice his procedure for bringing healing to this whole family, to the Jewish nation and providentially preserving the line of Judah.When I say, procedure, I mean medical procedure understanding how God’s procedure brings healing.
Our reading picks up Genesis 45:1, Joseph is about to reveal himself to the brothers. In Genesis Chapters 43 and 44 it seems like Joseph is playing with the brothers, giving food, then framing them, making them squirm, and grovel after the joy of acceptance in Pharaoh’s court and the food. Highs and lows, Loveand Tenderness and then traps and tests. What’s going on?
To illustrate this I would like you to think of the delightful Isle of Wight potholes! The sun follows the rain, then the freezing cold and more sun.
What is happening, is that the frost breaks open the hard Tarmac. The harshness of truth and the sunshine of tenderness. This is a twenty-plus-year procedure of healing a damaged and broken family.
Remember Joseph was Jacob’s favourite and it went to Joe’s head. It spread tension in the family especially the ten brothers, not his full brother Benjamin, son of their mother Rachel.
The procedure for healing that broken family was by the harsh truth and tender care. The truth was facing up to the wrongs that had happened over the years, jealousy, betrayal, sold to slavery, lies. All brushed under the carpet for 22 years. But God had the scalpel, the truth hurts but the love and tenderness they received when needy and desperate for food was the sunshine to break the hard hearts. Joseph wasn’t paying them back – this wasn’t ‘I’ll teach you, because you hurt me all those years ago.’ If it was punishment then Joseph would have identified himself quickly and imprisoned them in retribution. He didn't do that and by alternating the joy (food) and the pain (framed), the sun and the freeze, the brothers were able to be restored, forgiven and healed. That is God’s surgical procedure of healing.
Then (Genesis 44:33) when they are given another opportunity to betray Rachel’s son, Benjamin, Judah sacrifices himself. The one who was so cruel and betrayed Joe is given another chance. Judah doesn’t just need forgiveness; he needs to be healed and restored. The way God does that is by the joy (food in famine) and the trauma of being framed, Judah is broken open like potholes in the tarmac and at that point Judah offers himself, ‘Please let me be held in place of the boy Benjamin.’ Notice that Joseph reveals who he is at the point that Judah offers himself for Benjamin. Judah is healed, and restored. As he was broken, he and Joseph can be reconciled. Judah’s sacrifice also was necessary to save the family. (Thus Judah is a type of Jesus). Jesus’ sacrifice was the only way we could be reconciled to God. He was crucified and forsaken by God so that we could be tried and forgiven by God. God is just and loving at the same time.
The harsh truth is that you are worse than you think but the Good News is that Jesus has made you lovely, accepted, a child of God. That’s the truth and love of the Gospel, like the frost and the sun. We need to believe in the full gospel. The truth about ourselves and atoning pardon of our Lord.
Joseph’s Perseverance
In Genesis 45 – Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and all eleven brothers, the future tribes of Israel move to Egypt with their father Jacob.
Joseph was 13 years in Pharaoh's service, then he administered 7 years of prosperity, and in the second year of the great famine, his brothers came looking for food. It is 22 years of suffering and not knowing what God was up to.
James 1:3,4 says, ‘You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature …’
Romans 5:3 says ‘We glory in our sufferings because we know suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope…’
When trials come we can ask, why is this happening to me or we can ask, why not? Being a Christian is not an insurance policy against trouble.
John 16:33 ‘In this world, you will have trouble.’
Joseph’s 22 years of Perseverance, was 22 years of hardship, persecution, injustice and only 22 years later does Joe glimpse what God has been doing. It is a long time to keep the faith. It is a long time to be kept in the dark but his loving Father God.
Some of you are enduring years of hardship – family splits, injustice, slander, bereavement. You, like Joseph, are broken and confused.
Hanging in there doesn't seem to make sense. But God is on your case. Perseverance is not about being stoic, and digging in, that is passive. Perseverance means action, pressing on, courageous trust in God: that He knows where you are now and where he wants to go with you. Perseverance is cooperating with and walking with God.
Joseph trusted in the Lord despite the circumstances. He knew the gift he had been given was of God. He persevered, trusting that God who gave him dreams in his youth would never leave or forsake him. Perseverance involved a sojourn of 22 years of suffering. It was not the brothers who orchestrated the sojourn in Egypt.
After 22 years there is no bitterness in Joseph’s heart: he persevered, trusting that God meant it for good. Genesis 50:20, “You meant it for evil - God meant it for good.” Behind all the trials is the hand of God
By fully relying on God, Joseph is able to provide a fertile place for his extended family.
How can we apply this personally, firstly, when trouble comes being made weak and vulnerable can actually strengthen and mature you.
Secondly, when trouble happens - turn to prayer, turn to the word of God and seek and see what God is doing.
That is an individualistic application of God’s providence, his procedure and Joseph’s perseverance but I would like to end by suggesting that there is a corporate application too. This church had to persevere through an interregnum of 6 years - then there was Covid and lockdown. Can you see the application I am making, Romans 8:28 implies that, God is working his purposes out here in this church. Joseph had no idea what God was up to when he was slandered by Potiphar’s wife, then two years in prison followed. Even after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, he was still in the dark about his family. But God was healing that family, Jacob and sons, especially Judah. Here at St Pauls we persevere and God is working his purposes out.
There can be a national application too. The troubles in Northern Ireland broke out in 1969, Gerry Fitt and Ian Paisley were household names. But a lesser-known name Rev Cecil Kerr founded the Christian Renewal Centre in 1974 and over the years that followed intercessory prayer and study of the Word and worship and testimony were shared. They prayer fervently for a breakthrough to end the troubles. The community persevered in faithful prayer for twenty-four years. On 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern. Bill Clinton was in attendance (the 25th anniversary was this year). In 2011 The Christian Renewal Centre handed their entire operation over to YWAM.
Their task completed.
God can work his purposes out for you, for a church and a nation, as he did for the tribes of Israel through Judah’s healing procedure.
We must pray for our church, pray for our nation, and pray for ourselves as we persevere in these difficult times.
I will trust my saviour Jesus
When my darkest doubts befall
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of allI will trust my saviour Jesus
Trust Him when my strength is small
For I know the shield of Jesus
Is the safest place of allJesus, only Jesus
Help me trust You more and more
Jesus, only Jesus
May my heart be ever Yours© City Alight
