Born In Time For Famine (Gen. 41:50)

Read Genesis 41:50.

If you knew that seven years of horrific, unprecedented famine were coming soon, might you put off having children until after?  Such responsible adults would reason this way:  "Why put my children through that?  Why not give them every advantage?"

Joseph doesn't think that way.  He doesn't and won't live in fear because he knows Who God is, what He is like and what He has said.  When you know these things, there is a confidence.  You can rest in the One who knows every detail.  You don't have to bear the weight of accounting for every contingency.

How Some Try To Squelch A Dream (Gen. 37:18-28)

Read Genesis 37:18-28.

Joseph's brothers tried three approaches to eliminate his dream:  kill him (assassination), confine him (pit), sell him.  These tactics are used against "dreamers" today.

1.  Kill -- not physically, but internally.  The main weapons of assassination are gossip, lies, criticism and character generalization.  A dreamer is torn down verbally (to his face and behind his back) until he becomes a walking dead man.  He is still "there" but now he is tamed and in his "proper" place.  Respect, honor and credibility have been stripped.

2.  Confine.  This is done via the "pits" of control and threats.  A leader becomes tolerated but useless.  Everything he says or attempts is sabotaged by votes at the board meeting or influential conversations in the parking lot.  To the leader it seems someone is always watching, ready to trip him up.

3.  Sell. How is a pastor or leader "sold"?  He gets fired because hostile board members were able to convince enough members (who barely attend services or participate in the welfare of the ministry) to vote for the leader's removal.  The root of such wickedness is control.  Some people would rather remain selfish than have to change.

If you are a pastor, department head or ministry leader, you must understand that the above is what can happen to you once you announce and pursue vision.  Those who do not have a vision persecute those who do.

Flesh It Out (10/23/17)

Read Genesis chapters 38-39.

Both chapters share the theme of sexual temptation.  Judah (ch. 38) shows a person what not do to.  Joseph (ch. 39) shows a person what to do (flee).

Both chapters result in immediate, negative circumstances.  Judah gets his daughter-in-law pregnant and Joseph goes to jail for something he didn't do.

If participating in immorality and not participating in immorality both have or can have negative consequences, then why not participate?  Briefly tell Judah and Joseph's stories, then emphasize that believers in Jesus shouldn't be ruled by feelings or pragmatism. 

Another angle to consider:  What do you do with a troubled sexual past?

Learning From Joseph (Psa. 105:17-19)

Read Psalm 105:17-19.

Joseph was misunderstood, misrepresented and mistreated until the day of fulfillment came.

1. Having a dream or call does not mean exemption from suffering and perseverance.
2. The way you learn to lead is by enduring hardship and remaining true to God.  Disadvantage doesn't mean disqualification.
3. Don't squander your adversity.  God deems it necessary.  To fight against His preferred method of training is to prolong both your deliverance and other people's sustenance.
4. You're not suffering for nothing.  Joseph had a dream, but did he realize the full significance of it?  You suffer for the dream so that others don't suffer during it.

Christmas Emotion (Mt. 1:18-2:23)

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

Christmas was an emotional event!

• The insecurity of Joseph (1:18-25) -- insecure, though righteous
• The joy of the magi (2:1-12) -- joyful, though pagan
• The anger of King Herod (2:16) - angry because threatened and bypassed
• The sadness of Jewish mothers (2:16-18)
• The sensitivity of Joseph (2:19-23) -- sensitive and obedient in spite of fear

Perhaps you're struggling with an emotion that wasn't listed.  Maybe it's loneliness, frustration or a sense being overwhelmed. Are you willing to surrender that emotion to God? You will find Him to be Wonderful Counselor.

Matthew 1:18-2:23

Read Matthew 1:18-2:23.

What holds the unit together is the motif of dreams.  The five dreams are proof God was watching out for His investment (His Son, Jesus).  Threats were avoided because they were not in God's plan.

1.  What a comfort it is that God knows and controls every danger and detail of your life!

2.  Wait for revelation and guidance.  God knows how to get through to you.  Don't try to figure things out on your own.  Ask, then wait.

3.  It all starts with righteousness (Mt. 1:19).  Joseph wanted to do what was right, not what was convenient or expedient.  When God sees this intent, it pleases Him.  He always responds to the one who responds properly to Him.

4.  God's directing your affairs doesn't exempt you from a lot of movement, inconvenience, effort and self-denial.  It is always profitable to be obedient, but not always fun.

5.  Can God count on you to do the thing you don't want to do?  You don't have to be enthused in order to be obedient.

Grain and Grace (Gen. 47:13-22)

Grain was always available but costly.  First money, then livestock, land and voluntary slavery.  Grain cost the recipient something.  Grace is always available but costly.  Grace is God's free gift, His unmerited favor.  It is free to you but it cost His Son, Jesus, everything.  While grace is free, it is also demanding.  The demand of grace is voluntary slavery to righteousness.

The grain was worth the cost.  Without grain, who cared about anything else?  Existence came before convenience.  Grace is worth its demand.  Without grace, you don't stand a chance.  Grace brings you new life, eternal life, abundant life.  Without eternal life, any other benefits don't matter.

Grain was stored for seven years to guarantee there would be enough for everyone at a later time.  God has stored up His grace and lavished it upon you (Eph. 1:8).  He hasn't run out of grace.  God gives more grace as it is needed.