BURIED
From the Pit to the Palace: The story of Joseph and the Sovereignty of God
Rejected, Betrayed, Sold, Shackled, Slandered…. Surely this man was an enemy of God? But no. He was God’s favourite, and loaded with destiny. Tracing his story - from promise, through burial, to high office - we learn the sometimes silent ways of God in our own lives.
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In this first talk, Joel introduces a new series of messages on the story of Joseph in the Bible, Buried.
Joel focuses on three key parties in the story: Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph's brothers. He discusses how Jacob's favouritism towards Joseph contributes to the dysfunction and toxic atmosphere that breaks out amongst his sons. Then, he addresses Joseph's foolishness and naivety when dealing with his brothers as he tells them about his prophetic dreams. Despite having the blessing and gifts of God on him, Joseph displays a lack of wisdom, grace, and humility in these situations. Joel warns people to be careful in handling their personal sense of destiny and prophetic promises from God, encouraging them to follow Mary's example of treasuring and pondering these things in her heart without weaponizing them.
Overall, the talk aims to introduce the story of Joseph, present a God who is Sovereign and lovingly controls all things with good purpose, and provide practical lessons for handling responsibilities, personal destinies, and prophetic promises.
Here are some ways you could apply this talk:
1. Trust in God's Sovereignty: In a world that can feel chaotic and uncertain, it's important to remember that God is in control. We can trust in His love and sovereignty, knowing that He has a good plan for our lives. This can give us peace and security even in the midst of life's challenges.
2. Navigate Life with Wisdom: The story of Joseph reminds us to navigate our lives with wisdom, grace, and humility. We can take responsibility for our choices and actions, seeking God's guidance and wisdom as we make decisions that affect our lives and the lives of those around us.
3. Pursue Personal Destiny with Humility: If we believe that God has called us to a certain purpose or destiny, it's important to approach this with humility and grace. We should avoid using our sense of destiny to elevate ourselves or put others down, instead striving to use our gifts and talents in a way that honours God and serves others.
4. Have faith and Perseverance: Just like Joseph, we may face setbacks and challenges in our lives. However, we can have faith and perseverance, trusting that God is with us and will ultimately work all things for our good. This can give us the strength and endurance we need to keep going when life gets tough.
5. Follow Mary's Example: Joel encourages us to follow Mary's example in treasuring and pondering the promises of God in our hearts. We should hold onto these promises with humility, seeking to discern God's will for our lives and how we can play a part in His story.
This sermon series on Joseph's life is not just about Joseph, but is really about Jesus and His plan of redemption for all who believe. And as we study Joseph's life, we can see how God works in our own lives to bring about his ultimate plan and purpose.
Joseph's betrayal at the hands of his brothers shows us how God works in the midst of difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances. Just as God was with Joseph every step of the way, even in the pit and in slavery, so too He is with us in our own trials and hardships. And just as God used Joseph's difficult circumstances to ultimately bring about His glory and salvation, so too does God use our own trials and hardships for His ultimate purpose and glory.
The consequences of turning away from God's plan and purpose.
Judah's decision to turn away from his family eventually leads him to a pit of his own making. In this context, the importance of family in the Bible is emphasised, as the family line is a crucial aspect of God's plan of redemption. Decisions about marriage, family, and lineage are essential in shaping the future.
The story also highlights that the Bible tells real stories about all aspects of human experience, including the darkest moments. The story of Tamar and Judah is a harrowing account of family strife, abuse, and exploitation of women. However, the story underscores the compassion of God and how He restores and transforms broken situations and people with grace.
This is a story about trusting God in the darkest moments of our lives. He can bring us to a place of hope and redemption. Even in the most difficult times, God's work is ongoing, and there is always another chapter because of the work of Jesus Christ.
After being sold in Egypt as a slave, Joseph served Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. However, God was with Joseph, and he became successful. Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar's house and all that he had. One day, Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused and fled. Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to assault her, and Joseph was put in prison. However, God was still with Joseph, and he was put in charge of the prison.
Through Joseph's life, we see the interplay between darkness and light, death and resurrection, which is a key theme in all of God's masterpieces. Tobi looks at how Joseph's life is related to Jesus' life and how our lives as Christians are also related to Jesus' life. He ends by encouraging us to trust in God's artistry in our lives, even in seasons of death and resurrection, and reminds us that even after we die, God can still use our legacy to inspire and encourage others.
In this chapter, Joseph is serving in prison, where he meets two of Pharaoh's officers, the cupbearer and the baker, both of whom are troubled by dreams which nobody can interpret. Joseph offers to interpret their dreams, and the cupbearer's dream predicts his restoration to his position, while the baker's dream predicts his death. The interpretation comes true, but the cupbearer forgets about Joseph.
Neville draws attention to the fact that Joseph, despite his difficult circumstances, is a servant who attends to the needs of others, and does not allow his own troubles to make him self-pitying. He also considers the significance of dreams, and how God may speak to people through them. Finally, Neville highlights the need to interpret life from a different perspective, which can ultimately lead to seeing one's troubles as a step towards God's greater purpose.
In this talk, Stephen Dawson looks at how God intervenes in history and uses Joseph's situation to bring about a greater purpose beyond what anyone could have imagined. This is a reminder that God is in control, and His timing is perfect. We may not always understand why we're going through certain things, but we can trust that God has a plan and purpose.
Our greatest gifts and talents can also be our greatest vulnerabilities. It's important to guard against potential pitfalls while still using our gifts for good. Stephen highlights the importance of personal growth and learning from difficult experiences, as well as forgiveness and striving for integrity in all areas of our lives.
Ultimately, the story of Joseph serves as a reminder of the power of using our resources and influence to bless and serve others in need.
In this talk, Stephen explains that God had been present throughout Joseph's 13-year preparation for exaltation. He draws parallels to the construction of tall buildings, stating that deep foundations were necessary for both construction and personal growth.
From the story of Joseph's relationship with his brothers, Matt Carvel looks at the common experience of family members who do not speak to each other due to a relationship breakdown.
Matt underscores the power of guilt to stay with us and weigh us down. He concludes by emphasising that God is a reconciler and a healer, and sometimes brings us to face our past and guilt to deal with it and bring us to a place of restoration and healing.
A story of Grace. The brothers return, burdened with guilt. They return with double the money, hoping to pay back the debt they owe. They are invited into the palace, trembling at the prospect of judgement and retribution. They receive a feast. Their seats had their names on and they were amazed at the lavish banquet laid out for them.
In this talk, Matt Carvel explains that this testing was done by Joseph to see if his brothers had truly changed and were remorseful for their past actions. He draws connections to the Bible's instances of testing and trials, explaining that these are used by God to reveal and shape one's heart. Going through difficult times can be confusing and make us question why God allows it, but we must keep seeing the big picture and having faith in God's plan.
Matt concludes by discussing how Joseph stacked the decks against his brothers to test their loyalty but eventually reconciled with them.
In this talk, Tobi Ford-Western looks at the need for biblical tools to navigate through physical and spiritual famines. He highlights the character development of Joseph, who has learned humility and maturity through his hardships and challenges. The story of Joseph is not outdated but rich in wisdom and guidance for navigating the challenges of the present day.
The main focus of Sunday's passage is Jacob's journey to Egypt and how his family navigates living in a foreign land. Matt parallels between Joseph's family navigating Egypt and how Christians navigate a world that may be hostile to their beliefs.
When Pharaoh asks Jacob how old he is, Jacob responds with a negative view of his life. Matt highlights the significance of Jacob blessing Pharaoh, indicating that Jacob understands his purpose as a carrier of God's blessing. He encourages Christians to recognise their role in carrying God's blessing to the world, even in foreign and hostile environments.
In this penultimate talk in the Buried series, Stephen Dawson explores the meaning of living the best life, receiving God's blessing, and how to be a blessing to others. Words are highlighted as powerful tools that can build others up or bring them down.
Jacob's words of blessing are an acknowledgement of God's goodness and an invitation for his sons to come and share in his blessings.
Matt Carvel looks at the public and private reactions to Jacob's death, as well as the ongoing fragility of the relationship between Joseph and his brothers.
He connects Joseph's statement, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good," to the broader theme of God's sovereignty and how it is seen throughout the Bible. While this concept raises questions, it is best understood through stories rather than theories.