Genesis 40-41
Big Idea of the Series: Because God is a work in every detail of your life, you can trust Him through every season—confident that He’s unfolding His bigger purpose in your life.
Big Idea of the Sermon: God’s delays are not denials, often they are God’s design.
Sometimes we experience a bit of turbulence in our lives. On a flight, those along for the ride grow concerned the first few times they experience this turbulence. But the pilot speaks over the speaker and tells everyone to remain calm, that turbulence is part of the plan. On this plan we call life, we are fortunate to have God in the cockpit, reassuring us and guiding us to our destination.
Joseph was experiencing a bit of turbulence in today's scripture and gives us a great example to follow in navigating it.
Three things to do while you’re stuck between the prison and the palace:
- Serve in the silence (Genesis 40:1-23). … Joseph served quietly and faithfully. One day, he interpreted the dreams of two other prisoners, a cupbearer and a cook. One, the cook, would be executed and the other would be reinstated to his post. The one who would be reinstated, the cupbearer, promised he would put in a good word with Pharoah for Joseph. But he forgot and Joseph was left waiting for two years. During these two years, he continued to do his duties and serve as needed and to the best of his ability.
- Trust the wait (Genesis 41:1-36). … Two years of waiting finally ended. He didn't know it would be two years and was probably wondering “is today the day?” when he awoke and “will I be free tomorrow?” When he went to bed. Finally, when Pharoah mentions he had dreams no one can interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Joseph was brought from the prison to the palace and asked to interpret the dreams of the most powerful man in the world. Joseph humbly responds that the ability to interpret dreams belongs not to him, but to God.
- Live your why (Genesis 41:37-57). … Pharaoh set Joseph overdone else except himself. Joseph would run the kingdom and fulfill a divine purpose. God had orchestrated Joseph's life and world events so that they all culminated in this moment. This concept is known as Divine Providence. We go through broken times so that we can grow and be prepared for future responsibilities.
We can all relate in some way to Joseph's story. Jesus also relates to it. Jesus would be wrongly accused and punished. He would be forsaken and left to die. And better than going from the prison to the palace, Jesus would go from the grave to Heaven. Jesus wasn't raised up to save us from famine, but from eternity in Hell.
For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message
- Genesis by Kenneth Mathews (New American Commentary)
- Joseph: From Slave to Sight by Chuck Swindoll
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
- Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller
- Redeeming Grace Church: Joseph’s Rise From Prison To Palace - Available on Apple Podcasts from March 20, 2022