July 27, 2025
Joseph, a man of Faith and Integrity
The Final Chapter
Genesis 41:1,8+9,14-16,25-32,39+40
We are going to get through the remainder of Josephs incredible story
this morning. We may stay till noon to complete the story but we will
do it. Last week we left it with Joseph in prison. That’s the bad part the
good part is the warden put Joseph in charge of the entire prison.
Joseph interpreted dreams for 2 of Pharaoh’s men while they were in
prison. One was restored by Pharaoh to his former position the other
was put to death. In both cases this happened exactly how these 2
men’s dreams predicted things would happen and exactly how Joseph
said it would happen.
This catches up to what we read from Genesis 41 today. We read
Pharaoh had had a dream that was troubling him. He called in those in
the kingdom that should be able to tell him what the dream meant but
none of them were able to do so. The chief cupbearer who was in
prison with Joseph became aware of Pharaoh’s frustration and finally
remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh how Joseph had interpreted his
and the chief baker's dreams for them and that things happened just as
Joseph had told them. So, Pharaoh calls for Joseph to be brought to
him.
Pharaoh proceeds to tell Joseph his dream and once again God gives
Joseph the wisdom to interpret the dream for Pharaoh. The dream told
of 7 years of abundant crops to be followed by 7 years of poor crops.
Do you have any idea why this is all happening to Egypt, Pharaoh and
why Joseph is the one to deliver the news? We are about to find out.
Before we get there, however, Pharaoh is so impressed by the
importance of this dream that he is determined to find someone to
create a plan for storing crops over the next 7 years so they can survive
the 7 lean years. He finds no one in all of Egypt who he fells can handle
the job until he realizes Joseph this incredibly intelligent and Blessed
man is the one for the job.
So not only is Joseph taken out of prison, but he is put in charge of
everything in Egypt. God is with Joseph in such a powerful way that this
former Hebrew slave becomes the second most powerful man in all of
Egypt.
Now it really gets even more amazing. After the seven good years in all
of the middle east a drought hits everyone. I’m not going to read from
the Bible the rest of what happens next, but you will find it in the 42 nd
thru the 47 th chapters of Genesis.
Now Jacob, Joseph's dad, becomes aware that Egypt has plenty of food
in spite of the drought that is affecting everyone in the region. Jacob
sends all of Josephs brothers except Benjamin to Egypt in hopes of
buying what they need to survive the drought. When they get to Egypt
who is it that they must talk to about buying what they need? Joseph.
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him, after all
many years had passed by now and there would be no way Joseph
would have such a job in Egypt.
Joseph upon meeting with his brothers realizes one of his brothers is
not with them, Benjamin. Joseph asks is this all the brothers you have in
your family to which they respond one brother is back with their father
the other is “no more”. Joseph told them I want to see this youngest
brother I will sell you the grain you request but you must leave one of
your brothers here and go bring Benjamin here to me before all of you
can return back to your father. While this was going on Joseph had
some of Pharaoh’s men put back the silver in with the brothers'
possessions along with the grain Joseph had agreed to sell them. On the
way back to their father they realized they had silver in with the
possessions that should not be there. The brothers were afraid of what
their father was going to say when they told him everything that had
happened.
To fast forward the story they returned to Egypt again this time with
Benjamin and even more silver to give to Pharaoh. Joseph inquired
about their dad and eventually sent them on their way back home but
this time Joseph had pharaoh’s men plant a fancy silver cup in
Benjamin’s bag. They tracked them down and accused Benjamin of
stealing. This time Joseph demanded that their dad come to Egypt or
Benjamin will never go free. Before they left to go on back to their dad
Joseph revealed who he really was to his brothers. They were both
shocked and terrified, but Joseph assured them God made this all
happen so many lives could be saved from the drought.
Joseph said please go get our father and bring him here many years of
drought are still to come, and you can live here in peace and safety.
Ultimately all of Josephs brothers acknowledged their sin to Joseph and
said we deserve to be slaves to you but Joseph, knowing that God made
all of this happened told his brothers these powerful words. You sought
to do evil to me; but God meant it for good. What a statement of Faith
and trust Joseph delivered to his brothers.
So what, if anything, is for us to learn from Josephs life and example?
There are no less than 7 major events that happened in Josephs life.
1. He was sold into slavery by his brothers
2. He was put in charge of Potiphar’s house and all of his possessions
3. He was falsely accused of inappropriate behavior and thrown into
prison
4. While in prison the warden put him in charge of the prison
5. Because God gave him the ability to interpret dreams, he foretold
the future to Pharaoh and as a result was released from prison
and put in charge of all of Egypt
6. Joseph was reunited with all of his family, and they lived securely
in Egypt for the remainder of their lives with Pharaoh’s blessing.
7. Joseph said one of the most powerful statements and
acknowledgments that all of us at times should lay claim to
sometimes the things that happen in our lives Satan uses to try to
pull us away from God
8. We can agree with what Joseph said when he said “you intended
evil for me; but God intended good
Joseph’s life is one of the most powerful examples of what can
happen if we are people of Faith and Integrity. Time after time it
would have been easy for Joseph to give up and say what’s the use.
Know matter how hard I try to do the right thing I always seem to get
kicked in the teeth. I give up, what’s the use. But that wasn’t what
Joseph said and did. Joseph was another person who wasn’t anyone
special other than the fact he refused to give in to what Satan was
trying to do through all of these events.
Gods hand was upon him every step of the way and Joseph’s
faithfulness was ultimately rewarded. The lesson for us is to never
give up or give in to Satan’s lies. God is always with us and even
when we can’t see it God is working all things for good for those who
are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:28. So when things try to pull you down
stay strong God will you through just like he did in Josephs life.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study
August 10 Larry & Cathy’s last Sunday with us—farewell
potluck meal after worship—meat and drink provided
August 17 Doug Larrick—message in song
Executive Committee and Search Committee after
worship
August 20 12:00 Women’s Lunch, meal provided
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362
Keep in Your Prayers
Louis Sulwer family; Carroll Clarkson family; Randy and Michelle West; Bill Traughber; Martha Wood; StacieWarren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and
Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell;
Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock;
Adiline Young; Mayo Hanaver; many unspoken requests;
victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the
Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic
Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence;
military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants, the poor
and needy, flood victims and their families; those who will lose
insurance and Medicaid
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the Charismatic Christian
Center in Chicago and for the Intercultural Ministries office.
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