God Of All Circumstances
Notes
Transcript
God Of All Circumstances
Genesis 37
Can God work through ALL our circumstances? Many times in our lives we make decisions or we get ourselves into situations that place us in the midst of unexpected events.
You may have joined the Navy expecting to be placed on shore duty and have a somewhat normal work day. But you found out that the Navy is made up of ships and boats that go to sea and you where given orders to report to the USS ___________(you probably said that is a strange name for a Naval Base) Now your circumstances are different, they have changed drastically from the life you were living before. You are now out at sea much of the time, or flying off to another country. Much of the time you are separated from your loved ones, your friends, and family. Can God work through circumstances like this?
18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. (Genesis 37 (AV))
23 ¶ And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. (Genesis 37 (AV))
Joseph expected to be with his father and family. He just went to check on his brothers and the herds for his father. His brothers had other ideas. They plotted to kill him, as he walked toward them. (v.18-20) Joseph expected to be greeted by his brothers and welcomed into their camp, but he got the unexpected, they took his coat and threw him into a pit. Can God work through these kinds of circumstances?
Some of you may have felt at sometime or another that the "recruiter lied to me" or he didn't tell me the whole truth. Maybe he told you that the Navy was one way, but didn't tell you about some of the other things. Maybe some of the less glamorous aspects, like sweepers, dumping trash or other things that are necessary but maybe not among your favorite activities. Maybe what you wanted to do you didn't qualify for or something else happened that ruined your chances to work in the field that you wanted and now you are doing a job you don't really like. Can God work this out?
Joseph was sold by his own brothers and eventually sold as a slave to the Egyptians. Now Joseph was not doing what he wanted to do! He was a slave! He was sold twice. (Genesis 37:23-28,36; 39:1) This was not the type of work Joseph intended to do, but there he was. Can God work through a mess like this?
Somebody said that nobody said life would be fair, and they are right. The world doesn't always play by the rules. Sometimes people feel that they have been falsely accused of doing wrong. They may go all the way to Captain's Mast and be put on restriction and have to do extra duty. They may feel like they are being treated unfairly. That happens sometimes, doesn't it. Maybe someone they thought were their friend set them up and they took the punishment for it and they got off scott free! Is God there for us when life is unfair?
Joseph was now a slave for Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian. He was trying to do a good job for his master...then more trouble.... He was falsely accused! He did the right thing, but no one was his witness, it was his word (a slave) against the master's wife. (Genesis 39:7-20) You can't fight odds like that. He is now a slave and imprisoned! Things don't seem to be going so well for Joseph do they?
Why did God allow this to happen? Even in Joseph’s unexpected events God was with him. Even when he was being thrown into the pit. The Lord worked good out of the evil his brothers had done. God's word tells us in Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." God worked good out of this mess... Can God work through your unexpected event? Yes! God doesn't change...He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He can work good through your situation whatever it is. You say how? Let us look and see what Joseph did, and what God did through him. These are Joseph’s secrets: The Lord was with Joseph, they had a real relationship, Joseph was a successful man (even as a slave!), the master saw that the Lord was with him because Joseph was a good witness of God’s grace, the Lord made all that he did prosper! (God blessed him), the Master made him overseer of his whole house. (Promotion), and the Lord blessed the master for being good to Joseph.
You can apply the same "secrets" today! Joseph didn't quit when he was placed in a situation that was not what he had planned, but he continued to have faith in God that God would take care of him and lead him through anything. Joseph was blessed and so can you be in any situation you find yourself in. Joseph made it known who he believed in and who blessed him and this glorified God and God blessed him for it. He wants to do the same for you. Joseph must of had a super attitude, it caught people's attention.
Joseph was a different kind of person; it was because of his relationship with his Lord. How is your relationship? If it is good, then others see and the Lord pours out his blessings on you and all those that are good to you.
Joseph is imprisoned and that doesn't dampen his faith in the Lord. In verse 21 it says again, "But the Lord was with Joseph.."and again his witness and the relationship with the Lord was evident to all and God caused the prison to prosper!! Joseph later is let out of prison to become the Pharaoh’s right hand man, ruler over all of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh himself.
Can God work through all our circumstances? I think He can. You need to be like Joseph: Have a relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, by trusting His work on the Cross for the forgiveness of your sins, believing that he died on that cross almost 2000 years ago and he was buried and rose again on the third day, showing that He is the Son of the Living God. You must let it known who you believe and not be ashamed of the Lord no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. You must realize that He has allowed you to be where you are now, and to glorify Him by your actions. People should be able to tell whether or not the Lord is with you.