Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 41 02/16/03

Intro: The story is told of a man who was drafted into the Army. Wherever he went he would stoop to pick up any piece of paper that was on the ground. And ever time he picked up a piece of paper, he would look at it, shake his head no, then throw it away. It didn't take long for his superiors to become aware of his actions and to determine to find the underlying cause.   Finally, in desperation, they granted him a medical discharge. The soldier was summoned to his commanding officer and was handed his release paper. Looking carefully at it he exclaimed, 'This is it! This is what I have been looking for!'

 There are a lot of people like that.  They go through life looking for that one big break that will turn their lives around, that will bring them riches, fame, security and power. Some look for it in the stock market, some in the Lotto, others in New York City or Hollywood...still others in Atlantic City or Las Vegas.

 There are people who believe a new life of prosperity and security will come from some great and wonderful event. But the life of Joseph has shown us that events/circumstances will let you down time and time again.  It was not an event that changed Joseph's life for the better, that took him from the prison to the palace. No, it was not an event...it was a relationship, a relationship with the One True and Living God.

 As we look at today's text, I want you to ask yourself, what kind of person are you?

 Are you the kind of person who is looking for that big break in life to provide all your needs?

 Or are you the kind of person who is trusting in your relationship with God, who does meets all your needs?

Read: Genesis 41:1-8

 Two years have passed. Joseph was serving faithfully in the prison, waiting for something to happen. Remember God had given him two dreams that showed he would be a ruler one day. When was that 'one day' going to be? We read that Pharaoh had two dreams that he didn't understand and this greatly puzzled him.

Read: Genesis 41:9-14

Notice what God did...

1. God gave Pharaoh two dreams in one night.

2. God hindered the Egyptians from making  a guess as to the interpretations.

3. God reminds the chief cupbearer that Joseph had correctly interpreted his dream over two years ago.

 The time had come for God to deliver Joseph from prison and to place him into the palace.

Read: Genesis 41:15-16

 The English translation does not bring out two important things in this text.

1. The phrase 'I cannot do it' or 'It is not I' is one word in the Hebrew. This suggests a very abrupt, no nonsense answer.

2. Add the significance of the word 'God' in the text, and Joseph told Pharaoh in no uncertain terms that his focus needed to be on God and not on Joseph, a man.

 Notice that once again Joseph had the perfect opportunity to say 'What's in it for me?' After all, he was still a slave in prison. He could have manipulated the situation to what he thought would have been to his benefit. And if that happens Josephs focus is now on him.

 Let me give you a few examples of our great ability to manipulate others for our benefit and put the eyes of the world on us.

1. We choose friends based on what this or that person can do for us. We manipulate them with charm, flattery, even intimidation when all else fails, to get them to like us or do what we want.

2. Advertising. The goal is to manipulate the consumer (you and me) to purchase a product or service that we really don't need...so that  we will feel better about who? Ourselves!

3. And the church is not exempt from manipulation.
 
     -Some use soft music and emotional appeals to try to get people to walk an aisle. So that the pastor or evangelist
      feels good about the effectiveness of HIS message.
 
     -Some play on guilt to get others to give money to their ministry. So they will be more popular than the  ministry
      down the street.

     -Some tear down other churches or denominations so they can get more people into their church or denomination.

     -Some use their checkbook (or withhold it) to get their way in the church.

 No matter how you manipulate, it is not an activity which shows faith in God. It does show we trust in our schemes to get what we want. We, Me, I...But not Joseph. He will not manipulate or use this situation to bring glory to himself, or to even get released from prison. Why? Because with Joseph, it was not Me, or I, it was Thee, He... It was God!

 Joseph's response to Pharaoh was 'Not I...but God'. I pray that in all things, 'Not I, but God' will always be our response.

Read: Genesis 41:17-32

 Pharaoh tells Joseph his two dreams and Joseph gives Pharaoh God's interpretation. 7 yrs of abundance and 7 yrs of famine in the land. He also explains that since there were two dreams, on the same night, about the same thing, this was a sign that not only were the dreams from God, but what the dreams represented was certain to happen.

Read: Genesis 41:33-40

 It sounds like Joseph was creating a position only he could fill. But I don't think that was his intent. Remember Joseph was not an 'I' man, he was a 'Thee' man. Looking at Joseph's character and humble spirit, I don't think it ever crossed his mind that he would be chosen to fill the position.  The best Joseph could hope from was a release from prison.  Besides, he was a Hebrew in Egypt. Egyptians disliked Hebrews and would never let one rule over them. But, Joseph's plan was  a pretty good one. Through the interpretation of the dreams and the wise organizational plan, even Pharaoh noticed that the Spirit of God was with Joseph.

 Now, did the Egyptians have an understanding of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit? No. But what they saw in Joseph, they knew to be different, they recognized as good and godly. Since Joseph said it was God who gave the interpretation of the dream, Pharaoh, Im sure, assumed it was the Spirit of this God who was in Joseph.

 What a testimony! Joseph was living out Matt. 5:16 a couple thousand  years before it was written.

Matt. 5:16 'Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.'

Read: Genesis 41:41-45

 Joseph took an Egyptian wife. Well was kind of forced into marrying the daughter of an Egyptian priest, along with taking an Egyptian name. Presumably to strengthen his credibility with the Egyptian leaders. The marriage and the name were politically motivated. Joseph didn't have a choice. But knowing what we do of Joseph, I am certain he would have told her about the One True God. The man who said no to Potiphar's wife certainly would not let his Egyptian wife cause him to stumble.

Read: Genesis 41:46-57

 When the Lord said 7 yrs of plenty, he meant plenty and Joseph managed it well. It was during the years of plenty that Joseph's two sons were born. In spite of his success, an Egyptian name and wife, Joseph did not abandon his Hebrew heritage. He gave his two sons Hebrew names.

  Joseph's first son was named Manasseh which means 'forgetting'. This doesn't mean that Joseph forgot his family as it might appear by the text. What he forgot was the suffering they had caused him. He realized that God meant it for his and their good.
Because of that, Joseph was able to forgive them. When he looked at his past hurts through this godly perspective, he was able to let all the bitterness go.

 Joseph's second son was named Ephraim which means 'twice fruitful'. Egypt had been a place of severe affliction for Joseph but now God had...

    1. Given him the fruit of two children and
    2. Made him fruitful in Egypt, the land of his affliction.

 It is interesting to note that he named his first born Manasseh (forgetting) before his second born Ephraim (twice fruitful).  You see, God is teaching us that no one can be truly fruitful in life until they have forgotten their past. Joseph understood this...do you?

Conclusion

 There were some things in Joseph's past that needed to be forgotten.  In spite of his past, he harbored no resentment, no bitterness, no anger, and he had no issues of low self worth. God had helped him to forgive...and then forget.

 Someone once said 'It is better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.

 If you are obsessing over the past, you will never be completely fruitful in the present.

 Is there anyone here this morning living in the past and unable to enjoy the present?

 Is your life being eaten away because of bitterness related to past actions, or attitudes of others?
 
 Is there resentment in your life because you are not able to forgive someone?

 Is there shame over bad choices you have made, sin in your past that haunts you?

Listen closely.

 If you are living in the past, Unable to forgive, others or yourself, and   You are unable to forget,  Then you are looking to yourself, your focus is on you. You are being self centered. The big psychological word is 'narcissistic'. You are saying 'Not God, but I'. And that is sin!  And until you give your past and your obsession with it over to the Lord,  your focus will never be totally on Thee, on God. And you will never experience true fruitfulness in life.
 Joseph, whether in prison or in the palace, and in spite of his past was able to say

'Not I, but God'
        ' NOT I, BUT GOD'
                'NOT I, BUT GOD'.
                         Say it with me  'Not I, But God!'