David Jeremiah - From Prison To Palace

July 20, 2025 | 58:20

Joseph had been through many difficulties by the time he was thirty years old, but it is then that we see God's plans for him beginning to come to fruition. Joseph's continued trust in the Lord prepared him to lead in Egypt.

#HandofGod #PresenceofGod #God'sWill #Plan #Timing #Preparation #Visions/Dreams #Future

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Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah | David Jeremiah - From Prison To Palace | July 20, 2025

...
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Male announcer: you've heard dr. david jeremiah
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Teach bible prophecy.
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Now experience those truths in his first ever novel,
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John haggerty is trained to stop global threats,
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[wind instrumental]
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♪♪♪
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Male narrator: he had a dream, a dream that shook kingdoms.
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Favored above his brothers,
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But favor cast a dangerous shadow.
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Betrayal had a price, but so did survival.
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From a father's embrace to a slave master's house,
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From the depths of a forgotten prison to the heights of power.
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From the pit, to the prison, to the palace,
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His suffering would save nations;
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And his broken life, the very instrument of deliverance.
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Because while others meant it for evil,
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God meant it for good.
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♪♪♪
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♪ way maker, miracle worker ♪
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♪ promise keeper, light in the darkness ♪
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♪ my god ♪
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♪ that is who you are ♪
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♪ way maker, miracle worker ♪
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♪ promise keeper, light in the darkness ♪
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♪ my god ♪
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♪ that is who you are ♪
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♪ even when i don't see it, you're working ♪
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♪ even when i don't feel it, you're working ♪
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♪ you never stop ♪
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♪ you never stop working ♪
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♪ you never stop ♪
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♪ you never stop working ♪
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♪ even when i don't see it, you're working ♪
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♪ even when i don't feel it, you're working ♪
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♪ you never stop ♪
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♪ you never stop working ♪
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♪ you never stop ♪
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♪ you never stop working ♪♪
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[congregation applauding]
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Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
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Dr. david jeremiah: what you don't understand:
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This little happening, that little happening,
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That circumstances, why am i here?
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Why am i here now?
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God has got it under control.
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He's working all things together.
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And it's like he's stirring the pot.
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And when it's all done,
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It will be the perfect will of god.
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♪♪♪
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Announcer: prayer, keep it simple,
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Keep it specific.
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When words fail you during times of grief,
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When your heart is filled with gratitude,
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But you can't express it, when you're facing decisions
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That seem impossible, dr. jeremiah helps you
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Bring everything to god.
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The bible tells us to go to god in prayer for all things.
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But sometimes we need guidance on how to pray effectively
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And specifically.
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From "turning point" today.
00:04:20.877 --> 00:04:22.245
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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Here is dr. jeremiah with his message:
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From prison to palace.
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Dr. jeremiah: in our previous glimpse into his life
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We saw joseph sold into slavery in egypt.
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There god blessed his work, and he quickly found favor
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With his master, potiphar.
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However, after refusing the persistent advances
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Of potiphar's wife and fleeing from her,
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She falsely accused him of sexual assault
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And, as you know, joseph ended up in prison.
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That's kind of where we left him last time we were together.
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But even there, the bible says the lord was with him.
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Joseph didn't go to prison alone.
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Genesis 39:21 to 23 says:
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"the lord was with joseph and showed him mercy,
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And he gave him favor in the sight
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Of the keeper of the prison.
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And the keeper of the prison committed to joseph's hand
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All the prisoners who were in the prison;
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Whatever they did there, it was his doing.
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And the keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was
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Under joseph's authority, because the lord was with him;
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And whatever he did, the lord made it prosper."
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Joseph was still in prison at age 28
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When two new prisoners arrived in the jailhouse:
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The king's baker and the king's butler.
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Their story is told in genesis chapter 40.
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Both of these men had dreams, as you remember,
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And joseph interpreted their dreams.
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Without going back over all the details,
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Let me just review with you the bottom line.
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Joseph told the butler that within three days,
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He would be restored to his position in the palace.
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And the news wasn't so good for the baker.
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Genesis 40:19, joseph told him, "within three days,
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Pharaoh will lift off your head from you
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And hang you on a tree;
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And the birds will eat your flesh from you."
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And that's exactly what happened.
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Joseph made a request to the butler
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Before he went back to work.
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He said to him, "when you return to palace duty,
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Speak to pharaoh on my behalf," but look how chapter 40 ends.
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In verse 23, "yet the chief butler did not remember joseph,
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But forgot him."
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He must have felt like giving up, like we feel sometimes
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When it seems like the lord has delayed his answer
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To our very important prayer.
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We must remind ourselves that denial is not the same as delay.
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When god delays, he's up to something,
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As we're going to see in this story.
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And when we try to hold god to our ideas of what should happen,
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We always get disappointed.
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God is not obligated to do things
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The way we want them done.
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The first thing we notice in god's dealing with joseph
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Are his ways.
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In opening verses of chapter 41, we see the ways of god,
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A reminder to us that god does use strange
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And wonderful things to accomplish his task.
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Even though joseph was in prison,
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God was working behind the scenes.
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The lord had not forgotten him,
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Although it seemed everyone else had.
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I mean, let's think about that.
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His brothers forgot him.
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Potiphar and his wife forgot him.
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Even the butler who was-- dream joseph had interpreted
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Had forgotten him.
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But god had not forgotten him.
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God was orchestrating events behind the scenes to help
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Joseph realize his dreams through pharaoh.
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Let's pick up our reading in chapter 41 in the first verse:
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"and it came to pass, at the end of two full years,
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That pharaoh had a dream;
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And behold, he stood by the river.
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And suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows,
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Fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow.
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And then seven other cows came up after them out of the river,
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Ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows
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On the bank of the river.
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And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking
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And fat cows.
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So pharaoh awoke.
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He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads
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Of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good.
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And behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind,
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Sprang up after them.
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And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump heads,
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And that was his dream."
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Notice that pharaoh literally had two dreams:
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One about pasture animals and one about agriculture.
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In egyptian culture, dreams were really critically important.
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And believe it or not, men and women,
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Dreams are still very important in the middle east.
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If you connected with iran, for instance,
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And what god is doing there,
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You would be scarcely able to find any report
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That doesn't contain something about a dream.
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God is using dreams.
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I don't understand it. i can't explain it.
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I'm not going to try to give you a biblical foundation for it.
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I just know it's true and it's happening.
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And it goes back to this time when in egypt,
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Dreams communicated deep truth.
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And to have two disturbing dreams in one night,
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That must have been really a freakout for pharaoh.
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The dreams themselves were quite simple.
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There is even a similarity to them.
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A prosperous set of sevens is destroyed by a poverty-stricken
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Set of sevens.
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One dream had to do with flocks,
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And the other had to do with crops.
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But pharaoh did not know what the dreams meant,
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So he called his brain trust and told them about the dreams.
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And none of the wise men, sorcerers,
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Or magicians knew the meaning.
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Obsessed with understanding the meaning,
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Pharaoh became exasperated with his counselors.
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And the butler who was standing there
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Watching all the egyptian wise men fail
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Came up with this suggestion, it's about time.
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"then the chief butler spoke to pharaoh, saying,
00:10:45.094 --> 00:10:47.163
'i remember my faults this day.
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When pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody
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In the house of the captain of the guard,
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Both me and the chief baker,
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We each had a dream in one night, he and i.
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Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation
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Of his own dream.
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Now there was a young hebrew man with us there,
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A servant of the captain of the guard.
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And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams to us;
00:11:08.651 --> 00:11:12.088
To each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
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And it came to pass, just as he interpreted it to us,
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So it happened.
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He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.'"
00:11:20.930 --> 00:11:25.835
God orchestrated all these events.
00:11:25.835 --> 00:11:27.737
Just think about it.
00:11:27.737 --> 00:11:29.238
The sale of joseph into slavery, his unwarranted imprisonment,
00:11:29.238 --> 00:11:34.243
The interpretation of the butler's dream,
00:11:34.243 --> 00:11:37.012
Joseph being forgotten, pharaoh's dream,
00:11:37.012 --> 00:11:40.483
The butler suddenly remembering what joseph had done.
00:11:40.483 --> 00:11:43.986
Everything was put together at the perfect time
00:11:43.986 --> 00:11:46.989
So that pharaoh would say, "go get joseph
00:11:46.989 --> 00:11:51.227
And bring him to me."
00:11:51.227 --> 00:11:53.429
And in verse 14 we read: "they brought him quickly
00:11:53.429 --> 00:11:56.265
Out of the dungeon; and joseph shaved and changed his clothing
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And came to pharaoh."
00:12:01.070 --> 00:12:03.906
God knows what he's doing, my friends.
00:12:03.906 --> 00:12:06.342
You may not understand it, but god does.
00:12:06.342 --> 00:12:09.078
So often, if we understand it, it's probably not god.
00:12:09.078 --> 00:12:13.315
God does things in amazing ways.
00:12:13.315 --> 00:12:15.351
We find out later it was god, he was up to something.
00:12:15.351 --> 00:12:18.554
He knows exactly what he's doing,
00:12:18.554 --> 00:12:20.156
And he always does the right thing.
00:12:20.156 --> 00:12:22.458
One thing we can know for sure about the lord is this:
00:12:22.458 --> 00:12:25.261
He has perfect timing.
00:12:25.261 --> 00:12:28.964
Just at the moment when pharaoh had a need that no one close
00:12:28.964 --> 00:12:32.635
To him could meet, the lord arranges to have the only person
00:12:32.635 --> 00:12:36.806
Who knows about joseph, the only person,
00:12:36.806 --> 00:12:39.742
Standing right there in that setting.
00:12:39.742 --> 00:12:43.879
Someone once told me, "the more i pray,
00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.614
The more coincidence i have."
00:12:45.614 --> 00:12:47.950
Have you ever noticed that?
00:12:47.950 --> 00:12:49.852
God is at work,
00:12:49.852 --> 00:12:51.487
And sometimes we think it's just coincidental,
00:12:51.487 --> 00:12:53.189
But it's god doing his thing.
00:12:53.189 --> 00:12:56.258
The lord not only has perfect timing, he uses perfect tactics.
00:12:56.258 --> 00:13:01.330
What is it that paul wrote to the romans?
00:13:01.330 --> 00:13:03.432
He said, "god makes all things work together for good to those
00:13:03.432 --> 00:13:08.003
Who love god and are called according to his purpose."
00:13:08.003 --> 00:13:11.407
What you don't understand: this little happening,
00:13:11.407 --> 00:13:13.742
That little happening, that circumstances, why am i here?
00:13:13.742 --> 00:13:16.846
Why am i here now?
00:13:16.846 --> 00:13:19.014
God has got it under control.
00:13:19.014 --> 00:13:20.850
He's working all things together,
00:13:20.850 --> 00:13:23.619
And it's like he's stirring the pot,
00:13:23.619 --> 00:13:26.355
And when it's all done, it will be the perfect will
00:13:26.355 --> 00:13:29.992
Of god, the ways of god.
00:13:29.992 --> 00:13:32.828
Let's notice the wisdom of joseph
00:13:32.828 --> 00:13:35.631
In genesis 41:15 and following:
00:13:35.631 --> 00:13:38.267
"and pharaoh said to joseph, 'i've had a dream,
00:13:39.935 --> 00:13:43.439
And there's no one who can interpret it.
00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:46.175
But i have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream,
00:13:46.175 --> 00:13:49.178
To interpret it.'"
00:13:49.178 --> 00:13:51.180
Not only had god been preparing joseph and shaping him
00:13:51.180 --> 00:13:54.650
To the kind of man who could be the prime minister
00:13:54.650 --> 00:13:57.519
Of a great nation, he was preparing pharaoh.
00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:00.756
And the king was frantic about his dreams,
00:14:00.756 --> 00:14:03.025
So now he's ready to listen to this lowly slave
00:14:03.025 --> 00:14:06.161
Who just got out of prison a few minutes ago
00:14:06.161 --> 00:14:08.197
And just had time to shave before he showed up,
00:14:08.197 --> 00:14:11.867
And share the wisdom that comes from god.
00:14:11.867 --> 00:14:14.803
I am so impressed with joseph's first words.
00:14:14.803 --> 00:14:18.240
"so joseph answered pharaoh, saying, 'it is not in me.'"
00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:23.078
It's not in me, pharaoh.
00:14:23.078 --> 00:14:24.780
I'm not the great dream-answerer.
00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:26.749
"'god will give pharaoh an answer of peace.'"
00:14:26.749 --> 00:14:30.119
Joseph predicted egypt's future and gave the credit to god.
00:14:30.119 --> 00:14:36.592
Joseph points out on several occasions that he knows
00:14:36.592 --> 00:14:40.162
God is behind all that's going on in his life,
00:14:40.162 --> 00:14:43.732
And god is the one to explain it to pharaoh.
00:14:43.732 --> 00:14:45.834
That's why we read in verse 25 of chapter 41:
00:14:45.834 --> 00:14:49.939
"god has shown pharaoh what he is about to do."
00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:53.876
That's why we read in genesis 41:32:
00:14:53.876 --> 00:14:56.912
"the thing is established by god."
00:14:56.912 --> 00:15:00.149
The lord was the one behind every event,
00:15:00.149 --> 00:15:03.519
And it was god's will for pharaoh to know
00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.387
What was about to happen.
00:15:05.387 --> 00:15:07.690
Pharaoh had two dreams,
00:15:07.690 --> 00:15:09.658
And as i understand the culture of that time,
00:15:09.658 --> 00:15:12.061
The doubling of a dream was a sign that what was
00:15:12.061 --> 00:15:15.331
About to happen would be both crucial and quick.
00:15:15.331 --> 00:15:19.902
So he quickly told joseph the content of his dreams,
00:15:19.902 --> 00:15:22.905
And joseph says, "pharaoh, you didn't have two dreams,
00:15:22.905 --> 00:15:26.375
You just had one.
00:15:26.375 --> 00:15:28.177
They mean the same thing."
00:15:28.177 --> 00:15:30.079
And then he explained the meaning of the dreams
00:15:30.079 --> 00:15:32.448
To the king in this succinct paragraph.
00:15:32.448 --> 00:15:35.284
This is what he told him.
00:15:35.284 --> 00:15:37.286
"the seven good cows are seven years,
00:15:37.286 --> 00:15:40.189
And the seven thin and ugly cows
00:15:40.189 --> 00:15:42.324
Which come up after them are seven years.
00:15:42.324 --> 00:15:45.160
Indeed seven years of great plenty
00:15:45.160 --> 00:15:47.396
Will come throughout all the land of egypt;
00:15:47.396 --> 00:15:50.265
But after them seven years of famine will arise,
00:15:50.265 --> 00:15:53.902
And all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of egypt;
00:15:53.902 --> 00:15:57.639
And the famine will deplete the land."
00:15:57.639 --> 00:16:00.976
Thus pharaoh finally had his question answered.
00:16:00.976 --> 00:16:04.780
He now understood what god was going to do in the future
00:16:04.780 --> 00:16:08.951
And that the lord had chosen joseph
00:16:08.951 --> 00:16:10.886
To reveal that future to him.
00:16:10.886 --> 00:16:12.888
So joseph predicted egypt's future,
00:16:13.856 --> 00:16:17.126
And then joseph proposed a solution to the problem.
00:16:17.126 --> 00:16:20.896
Imagine joseph, he's just out of prison.
00:16:20.896 --> 00:16:22.965
I like to think about this story, and it so intrigues me.
00:16:22.965 --> 00:16:26.335
He just got shaved, he just got washed.
00:16:26.335 --> 00:16:28.370
Maybe there's still some moisture around his face.
00:16:28.370 --> 00:16:31.373
He's standing in front of the most powerful man on earth,
00:16:31.373 --> 00:16:34.510
And he's answering this man's questions.
00:16:34.510 --> 00:16:38.013
If that had been me, i probably would have been very quiet,
00:16:38.013 --> 00:16:40.649
And after answering the questions,
00:16:40.649 --> 00:16:43.218
Slipped back to my cell.
00:16:43.218 --> 00:16:45.487
But joseph had become bold and he didn't stop
00:16:45.487 --> 00:16:49.091
With telling the king what was going to happen.
00:16:49.091 --> 00:16:51.627
He followed that by telling the king what to do about
00:16:51.627 --> 00:16:54.630
What was going to happen.
00:16:54.630 --> 00:16:56.965
And this is what he told him.
00:16:56.965 --> 00:16:58.333
"now therefore, let pharaoh select a discerning
00:16:58.333 --> 00:17:00.803
And wise man, and set him over the land of egypt.
00:17:00.803 --> 00:17:05.207
Let pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land,
00:17:05.207 --> 00:17:09.511
To collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of egypt
00:17:09.511 --> 00:17:14.016
In the seven plentiful years.
00:17:14.016 --> 00:17:16.752
And let them gather all the food of those good years that are
00:17:16.752 --> 00:17:20.122
Coming, and store up grain under the authority of pharaoh,
00:17:20.122 --> 00:17:24.560
And let them keep food in the cities.
00:17:24.560 --> 00:17:28.363
Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land
00:17:28.363 --> 00:17:31.500
For the seven years of famine
00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:33.735
Which shall be in the land of egypt,
00:17:33.735 --> 00:17:36.004
That the land may not perish during the famine."
00:17:36.004 --> 00:17:39.741
That's his plan for the years that are coming.
00:17:39.741 --> 00:17:43.112
Pharaoh must have thought to himself,
00:17:43.112 --> 00:17:44.680
"hey, that's a great idea.
00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.548
Well, where am i gonna find somebody
00:17:46.548 --> 00:17:48.217
Who can organize such a big project?
00:17:48.217 --> 00:17:50.452
I don't know anybody like that."
00:17:50.452 --> 00:17:52.321
Then he looks down at the man standing right in front of him
00:17:52.321 --> 00:17:55.290
And realizes this is the only guy who could interpret
00:17:55.290 --> 00:17:57.659
His dream out of all the brain trust
00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:59.394
In the whole land of egypt
00:17:59.394 --> 00:18:01.196
And the only one who could solve his greatest problem.
00:18:01.196 --> 00:18:04.032
And, bing, the light went off in his head.
00:18:04.032 --> 00:18:07.769
"and pharaoh said to joseph, 'inasmuch as god has shown all
00:18:07.769 --> 00:18:11.573
This to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.'"
00:18:11.573 --> 00:18:16.111
Wisdom has been described as knowledge put into action.
00:18:17.346 --> 00:18:21.884
It is the ability to make sound decisions
00:18:21.884 --> 00:18:24.620
Even in unprecedented situations.
00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:28.524
The wisdom of joseph.
00:18:28.524 --> 00:18:30.559
Then notice the will of pharaoh: in verses 40 and 41,
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:34.229
Pharaoh's response to the ways of god and the wisdom of joseph.
00:18:34.229 --> 00:18:38.534
"it was pharaoh's will that joseph be installed
00:18:38.534 --> 00:18:41.670
As second in command over all of egypt.
00:18:41.670 --> 00:18:45.040
So pharaoh told joseph," verses 40 and 41,
00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:48.944
"'joseph, you're gonna be over my house,
00:18:48.944 --> 00:18:51.346
And all my people will be ruled
00:18:51.346 --> 00:18:53.215
According to your word; only in regard to the throne
00:18:53.215 --> 00:18:56.318
Will i be greater than you.'
00:18:56.318 --> 00:18:58.453
And pharaoh said to joseph, 'see, i have set you
00:18:58.453 --> 00:19:01.657
Over all the land of egypt.'"
00:19:01.657 --> 00:19:04.493
How's that for starting out in the morning in prison
00:19:04.493 --> 00:19:08.197
And ending up that night as head over the whole nation?
00:19:08.197 --> 00:19:12.367
Joseph was an important man, and he had great responsibility.
00:19:12.367 --> 00:19:17.139
And that jump from prison to palace in one day
00:19:17.139 --> 00:19:19.708
Was absolutely remarkable.
00:19:19.708 --> 00:19:22.211
But god had been planning that for many years.
00:19:22.211 --> 00:19:25.948
It happened in one day, but it was under construction
00:19:25.948 --> 00:19:29.918
For many weeks and months.
00:19:29.918 --> 00:19:31.820
You know, that's the truth for us, isn't it?
00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.622
Sometimes things happen in our lives and we think,
00:19:33.622 --> 00:19:36.325
"whoa, where'd that come from?"
00:19:36.325 --> 00:19:37.826
And then we look back and we can see the hand of god.
00:19:37.826 --> 00:19:40.462
He's been preparing things along the way.
00:19:40.462 --> 00:19:43.165
I could tell you stories about my life that illustrate that,
00:19:43.165 --> 00:19:46.969
But the stories of the bible are way better,
00:19:46.969 --> 00:19:48.837
So we'll stick with them.
00:19:48.837 --> 00:19:51.106
Verse 46 says: "joseph was thirty years old
00:19:51.106 --> 00:19:54.910
When he stood before pharaoh king of egypt.
00:19:54.910 --> 00:19:57.579
And joseph went out from the presence of pharaoh,
00:19:57.579 --> 00:20:00.983
And went throughout the land of egypt."
00:20:00.983 --> 00:20:04.219
Let me just mention four things about joseph that made him
00:20:04.219 --> 00:20:06.788
A fit candidate when he submitted to god.
00:20:06.788 --> 00:20:10.826
God's sovereignty was in his life.
00:20:10.826 --> 00:20:12.861
Notice he had a courageous vision.
00:20:12.861 --> 00:20:15.230
From the day that joseph shared his dreams until he ascended
00:20:15.230 --> 00:20:18.200
To the throne, he never wavered in his belief
00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:22.471
That god was giving him a vision for the future.
00:20:22.471 --> 00:20:26.208
Now, hey, friends, it's one thing to get a vision,
00:20:26.208 --> 00:20:29.177
And a lot of people have visions.
00:20:29.177 --> 00:20:31.179
Sometimes it's because they ate too much pizza
00:20:31.179 --> 00:20:33.515
Before they went to sleep.
00:20:33.515 --> 00:20:35.450
But you know what?
00:20:35.450 --> 00:20:36.785
A vision that only lasts for two or three days
00:20:36.785 --> 00:20:38.720
Isn't much of a vision.
00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.555
Anybody can sustain that basically in their own power.
00:20:40.555 --> 00:20:44.693
It's one thing to have a vision realized within months,
00:20:44.693 --> 00:20:47.162
But when god gives you a dream,
00:20:47.162 --> 00:20:49.831
A genuine vision and purpose for the future,
00:20:49.831 --> 00:20:52.701
It takes a lot longer.
00:20:52.701 --> 00:20:54.636
I hope you have such a vision for your life.
00:20:54.636 --> 00:20:58.006
And then joseph was committed to god's glory.
00:20:58.006 --> 00:21:00.375
We've touched on this already.
00:21:00.375 --> 00:21:02.444
He told pharaoh, "god will give you an answer,"
00:21:02.444 --> 00:21:05.514
And he told pharaoh the answer was from god.
00:21:05.514 --> 00:21:08.617
I'm telling you what, when god does a great thing in your life,
00:21:08.617 --> 00:21:12.254
Don't ever take the credit to yourself,
00:21:12.254 --> 00:21:16.358
Because then you will lose the blessing.
00:21:16.358 --> 00:21:18.593
The blessing comes when you are a useful person
00:21:18.593 --> 00:21:23.365
To bring glory to god, and then god does a great thing.
00:21:23.365 --> 00:21:27.703
Joseph was courageous in his vision,
00:21:27.703 --> 00:21:29.838
Committed to god's glory, and he was controlled
00:21:29.838 --> 00:21:32.274
By the holy spirit.
00:21:32.274 --> 00:21:34.309
Even pharaoh noticed that joseph was a different kind of dude.
00:21:34.309 --> 00:21:39.214
He said he was "a man in whom is the spirit of god."
00:21:39.214 --> 00:21:43.485
And i'm pretty sure pharaoh didn't know much about god
00:21:43.485 --> 00:21:46.755
And didn't know much about the spirit of god.
00:21:46.755 --> 00:21:49.424
He just knew that what he saw in joseph was different than
00:21:49.424 --> 00:21:52.527
Anything he had ever seen in anyone else, and that god,
00:21:52.527 --> 00:21:56.198
Whoever god was, must be involved in the life of joseph.
00:21:56.198 --> 00:22:00.369
He was a man in whom was the spirit of god.
00:22:00.369 --> 00:22:03.705
Can i ask us a question today?
00:22:03.705 --> 00:22:06.108
Does god get recognized in your life and in mine?
00:22:06.108 --> 00:22:10.779
Is there anything about you that is, "that's a god thing"?
00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:16.118
There needs to be that in our lives,
00:22:16.118 --> 00:22:17.753
Especially in this dark age
00:22:17.753 --> 00:22:19.154
When god has been removed from every public place
00:22:19.154 --> 00:22:22.924
Where he used to be at home.
00:22:22.924 --> 00:22:25.427
While pharaoh may not have fully understood the concept
00:22:25.427 --> 00:22:28.130
Of god's spirit as we do today,
00:22:28.130 --> 00:22:30.699
He knew that joseph was different.
00:22:30.699 --> 00:22:34.636
Scripture tells us that a key mark of a spirit-filled life
00:22:34.636 --> 00:22:38.473
Is consistency under pressure.
00:22:38.473 --> 00:22:41.643
When you're under pressure, if you're spirit-filled,
00:22:41.643 --> 00:22:44.646
It'll show up.
00:22:44.646 --> 00:22:46.081
Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness,
00:22:46.081 --> 00:22:50.819
And jesus overcame satan's temptations.
00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:55.056
In acts 6, when the early church faced an administrative
00:22:55.056 --> 00:22:57.726
Challenge that threatened to tear them apart,
00:22:57.726 --> 00:23:00.395
The holy spirit guided them to appoint
00:23:00.395 --> 00:23:02.731
Seven spirit-filled men to oversee food distribution.
00:23:02.731 --> 00:23:06.735
And when stephen was being stoned, full of the holy spirit,
00:23:06.735 --> 00:23:10.005
He had a vision of heaven and forgave his persecutors.
00:23:10.005 --> 00:23:14.109
It is interesting to me that in the new testament,
00:23:14.109 --> 00:23:17.813
This is the pattern.
00:23:17.813 --> 00:23:20.482
You want to know if you're spirit-filled?
00:23:20.482 --> 00:23:23.218
Well, see what happens when you go through
00:23:23.218 --> 00:23:25.287
The next set of problems you weren't expecting.
00:23:25.287 --> 00:23:28.557
You know why you have to be spirit-filled then?
00:23:28.557 --> 00:23:31.026
Because not being spirit-filled is not sufficient
00:23:31.026 --> 00:23:33.795
To deal with the issue.
00:23:33.795 --> 00:23:35.997
You have to have the holy spirit help you.
00:23:35.997 --> 00:23:39.067
And then joseph, number four,
00:23:39.067 --> 00:23:41.336
Was cooperative with god's process of training.
00:23:41.336 --> 00:23:44.372
This is one of my favorite parts of this story.
00:23:44.372 --> 00:23:47.609
Did you know that joseph had to go through 13 years of school
00:23:47.609 --> 00:23:52.514
So that he could experience 80 years of ministry?
00:23:52.514 --> 00:23:56.852
Through all that training, he focused on the lord.
00:23:56.918 --> 00:24:00.489
In slavery, in the pit, in the prison,
00:24:00.489 --> 00:24:03.258
He worked to become a strong,
00:24:03.258 --> 00:24:04.926
Disciplined man of god, and there was no complaining;
00:24:04.926 --> 00:24:08.730
Simply a desire to obey the lord and do his best.
00:24:08.730 --> 00:24:14.870
Some people are always saying, "i'm just waiting for god
00:24:14.870 --> 00:24:17.539
To open a great opportunity."
00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:19.875
But my question is, what are you doing
00:24:19.875 --> 00:24:21.576
With the opportunity you already have?
00:24:21.576 --> 00:24:24.513
Because usually what happens, god takes the opportunities
00:24:24.513 --> 00:24:27.215
We have, and he turns them into great opportunities.
00:24:27.215 --> 00:24:30.852
If you're sitting by the wayside waiting for your big moment
00:24:30.852 --> 00:24:34.055
To come, you might be waiting a long time.
00:24:34.055 --> 00:24:37.959
God is looking for those who are faithful in a few things
00:24:37.959 --> 00:24:41.229
So that he can make them ruler over many things.
00:24:41.229 --> 00:24:44.699
That's what the bible says.
00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:47.402
And god never promotes unfaithfulness.
00:24:47.402 --> 00:24:49.671
Did you know that?
00:24:49.671 --> 00:24:51.406
Unfaithfulness never gets promoted.
00:24:51.406 --> 00:24:54.576
Consider joseph's example.
00:24:54.576 --> 00:24:57.379
He was faithful in potiphar's house.
00:24:57.379 --> 00:25:00.315
He was faithful in prison.
00:25:00.315 --> 00:25:02.317
He was faithful as second-in-command over egypt.
00:25:02.317 --> 00:25:05.186
And in each position, regardless of scale,
00:25:05.186 --> 00:25:08.790
Joseph's character and his actions remained consistent.
00:25:08.790 --> 00:25:14.095
If you put all this down and kind of take a long look at it
00:25:14.095 --> 00:25:17.766
Across the page, what you realize is that joseph
00:25:17.766 --> 00:25:23.405
Believed in god all the way to the core of who he was.
00:25:23.405 --> 00:25:28.910
He believed that when the problems came,
00:25:28.910 --> 00:25:31.780
God would show up and he would show off.
00:25:31.780 --> 00:25:35.150
And god always showed off on behalf of joseph.
00:25:35.150 --> 00:25:39.120
As we end this message, i wanna ask you, individually,
00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:42.457
This question as you think about the life of joseph:
00:25:42.457 --> 00:25:46.227
Are you a big godder or a little godder?
00:25:46.227 --> 00:25:51.166
Do you believe god can do anything?
00:25:51.166 --> 00:25:53.535
Are you convinced in your mind that nothing
00:25:53.535 --> 00:25:55.570
Is too hard for him?
00:25:55.570 --> 00:25:57.539
In the midst of your situations that you are facing
00:25:57.539 --> 00:26:01.943
Which seem impossible to you, do you believe
00:26:01.943 --> 00:26:04.546
That he is the god of the impossible?
00:26:04.546 --> 00:26:06.915
Do you trust god?
00:26:06.915 --> 00:26:08.516
Do you believe in him?
00:26:08.516 --> 00:26:10.185
Do you pray to him?
00:26:10.185 --> 00:26:11.586
Do you acknowledge him?
00:26:11.586 --> 00:26:13.054
Do you wait till he's the last resort
00:26:13.054 --> 00:26:15.390
Before you bring him your problems?
00:26:15.390 --> 00:26:18.727
A person who has a big god knows he's never out of touch
00:26:18.727 --> 00:26:22.330
With a solution.
00:26:22.330 --> 00:26:24.232
If you know god, you are always in touch
00:26:24.232 --> 00:26:28.470
With the solution to your problem.
00:26:28.470 --> 00:26:30.572
He is able to do above and beyond
00:26:30.572 --> 00:26:33.241
All that you would ever ask or think.
00:26:33.241 --> 00:26:35.944
That's what the bible says.
00:26:35.944 --> 00:26:38.380
He's done that for me so many times.
00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:41.182
I have at least a dozen stories i could tell you.
00:26:41.182 --> 00:26:44.686
I am here to tell you that god is enough.
00:26:44.686 --> 00:26:47.689
He's enough for you. he's enough for me.
00:26:47.689 --> 00:26:49.724
He's enough for every situation.
00:26:49.724 --> 00:26:52.293
When you put your trust in him, you can know that all is well.
00:26:52.293 --> 00:26:57.165
♪♪♪
00:26:57.666 --> 00:27:02.270
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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♪♪♪
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Announcer: if you have never taken the step to believe in
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00:28:03.031 --> 00:28:06.301
The first is a booklet called "your greatest turning point,"
00:28:06.301 --> 00:28:09.437
Which will help you as you begin your relationship with christ.
00:28:09.437 --> 00:28:12.807
And the second is our monthly devotional magazine,
00:28:12.807 --> 00:28:15.243
"turning points," to give you encouragement
00:28:15.243 --> 00:28:17.445
And inspiration throughout the year.
00:28:17.445 --> 00:28:19.981
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00:28:19.981 --> 00:28:22.317
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Announcer: if you enjoyed today's message, watch the
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00:28:51.780 --> 00:28:54.816
Announcer: coming up on "turning point."
00:28:57.252 --> 00:28:59.954
Dr. jeremiah: you know, the only thing that stands between you
00:28:59.954 --> 00:29:01.856
And the wholeness of your life with regard
00:29:01.856 --> 00:29:03.758
To your relationships is taking the courageous step
00:29:03.758 --> 00:29:08.797
Of forgiving those who have hurt you.
00:29:08.797 --> 00:29:11.566
And don't just forgive it, but forget it.
00:29:11.566 --> 00:29:13.601
Put it behind you.
00:29:13.601 --> 00:29:15.570
And determine in your heart
00:29:15.570 --> 00:29:16.938
That you're not going to bring it up again.
00:29:16.938 --> 00:29:18.439
You're going to walk away from it and be free.
00:29:18.439 --> 00:29:21.476
Announcer: stay tuned for another message
00:29:23.211 --> 00:29:24.779
From dr. jeremiah's series,
00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:26.581
"god meant it for good: the story of joseph,"
00:29:26.581 --> 00:29:29.217
Coming up next, here on "turning point."
00:29:29.217 --> 00:29:31.686
♪♪♪
00:29:34.722 --> 00:29:45.166
Narrator: he had a dream,
00:29:45.233 --> 00:29:47.569
A dream that shook kingdoms.
00:29:47.569 --> 00:29:50.171
Favored above his brothers,
00:29:52.841 --> 00:29:56.010
But favor cast a dangerous shadow.
00:29:56.010 --> 00:30:00.315
Betrayal had a price, but so did survival.
00:30:00.315 --> 00:30:06.721
From a father's embrace, to a slave master's house,
00:30:06.721 --> 00:30:12.393
From the depths of a forgotten prison to the heights of power.
00:30:12.393 --> 00:30:18.132
From the pit, to the prison, to the palace,
00:30:18.132 --> 00:30:23.238
His suffering would save nations; and his broken life,
00:30:23.238 --> 00:30:28.576
The very instrument of deliverance.
00:30:28.576 --> 00:30:32.213
Because while others meant it for evil, god meant it for good.
00:30:32.213 --> 00:30:37.719
♪♪♪
00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:43.458
Announcer: here is dr. jeremiah with his message:
00:30:43.458 --> 00:30:45.894
God's method for melting hard hearts.
00:30:45.894 --> 00:30:48.897
Dr. jeremiah: the story of joseph's brothers in the book
00:30:48.963 --> 00:30:50.899
Of genesis gives us a prime example of hard-heartedness.
00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:56.504
Driven by jealousy and resentment
00:30:56.504 --> 00:30:58.273
Over their father's favoritism,
00:30:58.273 --> 00:31:01.309
They showed a callous disregard for their younger brother.
00:31:01.309 --> 00:31:05.380
They plotted to kill him,
00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:07.615
Settled on selling him into slavery instead.
00:31:07.615 --> 00:31:11.286
They even deceived their father about his fate,
00:31:11.286 --> 00:31:13.855
Allowing their dad to believe that his beloved son was dead.
00:31:13.855 --> 00:31:18.693
Their hard-heartedness would take years to soften.
00:31:18.693 --> 00:31:22.897
But as we often see in scripture,
00:31:22.897 --> 00:31:25.533
God has many ways to break through
00:31:25.533 --> 00:31:27.902
The most calloused hearts.
00:31:27.902 --> 00:31:30.471
We pick up joseph's story in genesis 42.
00:31:30.471 --> 00:31:33.975
He has risen to power in egypt after having interpreted
00:31:33.975 --> 00:31:37.445
Pharaoh's dreams about a coming seven years of plenty,
00:31:37.445 --> 00:31:42.250
Followed by seven years of famine,
00:31:42.250 --> 00:31:45.286
And the seven years of abundance have passed,
00:31:45.286 --> 00:31:48.056
And the prophesied famine has begun to grip the whole world.
00:31:48.056 --> 00:31:53.027
And what is about to unfold is one of the most amazing
00:31:53.027 --> 00:31:56.064
Scenarios of god's dealing with long-past sin.
00:31:56.064 --> 00:32:00.268
For while joseph was being dealt with by god in egypt,
00:32:00.268 --> 00:32:03.972
The lord was also setting the stage for the recovery
00:32:03.972 --> 00:32:07.075
Of joseph's family.
00:32:07.075 --> 00:32:09.243
So in genesis 42, we see the lord's methods
00:32:09.243 --> 00:32:12.547
For bringing about change in people.
00:32:12.547 --> 00:32:15.183
He still uses those methods, by the way, so take note.
00:32:15.183 --> 00:32:19.153
He's still doing what he did in joseph's family.
00:32:19.153 --> 00:32:22.290
He's doing it in families today.
00:32:22.290 --> 00:32:23.825
He may have done it in your family.
00:32:23.825 --> 00:32:25.693
Maybe you were walking away from the lord,
00:32:25.693 --> 00:32:29.230
Like one of the disciples who walked afar off.
00:32:29.230 --> 00:32:33.201
But god has his methods of bringing you back,
00:32:33.201 --> 00:32:35.570
And watch how he works in the family of joseph.
00:32:35.570 --> 00:32:38.806
The intrigue of all of this is the most interesting thing
00:32:38.806 --> 00:32:41.609
In the bible.
00:32:41.609 --> 00:32:43.011
You cannot imagine the lengths to which god will go
00:32:43.011 --> 00:32:47.515
To make sure your heart doesn't stay hard
00:32:47.515 --> 00:32:50.151
But gets softened and you come back to him.
00:32:50.151 --> 00:32:53.521
There are a number of steps the lord takes to melt
00:32:53.521 --> 00:32:55.990
The hardened hearts of jacob and bring them first
00:32:55.990 --> 00:32:58.960
To conviction and ultimately to fellowship with him.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:02.663
First thing i want you to note is the experience of difficulty.
00:33:02.663 --> 00:33:07.301
In the first three verses of the 42nd chapter,
00:33:07.301 --> 00:33:10.538
We learn about the difficulty
00:33:10.538 --> 00:33:12.774
That's going on in the family of jacob.
00:33:12.774 --> 00:33:15.777
"when jacob saw that there was grain in egypt,
00:33:15.777 --> 00:33:19.213
He said to his sons, 'why do you look at one another?'
00:33:19.213 --> 00:33:22.950
And he said, 'indeed, i have heard
00:33:22.950 --> 00:33:24.652
That there is grain in egypt;
00:33:24.652 --> 00:33:26.954
Go down to that place and buy for us there,
00:33:26.954 --> 00:33:29.424
That we may live and not die.'
00:33:29.424 --> 00:33:31.826
So joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain in egypt."
00:33:31.826 --> 00:33:36.364
All of a sudden, the family of jacob finds themself
00:33:36.364 --> 00:33:40.735
Not the recipients of inflation, but on the edge of starvation.
00:33:40.735 --> 00:33:47.775
They have no food and no way of getting any food,
00:33:47.775 --> 00:33:50.845
And so he sends his boys to egypt.
00:33:50.845 --> 00:33:54.348
Joseph prophesied this famine when he was interpreting
00:33:54.348 --> 00:33:57.452
Pharaoh's dream, but now the time of want
00:33:57.452 --> 00:34:00.321
Has begun to settle upon his own family.
00:34:00.321 --> 00:34:03.324
And twice in the text we are told it was severe.
00:34:03.324 --> 00:34:06.661
"the famine was over all the face of the earth
00:34:06.661 --> 00:34:09.997
And joseph opened all the storehouses
00:34:09.997 --> 00:34:12.366
And sold to the egyptians.
00:34:12.366 --> 00:34:14.469
And the famine became severe in the land of egypt.
00:34:14.469 --> 00:34:17.772
So all countries came to joseph in egypt to buy grain,
00:34:17.772 --> 00:34:21.576
Because the famine was severe in all lands."
00:34:21.576 --> 00:34:24.612
It was a terrible famine.
00:34:24.612 --> 00:34:26.447
There was no food.
00:34:26.447 --> 00:34:29.550
When the grain was gone and the food was running low,
00:34:29.550 --> 00:34:33.721
Jacob realized something had to be done.
00:34:33.721 --> 00:34:36.991
So he looked at his sons, who were apparently indecisive
00:34:36.991 --> 00:34:39.660
About what to do, and he said,
00:34:39.660 --> 00:34:41.028
"don't just sit there; go do something."
00:34:41.028 --> 00:34:44.932
That's a loose translation.
00:34:44.932 --> 00:34:48.569
And we have to understand that god is sometimes
00:34:48.569 --> 00:34:51.639
Using unconventional methods to get our attention.
00:34:51.639 --> 00:34:55.910
C.s. lewis once said that god shouts at us
00:34:55.910 --> 00:34:59.013
Through pain and through problems
00:34:59.013 --> 00:35:01.182
To get our attention.
00:35:01.182 --> 00:35:02.517
He wrote, "god whispers to us in our pleasures,
00:35:02.517 --> 00:35:05.686
Speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.
00:35:05.686 --> 00:35:09.690
It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
00:35:09.690 --> 00:35:12.693
Did you know that sometimes god sends difficulty in your life
00:35:12.693 --> 00:35:16.230
Because you won't listen to his whisper and he's got to shout?
00:35:16.230 --> 00:35:19.534
So when you're going through some tough things,
00:35:19.534 --> 00:35:21.569
It's god shouting at you, trying to get your attention.
00:35:21.569 --> 00:35:25.406
Then notice the exclusion of trust.
00:35:25.406 --> 00:35:29.310
It says in verse 4 of chapter 42:
00:35:29.310 --> 00:35:32.713
"but jacob did not send joseph's brother
00:35:32.713 --> 00:35:35.550
Benjamin with his brothers, for he said,
00:35:35.550 --> 00:35:38.886
'lest some calamity befall him.'"
00:35:38.886 --> 00:35:43.591
Jacob didn't trust his ten older sons to take care of benjamin.
00:35:43.591 --> 00:35:48.029
Deep down in his heart, he suspected
00:35:48.029 --> 00:35:50.064
That they had something to do with the loss of joseph.
00:35:50.064 --> 00:35:53.768
Jacob's fear of losing another son made him
00:35:53.768 --> 00:35:56.137
Overprotective of benjamin.
00:35:56.137 --> 00:35:57.972
And while the brothers felt constantly under suspicion
00:35:57.972 --> 00:36:00.408
For a crime they knew they had committed,
00:36:00.408 --> 00:36:03.311
Things were not well in the family of jacob.
00:36:03.311 --> 00:36:07.114
The exclusion of trust.
00:36:07.114 --> 00:36:08.616
Then we have, thirdly,
00:36:08.616 --> 00:36:10.618
The encounter with the past in verses 5 through 15,
00:36:10.618 --> 00:36:14.722
And i need to read this rather extended passage,
00:36:14.722 --> 00:36:17.458
But you won't have any problem following me.
00:36:17.458 --> 00:36:20.561
"and the sons of israel went to buy grain among those
00:36:20.561 --> 00:36:23.497
Who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of canaan.
00:36:23.497 --> 00:36:27.535
Now joseph was governor over the land;
00:36:27.535 --> 00:36:29.437
And it was he who sold to all the people of the land.
00:36:29.437 --> 00:36:33.074
And joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him
00:36:33.074 --> 00:36:35.910
With their faces to the earth.
00:36:35.910 --> 00:36:38.045
And joseph saw his brothers and recognized them,
00:36:38.045 --> 00:36:41.782
But he acted as a stranger to them
00:36:41.782 --> 00:36:43.684
And spoke roughly to them.
00:36:43.684 --> 00:36:45.987
Then he said to them, 'where do you come from?'
00:36:45.987 --> 00:36:48.222
And they said, 'from the land of canaan to buy food.'
00:36:48.222 --> 00:36:51.592
So joseph recognized his brothers,
00:36:51.592 --> 00:36:53.828
But they did not recognize him.
00:36:53.828 --> 00:36:56.797
Then joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed
00:36:56.797 --> 00:36:59.634
About them, and he said to them, 'you are spies!
00:36:59.634 --> 00:37:04.538
You have come to see the nakedness of the land!'
00:37:04.538 --> 00:37:06.707
And they said to him, 'no, my lord,
00:37:06.707 --> 00:37:08.676
But your servants have come to buy food.
00:37:08.676 --> 00:37:10.745
We are one man's sons; and we are honest men;
00:37:10.745 --> 00:37:14.482
Your servants are not spies.'
00:37:14.482 --> 00:37:16.884
But he said to them, 'no, but you have come to see
00:37:16.884 --> 00:37:19.053
The nakedness of the land.'
00:37:19.053 --> 00:37:20.821
And they said, 'your servants are twelve brothers,
00:37:20.821 --> 00:37:25.159
The sons of one man in the land of canaan; and in fact,
00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:28.129
The youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.'
00:37:28.129 --> 00:37:36.671
But joseph said to them, 'it is as i spoke to you, saying,
00:37:36.671 --> 00:37:40.374
"you are spies!"
00:37:40.374 --> 00:37:41.709
In this manner you shall be tested: by the life of pharaoh,
00:37:41.709 --> 00:37:44.845
You shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother
00:37:44.845 --> 00:37:48.082
Comes here first.'"
00:37:48.082 --> 00:37:50.384
Now, what happens here is the gradual unfolding
00:37:50.384 --> 00:37:52.720
Of the brothers' own sin.
00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:54.989
How god does it is an amazing episode that ought to awaken
00:37:54.989 --> 00:37:58.292
In many of us responses to confession.
00:37:58.292 --> 00:38:02.029
As they come to egypt with their father's mandate to buy grain,
00:38:02.029 --> 00:38:04.899
They are ushered through the crowded streets
00:38:04.899 --> 00:38:06.934
To a special place where grain is dispensed to non-egyptians.
00:38:06.934 --> 00:38:11.706
And joseph, who is in charge of all the land
00:38:11.706 --> 00:38:14.208
And food distribution,
00:38:14.208 --> 00:38:15.876
Took special care to personally dispense grain
00:38:15.876 --> 00:38:18.846
To those outside of egypt.
00:38:18.846 --> 00:38:21.349
So those boys stand before the very brother whom they sold
00:38:21.349 --> 00:38:25.286
Into slavery 20 years earlier.
00:38:25.286 --> 00:38:28.856
They bowed down before him just as joseph had dreamed
00:38:28.856 --> 00:38:31.726
They would back in the early part of the story.
00:38:31.726 --> 00:38:35.329
Some have been troubled when they read this part
00:38:35.329 --> 00:38:37.932
Of the record that out of the ten brothers,
00:38:37.932 --> 00:38:41.502
Nobody recognized joseph.
00:38:41.502 --> 00:38:44.071
How could that be?
00:38:44.071 --> 00:38:46.273
There are a number of factors contributing to their failure
00:38:46.273 --> 00:38:49.043
To recognize joseph.
00:38:49.043 --> 00:38:50.611
I've noted a couple of them.
00:38:50.611 --> 00:38:53.047
Joseph was now clean shaven with a shaved head, long robe,
00:38:53.047 --> 00:38:57.385
A gold chain hanging around his neck,
00:38:57.385 --> 00:38:59.320
And a huge signet ring on his finger.
00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:02.056
They had never seen their brother like this.
00:39:02.056 --> 00:39:04.759
The last time they saw him, he was on his way
00:39:04.759 --> 00:39:07.395
To being a slave in egypt.
00:39:07.395 --> 00:39:10.231
And then there's the second factor,
00:39:10.231 --> 00:39:11.966
And that's the factor of age-- appearance and age.
00:39:11.966 --> 00:39:15.569
The last time they saw joseph, he was 17 years old.
00:39:15.569 --> 00:39:19.373
Now he was a grown man, almost 40,
00:39:19.373 --> 00:39:22.710
With the usual physical changes that every man goes through.
00:39:22.710 --> 00:39:25.813
How many of you guys know you're not the same at 40
00:39:25.813 --> 00:39:28.015
As you were when you were 17?
00:39:28.015 --> 00:39:31.619
Then notice on top of his appearance
00:39:31.619 --> 00:39:33.621
And his age were his announcements.
00:39:33.621 --> 00:39:35.790
This is pretty neat.
00:39:35.790 --> 00:39:37.391
When joseph spoke to his brothers,
00:39:37.391 --> 00:39:39.093
He did so in egyptian using an interpreter.
00:39:39.093 --> 00:39:43.063
He didn't appear to understand their language, which would also
00:39:43.063 --> 00:39:45.666
Have contributed to their failure to recognize him.
00:39:45.666 --> 00:39:49.937
In addition, joseph's authority would have surprised
00:39:49.937 --> 00:39:52.606
His brothers.
00:39:52.606 --> 00:39:54.308
The last they knew, joseph was on a camel train as a slave.
00:39:54.308 --> 00:39:58.479
Who would have thought that in a short period of time,
00:39:58.479 --> 00:40:00.614
Their brother would rise from slavery
00:40:00.614 --> 00:40:03.217
To the second most powerful position in egypt?
00:40:03.217 --> 00:40:07.021
They never expected to see joseph in such a position.
00:40:07.021 --> 00:40:10.124
It was unbelievable, unthinkable to them.
00:40:10.124 --> 00:40:13.194
And the scripture also tells us that joseph
00:40:13.194 --> 00:40:15.763
Was involved in a bit of acting.
00:40:15.763 --> 00:40:18.833
The original language tells us that joseph made himself
00:40:18.833 --> 00:40:22.436
Unrecognizable to his brothers.
00:40:22.436 --> 00:40:26.440
He play acted.
00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:27.775
And finally, his attitude toward them was different.
00:40:27.775 --> 00:40:31.312
The text says he spoke roughly to them.
00:40:31.312 --> 00:40:35.382
Three times joseph accuses his brothers of being spies,
00:40:35.382 --> 00:40:39.220
And in their response to his second accusation,
00:40:39.220 --> 00:40:42.423
They reveal that their sin against joseph
00:40:42.423 --> 00:40:44.692
Is still very much present with them.
00:40:44.692 --> 00:40:48.629
Genesis 42:13: "and they said,
00:40:48.629 --> 00:40:51.799
'your servants are twelve brothers,
00:40:51.799 --> 00:40:54.268
The sons of one man in the land of canaan;
00:40:54.268 --> 00:40:56.737
And in fact the youngest is with our father,
00:40:56.737 --> 00:40:59.673
And one is no more.'"
00:40:59.673 --> 00:41:02.710
One is no more?
00:41:02.710 --> 00:41:06.180
This is still with them.
00:41:06.180 --> 00:41:09.316
This is still heavy on their hearts.
00:41:09.316 --> 00:41:11.018
They can't forget what had happened.
00:41:11.018 --> 00:41:13.521
Sometimes when we are victims of the same treatment
00:41:13.521 --> 00:41:16.423
We give to others, god allows it to create in us
00:41:16.423 --> 00:41:19.960
A sensitivity to our own sin.
00:41:19.960 --> 00:41:23.163
So there's the experience of difficulty and the exclusion
00:41:23.163 --> 00:41:26.600
Of trust and the encounter with the past.
00:41:26.600 --> 00:41:30.004
And number four, the exile in prison.
00:41:30.004 --> 00:41:34.341
Beginning in verse 16 of chapter 42, we read,
00:41:34.341 --> 00:41:37.444
"joseph said, 'send one of you,
00:41:37.444 --> 00:41:40.014
And let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison,
00:41:40.014 --> 00:41:43.617
That your words may be tested to see
00:41:43.617 --> 00:41:46.020
Whether there is any truth in you;
00:41:46.020 --> 00:41:48.289
Or else, by the life of pharaoh, surely you are spies!'
00:41:48.289 --> 00:41:52.760
So he put them all together in prison for three days.
00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:55.696
And joseph said to them the third day,
00:41:55.696 --> 00:41:57.565
'do this and live, for i fear god:
00:41:57.565 --> 00:42:00.134
If you are honest men, let one of your brothers
00:42:00.134 --> 00:42:02.736
Be confined to your prison house; but you,
00:42:02.736 --> 00:42:05.306
Go and carry grain for the famine in your houses.
00:42:05.306 --> 00:42:08.475
And bring your youngest brother to me;
00:42:08.475 --> 00:42:10.210
So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.'
00:42:10.210 --> 00:42:13.814
And they did so."
00:42:13.814 --> 00:42:16.250
First of all, god uses solitary confinement to break the hearts
00:42:16.250 --> 00:42:19.153
Of these men.
00:42:19.153 --> 00:42:20.854
Here they are, away from home, walking through a strange land,
00:42:20.854 --> 00:42:23.791
Listening to a language they didn't understand,
00:42:23.791 --> 00:42:26.260
Had to understand through an interpreter.
00:42:26.260 --> 00:42:28.662
And joseph accuses them of being spies
00:42:28.662 --> 00:42:31.332
And puts them in the very prison where he had been
00:42:31.332 --> 00:42:34.602
For more than two long years, the same prison.
00:42:34.602 --> 00:42:38.973
It's not hard to imagine the conversations
00:42:38.973 --> 00:42:41.141
That took place in that prison.
00:42:41.141 --> 00:42:43.410
Their treatment of joseph was now in the forefront
00:42:43.410 --> 00:42:45.779
Of their minds as they considered their situation.
00:42:45.779 --> 00:42:49.650
On the third day, when joseph brought them all out of prison,
00:42:49.650 --> 00:42:53.487
He offered them a chance for redemption.
00:42:53.487 --> 00:42:56.156
Rather than insisting that they all stay,
00:42:56.156 --> 00:42:59.393
He made only one brother stay
00:42:59.393 --> 00:43:01.695
While the rest went back to get benjamin.
00:43:01.695 --> 00:43:04.298
Joseph must have been on the verge of breaking emotionally
00:43:04.298 --> 00:43:08.302
As he went through this.
00:43:08.302 --> 00:43:10.304
They did not know him, but he knew them.
00:43:10.304 --> 00:43:13.474
His compassion and his love for god are evident,
00:43:13.474 --> 00:43:16.110
But he didn't yet know if he could trust his brothers.
00:43:16.110 --> 00:43:19.947
So he left one in prison.
00:43:19.947 --> 00:43:23.050
And then we have number five, the exposure of the heart.
00:43:23.050 --> 00:43:26.553
Beginning in verse 21 of chapter 42,
00:43:26.553 --> 00:43:29.056
God is closing in.
00:43:29.056 --> 00:43:30.924
He's bringing about a sensitive heart.
00:43:30.924 --> 00:43:33.594
Every one of these things in the story is a part of the plot
00:43:33.594 --> 00:43:36.330
That came right from heaven.
00:43:36.330 --> 00:43:38.766
Here's what it says in verse 21: "and they said to one another,
00:43:38.766 --> 00:43:42.870
'we are truly guilty concerning our brother.'"
00:43:42.870 --> 00:43:46.273
Where's that been for 20 years?
00:43:46.273 --> 00:43:49.343
"'we are truly guilty concerning our brother,
00:43:49.343 --> 00:43:51.812
For we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us,
00:43:51.812 --> 00:43:55.949
And we would not hear.
00:43:55.949 --> 00:43:57.418
Therefore this distress has come upon us.'
00:43:57.418 --> 00:44:01.288
And reuben answered them, saying, 'didn't i tell you?'"
00:44:01.288 --> 00:44:05.592
Remember, reuben was the one who tried to talk them
00:44:05.592 --> 00:44:07.428
Out of all of this, way back in the beginning.
00:44:07.428 --> 00:44:10.264
"'therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.'"
00:44:10.264 --> 00:44:14.134
Now, here's the part that's intriguing.
00:44:14.134 --> 00:44:16.236
"but they did not know that joseph understood them,
00:44:16.236 --> 00:44:18.872
For he spoke to them through an interpreter.
00:44:18.872 --> 00:44:21.742
And he turned himself away from them and wept.
00:44:21.742 --> 00:44:24.344
Then he returned to them again, and talked with them.
00:44:24.344 --> 00:44:27.214
And he took simeon from them
00:44:27.214 --> 00:44:28.949
And bound him before their eyes."
00:44:28.949 --> 00:44:31.485
The brothers were haunted by the memories of what they had done,
00:44:31.485 --> 00:44:35.823
No longer trying to excuse themselves.
00:44:35.823 --> 00:44:38.525
They've come to grips with what they've done.
00:44:38.525 --> 00:44:40.394
And, you know, that's what god wants to happen in our lives.
00:44:40.394 --> 00:44:43.063
Till we come to grips with what we've done that's sinful,
00:44:43.063 --> 00:44:46.700
We can't deal with it because confession
00:44:46.700 --> 00:44:49.470
Is saying the same thing about your sin that god says,
00:44:49.470 --> 00:44:52.473
And you can't confess your sin
00:44:52.473 --> 00:44:54.074
Unless you recognize it.
00:44:54.074 --> 00:44:55.743
God isn't interested in your excuses,
00:44:55.743 --> 00:44:57.478
And he doesn't listen to any of them.
00:44:57.478 --> 00:44:59.580
He wants you to say about what you've done,
00:44:59.580 --> 00:45:02.149
What you've really done.
00:45:02.149 --> 00:45:04.384
Joseph was in the room where they were having this
00:45:04.384 --> 00:45:06.820
Conversation in hebrew, admitting their own guilt.
00:45:06.820 --> 00:45:10.858
And they thought that joseph was an egyptian
00:45:10.858 --> 00:45:13.327
And would not understand a word they were saying.
00:45:13.327 --> 00:45:17.064
But joseph knew hebrew as well as they did,
00:45:17.064 --> 00:45:21.268
And as they talked with one another, joseph took it all in,
00:45:21.268 --> 00:45:25.405
And he heard everything they said.
00:45:25.405 --> 00:45:28.575
And the bible says that he turned himself away from them
00:45:28.575 --> 00:45:31.345
And he wept.
00:45:31.345 --> 00:45:33.447
And after he regained his composure, joseph came back,
00:45:33.447 --> 00:45:37.017
He chose simeon, tied him in the front of the brothers,
00:45:37.017 --> 00:45:39.853
And sent the rest back to canaan.
00:45:39.853 --> 00:45:42.556
Isn't it terrible to carry unresolved guilt?
00:45:42.556 --> 00:45:46.794
Maybe some of you have that today.
00:45:46.794 --> 00:45:49.229
To have it buried in your heart, never addressed,
00:45:49.229 --> 00:45:52.332
Constantly nagging at your soul.
00:45:52.332 --> 00:45:55.469
That's the situation these brothers found themselves in.
00:45:55.469 --> 00:45:58.906
They had never confronted this issue.
00:45:58.906 --> 00:46:01.508
They had allowed it to grow in their hearts, even though it had
00:46:01.508 --> 00:46:04.044
Been pushed back from the front of their heart.
00:46:04.044 --> 00:46:06.980
And after two decades, two decades,
00:46:06.980 --> 00:46:10.317
It became just as real as if it had happened the day before.
00:46:10.317 --> 00:46:14.354
Now, the next thing that happens is kind of hard to understand
00:46:14.354 --> 00:46:18.859
In our culture today, but it's really biblical,
00:46:18.859 --> 00:46:21.295
And i want you to notice it's the expression of kindness.
00:46:21.295 --> 00:46:25.032
Verses 25 to 28, we read: "then joseph gave a command
00:46:25.032 --> 00:46:29.303
To fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money
00:46:29.303 --> 00:46:33.707
To his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey.
00:46:33.707 --> 00:46:37.678
And thus he did for them.
00:46:37.678 --> 00:46:39.046
And so they loaded their donkeys with the grain
00:46:39.046 --> 00:46:41.281
And departed from there.
00:46:41.281 --> 00:46:43.217
But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed
00:46:43.217 --> 00:46:46.820
At the encampment, he saw his money;
00:46:46.820 --> 00:46:49.489
And there it was, in the mouth of his sack.
00:46:49.489 --> 00:46:52.125
So he said to his brothers, 'my money has been restored,
00:46:52.125 --> 00:46:56.697
And there it is, in my sack!'
00:46:56.697 --> 00:46:59.032
And then their hearts failed them and they were afraid,
00:46:59.032 --> 00:47:01.368
Saying to one another, 'what is this that god has done to us?'"
00:47:01.368 --> 00:47:06.306
When you're out of the will of god,
00:47:06.306 --> 00:47:07.941
Even the good things seem bad.
00:47:07.941 --> 00:47:11.678
Free money feels like a curse.
00:47:11.678 --> 00:47:14.948
When you're not walking with god,
00:47:14.948 --> 00:47:16.516
Every circumstance is filtered through the lens of your guilt.
00:47:16.516 --> 00:47:20.754
Ultimately, this fear served a greater purpose.
00:47:20.754 --> 00:47:23.857
It began to soften their hearts, leading them to recognize
00:47:23.857 --> 00:47:27.494
Their past sins, and that's how god deals with us too.
00:47:27.494 --> 00:47:30.831
And the bible actually says that.
00:47:30.831 --> 00:47:32.900
Did you know that?
00:47:32.900 --> 00:47:34.268
In romans 2:4, listen to these words:
00:47:34.268 --> 00:47:37.371
"but you show contempt for the richness
00:47:37.371 --> 00:47:39.873
Of his kindness, forbearance and patience,
00:47:39.873 --> 00:47:43.043
Not realizing that god's kindness
00:47:43.043 --> 00:47:45.779
Is intended to lead you to repentance?"
00:47:45.779 --> 00:47:49.349
It is god heaping coals of fire upon their head,
00:47:49.349 --> 00:47:53.120
And they don't understand it.
00:47:53.120 --> 00:47:55.355
Did you know there's a difference
00:47:55.355 --> 00:47:56.723
Between regret and repentance?
00:47:56.723 --> 00:48:00.627
Regret is feeling sorrow for something that has happened
00:48:00.627 --> 00:48:03.697
Because of the consequences or primarily
00:48:03.697 --> 00:48:06.500
Because you got caught.
00:48:06.500 --> 00:48:09.036
Repentance goes deeper.
00:48:09.036 --> 00:48:10.971
It involves a genuine change of heart and a commitment
00:48:10.971 --> 00:48:14.041
To turn away from past wrongs.
00:48:14.041 --> 00:48:16.743
Joseph understood this difference.
00:48:16.743 --> 00:48:18.845
He wanted his brothers to go beyond regret
00:48:18.845 --> 00:48:21.715
For their treacherous deeds to a place of genuine repentance.
00:48:21.715 --> 00:48:25.919
Through events he orchestrated, he aimed to bring them
00:48:25.919 --> 00:48:28.388
To conviction.
00:48:28.388 --> 00:48:30.057
You see, regret is just being sorry for what happened.
00:48:30.057 --> 00:48:33.860
We run into that a lot when you run a school.
00:48:33.860 --> 00:48:36.196
Did you know that?
00:48:36.196 --> 00:48:37.597
Kids get in trouble, and they come to the office, and you talk
00:48:37.597 --> 00:48:40.767
To them about what they did,
00:48:40.767 --> 00:48:42.202
And they're so sorry that they did it.
00:48:42.202 --> 00:48:45.205
But as you sit there and listen to them,
00:48:45.205 --> 00:48:46.707
You know they're not sorry for what they did.
00:48:46.707 --> 00:48:48.508
They're sorry they got caught.
00:48:48.508 --> 00:48:51.144
That's regret.
00:48:51.144 --> 00:48:52.646
There's nothing wrong with regret,
00:48:52.646 --> 00:48:54.081
But that's only the first step.
00:48:54.081 --> 00:48:55.449
You gotta get beyond that, because you see,
00:48:55.449 --> 00:48:57.718
Repentance is a 180.
00:48:57.718 --> 00:49:01.254
Repentance is turning away from your sin
00:49:01.254 --> 00:49:03.790
And walking in the other direction.
00:49:03.790 --> 00:49:05.759
Repentance is walking this way, realizing that you've done
00:49:05.759 --> 00:49:09.196
Wrong, and turning clear around and walk the other way.
00:49:09.196 --> 00:49:12.132
That's what it means to repent.
00:49:12.132 --> 00:49:14.568
So remember, always, there's a difference
00:49:14.568 --> 00:49:16.770
Between regret and repentance.
00:49:16.770 --> 00:49:20.874
And then secondly,
00:49:20.874 --> 00:49:22.576
The difference between forgetting and forgiving.
00:49:22.576 --> 00:49:26.213
Have you ever had somebody come to you and say,
00:49:26.213 --> 00:49:28.515
"well, i'll forgive you, but i'm never gonna forget
00:49:28.515 --> 00:49:30.851
What you did"?
00:49:30.851 --> 00:49:33.453
I guess that's possible, but probably
00:49:33.453 --> 00:49:35.322
Not a very good kind of forgiveness.
00:49:35.322 --> 00:49:38.258
The story of joseph is really a story of the temptations
00:49:38.258 --> 00:49:42.162
That come to a man in the course of life.
00:49:42.162 --> 00:49:44.498
Just think of this.
00:49:44.498 --> 00:49:46.199
Joseph has overcome the temptation to despair
00:49:46.199 --> 00:49:49.836
When his brothers sell him as a slave.
00:49:49.836 --> 00:49:54.141
He's overcome the temptation to impurity,
00:49:54.141 --> 00:49:57.277
Which came to him by way of potiphar's wife.
00:49:57.277 --> 00:50:01.181
He's overcome the temptation to become discouraged
00:50:01.181 --> 00:50:03.617
When he was forgotten by the butler.
00:50:03.617 --> 00:50:06.620
But perhaps the greatest temptation he would ever face
00:50:06.620 --> 00:50:10.457
Was the temptation that was his because of his position
00:50:10.457 --> 00:50:13.693
And his power to retaliate
00:50:13.693 --> 00:50:16.396
And get even with his brothers for the awful thing
00:50:16.396 --> 00:50:19.599
They had done to him.
00:50:19.599 --> 00:50:21.168
He was in a catbird position to pull that off.
00:50:21.168 --> 00:50:25.439
Would he truly restore and forgive them?
00:50:25.439 --> 00:50:28.742
Here's a little insight into what really happened.
00:50:28.742 --> 00:50:32.913
In genesis 41, we learn that joseph named
00:50:32.913 --> 00:50:37.584
His firstborn son "manasseh."
00:50:37.584 --> 00:50:41.655
And the word "manasseh" means god has caused me to forget.
00:50:41.655 --> 00:50:47.060
That's what the word "manasseh" means.
00:50:47.060 --> 00:50:49.796
So joseph didn't just forgive, he forgot.
00:50:49.796 --> 00:50:53.433
He put it behind him.
00:50:53.433 --> 00:50:54.968
You know, when you forget something,
00:50:54.968 --> 00:50:56.536
That just means you choose not to remember it.
00:50:56.536 --> 00:50:59.639
It doesn't mean it goes out of your memory bank.
00:50:59.639 --> 00:51:01.775
I mean, it's always gonna be there.
00:51:01.775 --> 00:51:03.110
You just choose not to dwell on it,
00:51:03.110 --> 00:51:04.945
And you put space between you and what happened.
00:51:04.945 --> 00:51:07.147
You don't remember it because you choose not to remember it.
00:51:07.147 --> 00:51:11.151
It is forgiveness that leads to genuine restoration
00:51:11.151 --> 00:51:14.454
And reconciliation.
00:51:14.454 --> 00:51:16.957
Corrie ten boom was known for forgiving nazi guards
00:51:16.957 --> 00:51:21.261
In ravensbruck.
00:51:21.261 --> 00:51:22.929
She was one of those who suffered greatly
00:51:22.929 --> 00:51:26.133
At the hand of the nazis.
00:51:26.133 --> 00:51:28.702
In her seventies, she was hurt by trusted christian friends.
00:51:28.702 --> 00:51:33.440
Despite her past experiences, she found forgiving them
00:51:33.440 --> 00:51:36.276
Very difficult.
00:51:36.276 --> 00:51:38.145
After weeks of inner turmoil, she prayed for god's help
00:51:38.145 --> 00:51:41.181
And eventually felt restored.
00:51:41.181 --> 00:51:43.583
However, the issue surfaced when she found herself
00:51:43.583 --> 00:51:47.320
Dwelling on the incident at night.
00:51:47.320 --> 00:51:50.390
Ten boom realized that forgiveness
00:51:50.390 --> 00:51:52.192
Required more than words.
00:51:52.192 --> 00:51:53.793
It meant living it out, treating the sins as if they were buried
00:51:53.793 --> 00:51:57.130
In the deepest sea, just like god does.
00:51:57.130 --> 00:51:59.299
That's what we should do.
00:51:59.299 --> 00:52:01.334
Years later, when she was in her eighties,
00:52:01.334 --> 00:52:04.704
An american friend visited her in holland,
00:52:04.704 --> 00:52:07.741
And when they were discussing the way she had been hurt
00:52:07.741 --> 00:52:10.377
In the past, ten boom proudly declared she had
00:52:10.377 --> 00:52:13.813
Forgiven the people involved.
00:52:13.813 --> 00:52:15.815
She offered to show proof of their wrongdoing through
00:52:15.815 --> 00:52:19.052
The letters that she had preserved of what they had done.
00:52:19.052 --> 00:52:23.223
Had she forgotten?
00:52:23.223 --> 00:52:25.192
No, she preserved evidence against them.
00:52:25.192 --> 00:52:28.361
She kept the letters that she got
00:52:28.361 --> 00:52:30.697
That chronicled their evil word against her.
00:52:30.697 --> 00:52:36.336
Her friend gently reminded her that while her own sins
00:52:36.336 --> 00:52:39.272
Were forgiven and forgotten, she was keeping evidence
00:52:39.272 --> 00:52:42.542
Of others' sins.
00:52:42.542 --> 00:52:45.312
For an astonishing moment, ten boom wrote,
00:52:45.312 --> 00:52:47.747
"i couldn't find my voice.
00:52:47.747 --> 00:52:49.916
'lord jesus,' i whispered at last, 'who takes all my sins
00:52:49.916 --> 00:52:52.686
Away, forgive me for preserving all these years
00:52:52.686 --> 00:52:56.590
The evidence against others.'
00:52:56.590 --> 00:53:00.193
And i did not go to sleep that night until i had gone through
00:53:00.193 --> 00:53:02.896
My desk and pulled out all those letters
00:53:02.896 --> 00:53:05.632
And fed them into my little coal-burning stove.
00:53:05.632 --> 00:53:08.735
And as the flames leaped and glowed, so did my heart.
00:53:08.735 --> 00:53:12.739
'forgive us our trespasses,' jesus taught us to pray,
00:53:12.739 --> 00:53:16.009
'as we forgive those who trespass against us.'"
00:53:16.009 --> 00:53:20.247
Corrie ten boom learned a lesson
00:53:20.247 --> 00:53:22.349
That god had taught joseph, his brothers,
00:53:22.349 --> 00:53:24.551
And many others throughout history.
00:53:24.551 --> 00:53:26.620
Harboring resentment and unforgiveness
00:53:26.620 --> 00:53:28.855
Toward others does not hurt them, it hurts us.
00:53:28.855 --> 00:53:35.095
Only by forgiving can we really find true freedom.
00:53:35.095 --> 00:53:40.066
So as we think about this and the evidence
00:53:40.066 --> 00:53:42.736
That we have of god's concern for his children,
00:53:42.736 --> 00:53:47.374
Working so diligently to bring them
00:53:47.374 --> 00:53:49.309
To a place of repentance, if we are harboring
00:53:49.309 --> 00:53:53.346
Unforgiveness in our hearts, we must deal with it.
00:53:53.346 --> 00:53:58.385
Not tomorrow, not next week, but today.
00:53:58.385 --> 00:54:02.489
We must do what we must do.
00:54:02.489 --> 00:54:04.724
I was preaching at a conference not long after i came here,
00:54:04.724 --> 00:54:08.928
And a man told me
00:54:08.928 --> 00:54:10.297
That he had not talked to his father in over 30 years
00:54:10.297 --> 00:54:14.167
And that he had terrible resentment against his father.
00:54:14.167 --> 00:54:17.937
And he became convinced
00:54:17.937 --> 00:54:19.272
That he needed to forgive his father,
00:54:19.272 --> 00:54:21.808
And he left the meeting and went to what was then a payphone,
00:54:21.808 --> 00:54:25.145
Called his dad, asked him to forgive him
00:54:25.145 --> 00:54:27.814
For being so unforgiving.
00:54:27.814 --> 00:54:30.050
They had a glorious renaissance, a great reunion,
00:54:30.050 --> 00:54:33.920
And remained friends until his father's death.
00:54:33.920 --> 00:54:37.324
You know, the only thing that stands between you
00:54:37.324 --> 00:54:39.192
And the wholeness of your life
00:54:39.192 --> 00:54:40.593
With regard to your relationships
00:54:40.593 --> 00:54:42.495
Is taking the courageous step of forgiving
00:54:42.495 --> 00:54:46.766
Those who have hurt you.
00:54:46.766 --> 00:54:49.002
And don't just forget it-- forgive it, but forget it.
00:54:49.002 --> 00:54:52.138
Put it behind you.
00:54:52.138 --> 00:54:54.441
And determine in your heart
00:54:54.441 --> 00:54:55.975
That you're not gonna bring it up again.
00:54:55.975 --> 00:54:57.410
You're gonna walk away from it and be free.
00:54:57.410 --> 00:55:00.313
♪♪♪
00:55:00.680 --> 00:55:05.418
Announcer: thank you for watching "turning point."
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Dr. jeremiah: god loves to show his mercy and grace
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And put them back together in a beautiful way
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So that the whole world marvels at the amazing grace of god.
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Announcer: thank you for being with us today.
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From a famine to a feast, here on "turning point."
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David Jeremiah - From Prison To Palace

July 20, 2025 | 58:20

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