God Sustains
Text: Genesis 41-45
Focus: Genesis 41: 14-16, 28-31, 38-40; 42:2,3,5,6; 45:3-8
Here is a good thought:
What we are about to see is that Joseph, the dreamer, at the age of about thirty years old was in one of the most crucial places of leadership, influence and service in all the history of mankind. Joseph had been a shepherd but he would soon be on the right hand of the Pharaoh, the king.
As Joseph was the solution to Pharaoh’s problems, so Christ Jesus is the solution to all who call on His name. He will relieve your heart of all its burdens. As Joseph was first Rejected, and then Exalted, Jesus is now taking a Gentile Bride to be with Him(the Rapture) when the “Time of Jacob’s trouble” comes upon the earth. The faithful believer will be abundantly recompensed for the disgrace he has patiently suffered and his righteousness will shine forth so all will know that God is with him.
Here again as we study in this first Book of the Bible we will see many "types". If we watch we can see a "type" of Christ, a "type" Church and a "type of Christian and even some others. Those that so easily toss away the "truth" of God's Word for some manmade thinking are dooming many to Hell and themselves to eternal torment.
Pilate ask Jesus:
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
The Truth is!
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
This is the unchangeable truth!
God said to leave His truth alone.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, [If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book]:
Rev 22:19 And [if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book].
God doesn't ask us to be religious, He does ask us to be righteous. We can only be righteous through the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
A wise man once said:
Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, [lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar].
Joseph trusted the Lord and through him the children of Israel became the nation of Israel.
God uses men to have His way in this world!
We will also see that "guilt" will never grant peace to a man but, "forgiveness" will always bring peace to the forgiver. Satan binds people in the chords of guilt. He tells the unbeliever that a true God could never forgive such an evil person. That they are too "black" of a sinner to be washed "white" with the "red blood" of Jesus. We know that Our Lord is a "whosoever will" God. If he had limits, then I would probably not be saved today. To be free from the prison of sin, you need faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness is the "knife" that cuts the chords of guilt.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 [And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more].
*****Our Text:
Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
Gen 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Gen 41:28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
Gen 41:29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Gen 41:30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
Gen 41:31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
As we begin again in this study of Genesis, let's remember the covenant to Abraham:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Everything we have studied up till this point has been toward the fulfillment of this covenant. God is about to build a nation in ways we could never dream of. You see God has a plan for each and everyone of us and we each play some part in the fulfillment of God's plan.
We can either be blessed as we serve in the will of God or we can be in misery as we serve in the will of God. We make that choice ourselves. God will put us in place and sustain us if we will just be obedient and have patience.
God also told Abraham:
Gen 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Gen 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
The Bible says:
Psa 105:24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
God made the nation of Israel great while they were in bondage. He made them stronger than their enemies.
We only have to look across the ocean and we can see that Israel still stands as a nation created from this time in the Book of Genesis.
We talked earlier about God making revelations in dreams and we see again that these dreams were to an individual of that did not know the Lord God, El Shaddai.
These Egyptians had many gods, they still do. To Pharaoh this God of Joseph was just one god among many. A Pharaoh later, in the years of Moses, would find out the truth in a harsh way.
It had been two years since the baker had been hung and the butler restored to his functions for Pharaoh. This butler had forgotten about Joseph as soon as he was restored. You see it wasn't in God's timing.
You know Joseph probably didn't have to take the time to clean up and shave but he did have respect for this king. The Bible teaches to have respect for those that sit in the seat of authority. This may have been the key to Pharaoh choosing Joseph to guide Egypt through these coming years.
The Bible says:
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
You know I would clean up to go before the Mayor of our city, the Governor of our state or surely our President but I have to be God cleaned to go before my Lord. There is only one way to be that clean:
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Joseph quickly told Pharaoh that it was not he but God that would give him the answer. You see if we do not give God the glory some drastic things can happen whether we are saved or not.
For instance take Herod for an example:
Act 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, [because he gave not God the glory]: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
If we think these things do not happen then we are wrong. It is a Holy God that sits on the throne of "His" creation.
What we see is that Joseph even in his darkest hours has never forgotten, WHO IS IN CHARGE. We can see Joseph here as a "type" and an example of what a Christian should be like.
God did indeed speak to men through dreams in the past. God now speaks to "us all" through His Own Words which He has delivered to us. There will not be any new revelations from God that go against His written word.
If His Word is settled in Heaven then it is settled on this Earth also:
Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
*****Our Text:
Gen 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Joseph was wise, way beyond his years:
(1)He had shown that wisdom when he ran the house of Potiphar for some years.
(2)He had shown it when he ran away from Mrs. Potiphar.
(3)He had shown it while he was locked away in prison.
(4)He had shown his wisdom when he cleaned himself and shaved before going before this Pharaoh.
(5)He had shown it when he gave God the glory for everything that happened in his life.
Now God would back up a dump truck full of blessings and dump them on Joseph. Now, God does not make everyone of us rich on this Earth but one day in glory we will see the riches of His Kingdom.
My Lord Jesus is a King:
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
God used Pharaoh to bless Joseph on Earth:
1.) Pharaoh acknowledge that Joseph had wisdom from his God.
2.) Pharaoh made Joseph the ruler over his own house.
3.) Pharaoh made Joseph second in command over Egypt.
4.) Pharaoh made Joseph the lawgiver in Egypt. (the ring)
5.) Pharaoh dressed Joseph like royalty.
6.) Pharaoh made the world bow down to Joseph.
7.) Pharaoh gave Joseph a new name (treasury of the glorious rest)
8.) Pharaoh gave Joseph a gentile bride.
Can we see a "type" of Christ ?
1.) Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
2.) Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
3.) Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4.) Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
5.) Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
*****Our Text:
Gen 42:2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
Gen 42:3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
Gen 42:5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
Gen 42:6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
Gen 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
When we talk about "types" in the Bible we, for the most part, see "types" in people. If we take a close look in the plan of Joseph we can see another "type".
Before the famine was to come Joseph stored up enough corn and grains to see everyone through those years.
Now take a look a God's plan of redemption:
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 [Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world], but was manifest in these last times for you,
We can see that before the first sin was ever committed (famine) God had already put in place the means for redemption. (God's plan, Christ's blood)
Everyone even all non-believers would bow to Christ.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
God's plan was not some after thought. The World can never get "one up" on God.
The Bible says:
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Jacob, as the patriarch, knew that his family would not survive this famine unless he could get them food. It was in desperation that he sent his ten sons to Egypt.
We are about to see the first of Joseph's dreams come true:
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
You know God has His own methods of reminding us of unconfessed sin in our lives:
A wise man once said:
Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Pro 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
"and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth"
When Joseph hid the money back in those sacks he again was showing a "type" of Christ.
Christ always does more than we might expect! If we cannot trust the KEEPING POWER of God how can we trust the SAVING POWER of Christ Jesus.
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. [But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound]:
The Bible says:
Eph 3:20 [Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think], according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
When Joseph heard the plea of Judah, he could no longer contain his emotions. He no longer wanted to embarrass his brothers, he wanted to embrace them. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing in each persons life that will forgive. God makes it a rule, a command, for all His children:
Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
We cannot be forgiven unless we are forgiving others. How many of us fail when we just cannot forgive?
Joseph said, I am Joseph:
Our scripture says:
Gen 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
God had told Abraham that the children of Israel would spend four hundred years in a foreign land.
God chose Egypt for many reasons:
1.) Egypt was a country in which Jacob's descendants would be forced to remain a separate and distinct people.
2.) There would be almost no intermarriage. This was not the case in Canaan.
3.) They could not even eat with the Egyptians, because of the diet differences.
4.) They were shepherds. This was an abomination to the Egyptians.
God said:
"I will make of thee a great nation" God needed for the blood lines to remain Hebrew to develop this nation of Israel.
Was Joseph the foreshadow of the Saviour?
1.) Both were beloved of their fathers.
Joseph:
Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children
Jesus:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2.) Both were shepherds:
Joseph:
Gen 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren;
Jesus:
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
3.) Both were sent by their fathers:
Joseph:
Gen 37:13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Jesus:
Luk 20:13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
4.) Both hated by their brethren without a cause:
Joseph:
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him,
Jesus:
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
5.) Their brethren plotted against them:
Joseph:
Gen 37:20 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.
Jesus:
Joh 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
6.) Both were severely tempted:
Joseph:
Gen 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
Jesus:
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
7.) Both taken to Egypt:
Joseph:
Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Jesus:
Mat 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
8.) Both stripped of their robes:
Joseph:
Gen 37:23 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;
Jesus:
Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
9.) Both sold for the price of a slave:
Joseph:
Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Jesus:
Mat 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
10.) Both were bound:
Joseph:
Gen 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Jesus:
Mat 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
11.) Both remained silent and offered no defence:
Joseph:
Gen 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Jesus:
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
12.) Both were falsely accused:
Joseph:
Gen 39:16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
Gen 39:17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
Gen 39:18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
Jesus:
Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Mat 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
13.) God was with them both:
Joseph:
Gen 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph,
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph,
Gen 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Jesus:
Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
14.) Both respected by their jailors:
Joseph:
Gen 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Jesus:
Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
15.) Both placed with two other prisoners of which one of those was lost and the other saved:
Joseph:
Gen 40:2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
Gen 40:3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
Jesus:
Luk 23:32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
16.) Both were around thirty years old when their ministry began:
Joseph:
Gen 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Jesus:
Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
17.) Both were highly exalted after their suffering:
Joseph:
Gen 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Jesus:
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
19.) Both took Gentile brides:
Joseph:
Gen 41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Jesus:
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
20.) Both lost their brethren for awhile:
Joseph:
Gen 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
Gen 42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Jesus:
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
21.) Both forgave and restored their brothers:
Joseph:
Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Gen 45:2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Gen 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Jesus:
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zec 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
Zec 12:12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
22.) Both visited and honored by all nations:
Joseph:
Gen 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
Jesus:
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Don't you just love the written word of God? People say they cannot understand it but they just will not read the Book that God took so much patience to preserve for us and it was the job of this nation, Israel, to bring the Word Of God to the World. The proof of this is that we have God's Word and that the Nation of Israel still stands.
You know in Joseph's day he never knew just how important his time in Egypt was. He could only see the small part of preserving his family. He did not fathom that he was preserving the soon to be Nation of Israel. We are the same today. Every Christian is just a cog in the wheel of God's plan. In fact every living soul is.
Those that acknowledge God and His Son and His Spirit and His plan will go home to Heaven one day to live eternally with Him. Those that do not will end up in the burning lake of fire. That's just the facts. THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH!
Joseph had faith that God would work things out for his good and He did. We should all have the same faith Joseph had.
Let's Pray!
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