Chapter 7: Ep 2: Girl God Got You: Joseph's Journey from Trial to Triumph

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Hello, and welcome back to Diary of a Black Woman podcast, where we dive deep

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into faith, life, and incredible ways God moves in our lives.

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I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm glad that you're here with me today.

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And so today's episode is titled, Girl, God Got You, Stories of Unseen Miracles and Provision.

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We're in episode two. We're going to journey through Joseph's remarkable journey

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from the pit to the palace, highlighting how God can turn trials into triumphs

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and suffering into sovereignty.

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This story will remind us that no matter what we face, God is faithful and his

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provision is always on time.

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So settle in, grab your Bible. We'll be in Genesis 37 through 40,

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I believe. and keep it nearby.

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That's where we're going to

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go. So take a chance right now to grab your Bible and get to Genesis 37.

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And let's explore how God's unseen miracles and provisions are working in our lives today.

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So we're going to start and set the scene here with Joseph.

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Joseph's story is an incredible story. This narrative spans from Genesis 37 to 50.

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It's a powerful testament of how God can turn our deepest trials into triumphs

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and use our most painful experiences for his greater purposes.

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You know, I don't sit before you pain-free, but God can use our most painful

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experiences for his greater purposes. So let's begin by setting this scene up.

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Joseph's story is one of the most incredible highs and devastating lows as a young man.

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Joseph is given dreams by God, dreams that indicate that he will one day rise

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to a position of great authority, even over his own family.

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But these dreams set the stage for jealousy and betrayal.

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His brothers, driven by envy, sell him into slavery. and Joseph is taken to

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Egypt where he faces years of hardship.

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Despite being enslaved and later imprisoned due to false accusation,

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Joseph's faith never wavers.

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He continues to trust God's plan

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even when his circumstances seem to contradict the dreams he was given.

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Eventually, Joseph's faith and integrity lead him to a position of power in

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Egypt where he becomes instrumental in saving many lives during a severe famine.

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What could have been a story of despair becomes one of divine redemption and reconciliation.

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As we walk through Joseph's story, Joseph's journey from trial to triumph,

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we're going to explore the lessons that we can draw from his unwavering faith

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and the sovereignty of God that shines through even the darkest moments of his life.

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So let's start out with Genesis 37.

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Now we heard, we probably heard Joseph's story many, many times,

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and I really love Joseph's story.

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And I often wonder what really made him solid in who he was,

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because at any time during his story, he could have just fainted.

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The Bible tells us, do not faint.

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But Joseph's story was fainted. I mean, his brother sold him into slavery.

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So he was betrayed by his own family. But yet we know the end,

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but we won't go to the end yet.

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But think about what that would feel like from the beginning.

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We do have a lot of stories of people you know, being sold into human trafficking,

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being, so that's not something like strange that we haven't heard of in our time.

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So think if your family did that to you, how would you feel?

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But then I started thinking about how God speaks to us through his word, but most importantly,

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through dreams and how when God speaks to us through our dreams,

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how that maybe had a great impact on Joseph too, because dream seems to stick with you like glue.

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You know it's God and he sticks with you. So he never gave up on what God has spoken to us.

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So in this series of Girl God Got You, I want you to remember that whatever

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God has spoken to you in your dreams, in your study, Bible study, in your waking hour,

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whenever God has whispered something to you and you documented it and you wrote it down,

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make sure that when things get tight, Like Joseph in this story,

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that you have this foundation with the Lord, that you can go back and know that God's got you.

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So that would be your foundation. Here we see that Joseph had a relationship with God.

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God spoke to him in a dream, told him what his future would be.

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He's a young guy, and he went and bragged to his family and his brother,

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and they got immediately jealous.

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And we don't know the story behind the story. Were they always jealous?

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Well, he had this coat of many colors, so he was, you know, his father's favorite.

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So that could have been a start of some jealousy.

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He was the youngest, so the start of more jealousy, he had a little bit of favor with the father.

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So we don't know a lot of the background of this story, but we know the history

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of families and our family, how that jealousy can turn into envy.

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And even in today's time, envy can turn into where families kill family members, right?

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And so let's keep that in mind as we study the story of Joseph that this is,

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like I said, this is a real person going through some real troubles.

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And so, and some real, like, I like to say some real, it being,

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being sold into slavery, being accused of rape,

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you know, just some things that real people deal with, but yet this guy decides

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to trust in God through it all.

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So this could be something that's happening in someone's life out there.

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So let's hold on to God and let's go through the story and let's take it part

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by part like I did in our episode one with Abraham.

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Let's just pick it through part by part. So let's go to Genesis 37.

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I'm putting the scriptures together. Otherwise, we'd be here for hours.

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So get a chance, read it all the way through from Genesis 37 to 50.

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But for the sake of the podcast, I'm going to be grouping some scriptures together.

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So Genesis 37 verses 5 to 11, this is regarding Joseph's dream.

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So Joseph had a dream. And when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

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So here we see all the more. So this is kind of adding on to the other drama

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that was already present, right?

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He said to them, listen to this dream I had.

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We were binding sheaves of grain and out of the field when suddenly my sheep

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froze and stood upright while your chiefs gathered around mines and bowed down to it.

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His brother said to him, do you intend to reign over us?

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Will you actually rule us? And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he said.

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So this Genesis 5, 37, 5 through 11.

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He hated, they hated him all the more.

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Joseph dreams were prophetic and foreshadowed his future role in saving his family and many others.

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However, these dreams also sparked jealousy and resentment among his brothers and,

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This passage reminds us that not everyone will understand or accept the vision

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and purposes God places in our heart.

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Yet like Joseph, we must hold on to these God-given dreams, trusting that in

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time they will come to pass according to God's plans.

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Okay, what I learned about this part of understanding, how do we share our excitement

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with someone who really don't really care about our excitement?

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So sharing my spiritual dreams you know when you're sharing your excitement

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i had this dream and this was that people don't want to hear your excitement

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about your dreams honestly,

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especially you're sharing it and with this you're

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sharing it and you're excited about it and they're not really excited to hear

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about your dream because why it had nothing to do with them if you share that

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you had a dream about them they they want to be they'll be all ears so what

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i've learned to do is I write down my dreams and I create them into devotionals.

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And then I share them as a devotional, as a story, as a learning tool.

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And I keep them to myself most of the time because I'm finding out like the

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Joseph brothers, they hated them the more.

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Sometimes people can be jealous of your spiritual gifts, right?

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That you are getting dreams and they're not.

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And so then they'll start making up dreams that they, y'all had a dream and

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you'd be like you didn't have no dream, but you just listen.

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And so I learned the hard way that sometimes when you have spiritual gift,

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unless God asks you to share it, then you might want to just write it down and

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put it into a form that he will have you share it.

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Mine is being shared through devotionals and also pretty much leading and guiding

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me in my journey for his purpose.

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And just like Joseph got excited and share his dreams. And you see how that

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stirred up Hayden, his brothers.

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And so he learned a lesson, but a lesson too late.

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So I'm just saying that if you have some exciting things you want to share, write them down.

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And many times those dreams will come to pass and they will see that it came to pass.

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But sometimes people don't want to hear about those things.

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I don't know if that's wise.

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This is my experience. And each of us will have our own experience.

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My experience is that I've been having a lot of dreams lately and people have

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not been interested in my dreams.

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And so I've just been writing them down and creating devotionals for them and

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creating lessons learned or just making it a story and just making my process

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a learning process for everyone.

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So let's move on. Let's go to Genesis 37 verses 23 through 28.

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So when Joseph came to his brothers. They stripped him of his robe.

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The richly ornatant robe he was wearing.

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And they took him and threw him in the cistern. The first thing that happens

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when someone doesn't like something about you, they take that thing from you.

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So number one, they didn't like his dreams. They didn't like his coat.

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So they stripped him of his coat. Now the cistern was empty where there was no water in it.

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And they sat down to eat their meal. They looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead.

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Their camels were loaded with spice, bomb, and mirror, and they were on their

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way to take them down to Egypt.

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Judah said to his brothers, what will we gain if we kill our brother and cover him in his blood?

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Come, let's sell them to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him.

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After all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.

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His brothers agreed. So when the Midianites' merchants came by,

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his brothers pulled Joseph out of the cistern and sold him for 20 shekels of

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silver to the Israelites who took him to Egypt.

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So they sold him for 20 shekels of silver.

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Joseph, betrayal by his brother, marked the beginning of a series of trials.

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Stripped of his robe and sold into slavery, Joseph's life takes a dramatic turn.

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This passage highlights the painful reality that sometimes those closest to

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us can cause the greatest hurt.

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Yet it's also a reminder that God's purposes are not thwarted by human activity, human actions.

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What seems like an end for Joseph was actually the beginning of God's plan to

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position him in Egypt for a greater purpose.

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I want you to note this comment here.

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It says, sometimes those closest to us can cause the greatest hurt.

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What can make brothers kill a brother?

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What can make a brother kill a brother? What can make a brother sell a brother into slavery?

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We see that in verse 37, verses 5 through 11, that they hated him all the more.

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And so hate can make a brother sell a brother and kill a brother.

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And lucky there was a brother that stood out and said, you know what?

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He is our flesh and blood. Let's not kill him.

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But why not? Let's not sell them. Let's like figure this out.

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But they sold them and they knew that he went to Egypt.

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But we know that God's plans, what seems like the end for Joseph,

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was actually the beginning of God's plan to position him in Egypt for a much greater purpose.

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Let's go to Genesis 39 verses 20 through 23.

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You get a chance to read all the juicy details. But like I said,

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just for this podcast, we must group the scriptures so we can get through.

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So Joseph Master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's

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prisoners were confined.

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But while Joseph were in the prison, the Lord was with him.

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He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

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So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison,

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and he was made responsible for all that was done there.

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And the warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care because the

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Lord was with Joseph and gave him success whatever he did.

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So we see his purpose and even though he was in jail, God was still training him in leadership.

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So a lot of times, you know, we'll frown up at certain jobs or opportunities

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because it's not what we're supposed to be doing. But there are some skills

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that we learn in the places that we don't want to be.

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So don't, you might think, I don't want to do that.

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Well, kind of ask the Lord, Lord, what skills should I be learning in this position

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on my journey to my destiny? Amen.

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So even in the death of prison, God's favor was upon Joseph.

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His ability to remain faithful and maintain his integrity despite his circumstances

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allowed God to work through him.

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This passage encouraged us to remain steadfast in our faith,

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even when life seems unfair or hopeless.

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God is with us in our lowest moments, working behind the scenes to bring about

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his plans for our life. So we see here why Joseph was in prison.

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He was learning leadership skills, communication skills.

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He was learning how to be uncomfortable, living in an uncomfortable zone.

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A lot of times we get comfortable, right?

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And then when God makes it uncomfortable, we seem like we can't function.

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Sometimes God keeps us in our uncomfortable zone. And so we never really get

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a chance to feel comfortable. but we're still growing in that area.

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So we see here that God has him in Egypt, but he's in prison in Genesis 39.

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Let's go to Genesis 41.

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A lot of things happened to Joseph in prison, but we're not gonna have time to go through all those.

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Make sure you read that because those were also Joseph learning how his gifts operate.

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Joseph was also an interpreter of dreams. And so he learned how to interpret dreams.

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And so that, that was a gift that he had, but he also learned that in captivity.

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So let's go to Genesis 41, 39 through 40.

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And he says, then Pharaoh said to Joseph, since God had, has made all his,

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this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

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You should be in charge of my palace and all my people are to submit to your orders.

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Only with the respect to the throne, will I be greater than you?

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So Pharaoh said to Joseph, I hear I put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

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And so after years of trials and imprisonment, Joseph is finally elevated to

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a position of power, fulfilling the dreams he had as a young man.

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His rise to power is a testament to God's timing and sovereignty.

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Joseph's wisdom and discernment.

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Gifts from God were instrumental in saving countless lives during the famine.

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This part of Joseph's story reminds us that God's plans are always greater than our trials.

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What we endure today may be preparing us for a significant role in God's kingdom tomorrow.

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So Joseph rose to leadership because he was able to interpret the king's dream.

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And like I said, sometimes we're in positions where our gifts are being tuned

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up so that we can be used in God's kingdom on another time.

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So don't be one of those complainers and whiners where you were like the Israelites

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in the book of Genesis, where all they did was complain and then they stayed.

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Remember that first group of those Israelites, they didn't make it through.

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They died off after 40 years and their kids went through.

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So don't be where you don't make it to your promised land because you're a complainer and whiner.

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Take that time where you're at and then you learn what you need to learn so that you can move on.

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People are always bragging about, I was at this job for 30 years.

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I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

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If you're still at that job for 30 years, I mean, what else did you do?

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Maybe that's your destiny, but sometimes God trains us and he moves us,

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trains us and he moves us.

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He trains us and he moves us. So don't be afraid to get uncomfortable and don't

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be afraid to allow God to activate that gift. We see Joseph as a young man.

00:19:45.254 --> 00:19:49.634
He ran out and he told about his dreams. You didn't hear about Joseph when you

00:19:49.634 --> 00:19:54.274
read the story of Joseph in 37 throughout the Genesis 37 to 50.

00:19:54.274 --> 00:20:01.214
You never heard about Joseph running his mouth about what his gifts were again.

00:20:01.414 --> 00:20:06.994
He learned a big lesson about that. He just said, okay, I'll tell you if you can help me, right?

00:20:07.054 --> 00:20:10.914
He was learning how to use his gifts that God has gave him.

00:20:11.054 --> 00:20:18.034
And one of the gifts that God gave him got him to be second in power in Egypt. Let's go to Genesis 45.

00:20:18.374 --> 00:20:22.854
When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Remember, in life,

00:20:22.934 --> 00:20:25.394
when you live long enough, things come full circle.

00:20:25.714 --> 00:20:30.994
You'll be able to say, if you're able to live long enough, you will see your

00:20:30.994 --> 00:20:36.574
enemies get rewarded for what they did to you. You'll see them rewarded.

00:20:37.214 --> 00:20:42.034
Oh, you'll see them coming back around asking you for help. Life is secular.

00:20:42.973 --> 00:20:47.053
Then Joseph said to his brothers, come close to me.

00:20:47.293 --> 00:20:53.493
When they had done so, he said, I am your brother, Joseph, and one you sold to Egypt.

00:20:53.753 --> 00:20:59.753
And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling

00:20:59.753 --> 00:21:05.013
me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

00:21:05.213 --> 00:21:09.353
For two years now, there have been famine in the land. And for the next five

00:21:09.353 --> 00:21:11.713
years, there will be no need.

00:21:11.713 --> 00:21:17.353
There'll be no plowing or reaping, but God sent me ahead of you to preserve

00:21:17.353 --> 00:21:23.233
a remnant on earth for you to save your lives for a greater deliverance.

00:21:23.353 --> 00:21:29.153
So then it's not you who sent me here, but God.

00:21:29.353 --> 00:21:35.893
And so we see how much it says, but God sent me ahead of you to preserve a remnant

00:21:35.893 --> 00:21:40.893
on the earth for you to save your lives by a great deliverance.

00:21:41.033 --> 00:21:48.433
And so he realized that even when we think that our enemy has tossed us in the

00:21:48.433 --> 00:21:55.893
jail, our enemy has done this to us, that could it be God who is teaching us, growing us up?

00:21:55.973 --> 00:22:02.093
So we see here at Joseph's growth, at Joseph, you got to read it all the way

00:22:02.093 --> 00:22:10.093
through, but Genesis 45, where he meets his brothers and he doesn't blame his brothers anymore.

00:22:10.733 --> 00:22:17.173
He says, this was God. So at any point during his growth process,

00:22:17.453 --> 00:22:20.773
he realized that this was where he was meant to be.

00:22:20.973 --> 00:22:26.833
His dream matured to show him that he was where he was supposed to be.

00:22:27.133 --> 00:22:30.513
All of these things did make sense to him.

00:22:30.893 --> 00:22:34.173
And maybe God revealed him more in the dream.

00:22:34.373 --> 00:22:38.093
Maybe as he matured, he realized this is where he's supposed to be.

00:22:38.213 --> 00:22:39.313
This is so powerful, right?

00:22:39.513 --> 00:22:45.453
So as we mature, we realize that why are we angry with people when they were

00:22:45.453 --> 00:22:49.153
part of God's plan to grow us up, to mature us?

00:22:49.513 --> 00:22:54.933
So in this powerful moment of reconciliation, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

00:22:55.900 --> 00:23:00.680
And acknowledge God's sovereignty in his journey. What his brothers intended

00:23:00.680 --> 00:23:02.700
for harm, God used for good.

00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:08.020
This passage emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and recognizing God's

00:23:08.020 --> 00:23:11.200
hands in our lives, even in our suffering.

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:18.740
Joseph's ability to forgive his brothers and see God's purpose in his trials

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:25.920
is a lesson for all of us about trusting God's greater plan and letting go of past hurt.

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:32.280
Remember, girl, God's got you. We have to say that to ourselves sometimes when

00:23:32.280 --> 00:23:35.840
we're dealing with this because when we're dealing with our own issues,

00:23:36.080 --> 00:23:38.180
family issues, this was a family issue one, right?

00:23:38.780 --> 00:23:42.280
Dealing with the haters, girl, God's got you.

00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:46.100
Now you got that expectation, Lord.

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:53.120
You got the expectation to open up that space for God to do his miracles and

00:23:53.120 --> 00:23:57.100
to provide for his provisions.

00:23:57.500 --> 00:24:04.980
And we see as, because Joseph could have been bitter and angry and never seen the promises of God.

00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:10.640
He could have just rotted in prison because he would just been too angry to even move.

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:14.500
God couldn't work in a life of a man that's bitter and angry,

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:22.780
But he was able to partner with God in his space, in his trials, right?

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:27.120
So let's go to Genesis 50, verses 19 and 21.

00:24:28.425 --> 00:24:31.605
And let's talk Joseph's final words to his brothers.

00:24:31.885 --> 00:24:35.425
He has a chance to be bitter with his brothers too. Remember,

00:24:35.525 --> 00:24:36.905
now he's the man in charge.

00:24:37.445 --> 00:24:41.245
He could have watched them starve because they left him to die.

00:24:41.325 --> 00:24:45.405
He could have watched them die. But Joseph said to them, don't be afraid.

00:24:45.825 --> 00:24:52.745
I am in the place of God. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good

00:24:52.745 --> 00:24:58.105
to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

00:24:58.425 --> 00:25:04.065
So then don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.

00:25:04.425 --> 00:25:07.965
And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

00:25:08.225 --> 00:25:15.425
This Joseph who was tossed in the hole and sold to slavery, you know what he did to his family?

00:25:15.625 --> 00:25:22.425
He went, he got a chariot, picked up his family and he picked them up and brought

00:25:22.425 --> 00:25:25.605
them all the way back here and Pharaoh gave them a space.

00:25:25.605 --> 00:25:32.265
It was called Goshen where they grew their family, where his father died there.

00:25:32.505 --> 00:25:35.045
He had a space for their family.

00:25:35.485 --> 00:25:41.165
So this young Joseph who had dreams of doing these great things grew up and

00:25:41.165 --> 00:25:43.885
did those great things and he saved his family,

00:25:44.065 --> 00:25:47.265
but also he saved Egypt and the

00:25:47.265 --> 00:25:52.905
surrounding areas because God was with him and he didn't give up on God.

00:25:53.425 --> 00:25:57.385
So it could be, girl, God got you. Hey, God, God got you.

00:25:58.145 --> 00:26:02.885
Joseph's story concludes with a profound statement of God's sovereignty and grace.

00:26:03.025 --> 00:26:06.705
Despite everything he endured, Joseph reassured his brothers,

00:26:06.965 --> 00:26:09.605
offering them forgiveness and provision.

00:26:10.405 --> 00:26:17.945
Forgiveness and provision. His ability to see God's purpose in his suffering

00:26:17.945 --> 00:26:22.905
is a testament to his faith and understanding of God's greater plan.

00:26:24.023 --> 00:26:30.903
This passage encourages us to trust that God is in control, and when life takes unexpected turns,

00:26:31.203 --> 00:26:38.443
it also challenges us to offer forgiveness and grace, knowing that God can bring

00:26:38.443 --> 00:26:41.783
good out of any situation.

00:26:42.423 --> 00:26:49.063
That God can bring good out of any situation, but we have to let them in.

00:26:49.063 --> 00:26:54.763
We have to know that God got us, no matter what it looks like.

00:26:55.143 --> 00:27:00.483
Remember, this story is about unseen miracles and provision.

00:27:00.923 --> 00:27:06.123
What they threw away as a slave was the one that saved them in the end.

00:27:06.243 --> 00:27:08.063
So we just have to be careful.

00:27:08.443 --> 00:27:12.843
So let's hit some learning points, and then we're going to close this up.

00:27:13.803 --> 00:27:19.923
Enduring faith. We see Joseph's journey is a profound example of enduring faith.

00:27:20.223 --> 00:27:23.303
See, his story didn't happen overnight.

00:27:23.823 --> 00:27:30.463
He wasn't one day, Abraham's story, we see it happened pretty quick.

00:27:30.743 --> 00:27:37.403
We'll say it happened maybe a three-week span, walking, and then sacrifice, and then a blessing.

00:27:37.643 --> 00:27:40.563
This story of Joseph, he was a child.

00:27:40.703 --> 00:27:45.623
I think he was probably like 15, 16 years old. But then when they meet him,

00:27:45.823 --> 00:27:50.183
he's an adult with a family, so about 40 years old or so.

00:27:50.443 --> 00:27:54.263
So can you endure to the end if things doesn't work out?

00:27:54.783 --> 00:27:59.803
You know, I don't know how old you are right now, but can you still endure to

00:27:59.803 --> 00:28:02.363
see God's unseen miracle and provisions?

00:28:02.763 --> 00:28:08.343
Can your faith endure to the end? So we see here in Joseph's journey is a profound

00:28:08.343 --> 00:28:11.283
example of enduring faith, right?

00:28:11.283 --> 00:28:15.903
Throughout his life, Joseph faced numerous trials, betrayed by his own brother,

00:28:16.423 --> 00:28:20.003
sold into slavery, falsely accused, and in prison.

00:28:20.243 --> 00:28:25.763
Yet through it all, he held on to his faith and integrity.

00:28:26.243 --> 00:28:32.463
Joseph's story teaches us that our faith must endure, even when our circumstances

00:28:32.463 --> 00:28:36.523
seem to contradict the promises we believe in.

00:28:36.523 --> 00:28:44.043
His faith was not based on his situation, but on his trust in God's character and his ultimate plan.

00:28:44.943 --> 00:28:51.203
This enduring faith sustained Joseph through the years of uncertainty and hardship.

00:28:52.003 --> 00:28:56.663
It is a reminder that our faith isn't just for the good times.

00:28:57.423 --> 00:29:01.683
It's especially for the times when we are tested. Like Joseph,

00:29:02.003 --> 00:29:07.223
we're called to remain faithful, trusting that God is with us,

00:29:07.443 --> 00:29:13.643
working all things together for our good, even when we can't see it in the moment.

00:29:14.580 --> 00:29:20.100
I said, it takes what? Enduring faith. Can you endure?

00:29:20.560 --> 00:29:26.680
Can you endure? I think a lot of times as Christians, we want that miraculous

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:28.460
to happen and take us away.

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:31.120
But God says those that endure.

00:29:32.260 --> 00:29:41.440
So put on your endurance shoes, put on your endurance outfit, your endurance.

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:46.020
People always say, put on your big girl panties, put on your endurance big girl

00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:47.980
panties on and let's do this.

00:29:48.300 --> 00:29:54.800
This enduring faith sustained Joseph through the years of uncertainty.

00:29:55.140 --> 00:30:01.140
So if you have endured, keep enduring, keep enduring.

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:05.220
Let's go to point number two, God's sovereignty.

00:30:06.260 --> 00:30:10.260
Another key theme in Joseph's story is the sovereignty of God.

00:30:10.600 --> 00:30:14.160
Despite the betrayal, the slavery, and the imprisonment,

00:30:14.760 --> 00:30:23.640
God was at work in Joseph's life, orchestrating events in such a way that was

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:27.060
meant for evil, ultimately turned for good.

00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:32.740
This is most evident in Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers.

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:39.100
When Joseph revealed his identity to them, he says in Genesis 50, 20.

00:30:40.040 --> 00:30:47.400
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is

00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:52.820
now being done, the saving of many lives. Isn't that powerful?

00:30:53.260 --> 00:30:57.780
A lot of times people don't know what was meant for harm.

00:30:58.540 --> 00:31:06.460
God intended it for good. him. What they meant to harm him was meant God meant it for good.

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:13.720
This statement captures the essence of sovereignty, his ability to take our

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:18.660
trials, our pains, and our suffering and use it for its greater purpose.

00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:25.900
It's a powerful reminder that what we go through, God is in control.

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.440
I'm going to say that again.

00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:31.040
What we go through, God is in control

00:31:31.040 --> 00:31:37.620
and he is always working behind the scenes to bring about his will.

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:40.500
So let's reflect on what we learned here.

00:31:41.452 --> 00:31:46.912
So let's reflect on our own lives. Have you ever faced a situation where you

00:31:46.912 --> 00:31:53.112
felt betrayed, abandoned, or unjustly treated, much like Joseph did?

00:31:53.452 --> 00:32:00.172
Perhaps you've gone through a season of hardship or suffering that made you question God's plan.

00:32:00.232 --> 00:32:06.712
But as you look back, can you see how God used those challenges to shape you,

00:32:06.932 --> 00:32:10.732
to grow you, perhaps even to bless others.

00:32:10.992 --> 00:32:17.132
I encourage you to think about the times when God turned your trials into opportunities

00:32:17.132 --> 00:32:19.652
for growth and blessings.

00:32:20.152 --> 00:32:25.532
These are the moments that remind us of God's faithfulness and its ability to

00:32:25.532 --> 00:32:31.112
bring good out of even the most difficult situations.

00:32:31.552 --> 00:32:35.412
Just as God was with Moses, guiding him through every trial,

00:32:35.652 --> 00:32:42.292
he's with you working all things together for your good and his glory.

00:32:42.892 --> 00:32:48.632
So how do we apply this to our life? It says, so what can we learn from Joseph's

00:32:48.632 --> 00:32:50.612
story? How can we apply this to our lives?

00:32:50.792 --> 00:32:56.592
One of the most powerful lessons is the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation.

00:32:57.412 --> 00:33:03.752
You know, I think that holds us back because we see in the beginning that Joseph's

00:33:03.752 --> 00:33:06.392
brothers had enough hate to kill him.

00:33:06.952 --> 00:33:11.952
And so knowing that in your heart that your brothers could have killed you and

00:33:11.952 --> 00:33:15.572
you get to a position where you have the power to actually harm them and you

00:33:15.572 --> 00:33:18.352
don't, but you bless them instead.

00:33:18.572 --> 00:33:21.532
And you got to read the story. I mean, every time I read the story,

00:33:21.752 --> 00:33:28.392
I just cry because Joseph really loved his brothers.

00:33:28.392 --> 00:33:35.692
And he was in a position where he had the power, but he didn't use it for harm. He used it for good.

00:33:36.112 --> 00:33:42.972
And so remember, forgiveness and reconciliations do open the door for miracles and God's provision.

00:33:43.652 --> 00:33:49.612
You can't keep that unforgiveness and that payback in your heart and thinking

00:33:49.612 --> 00:33:53.132
God's going to bless you or even let you be a blessing.

00:33:53.332 --> 00:33:58.852
You want to find a way to let that go, get forgiveness and reconciliation in your heart.

00:33:59.152 --> 00:34:03.492
So despite all that his brothers have done to him, Joseph chose to forgive them

00:34:03.492 --> 00:34:04.992
and seek reconciliation.

00:34:05.852 --> 00:34:10.392
This wasn't just an act of personal healing. It was a fulfillment,

00:34:10.752 --> 00:34:14.892
God's greater plan to save many lives during the famine.

00:34:15.612 --> 00:34:21.592
Think how many people were saved because of Joseph's forgiveness and reconciliation.

00:34:22.112 --> 00:34:26.532
I mean, he didn't just pinpoint it and make it personal. He actually just said,

00:34:26.592 --> 00:34:27.452
I'm going to forgive them.

00:34:27.572 --> 00:34:32.892
And he began to save much people alive, not just his family, much people.

00:34:33.774 --> 00:34:37.074
So I encourage you to think about any areas in your life where you might need

00:34:37.074 --> 00:34:41.474
to practice forgiveness. Is there someone you need to reconcile with?

00:34:42.074 --> 00:34:46.174
Remember, forgiveness is not about condoning the wrong that was done,

00:34:46.214 --> 00:34:51.714
but about freeing yourself from the burden of bitterness, allowing God to work

00:34:51.714 --> 00:34:53.994
in your heart and relationships.

00:34:54.814 --> 00:34:58.254
Just as Joseph's forgiveness led to the healing of his family,

00:34:58.254 --> 00:35:04.354
your forgiveness can open the door for God to bring healing and restoration into your life.

00:35:04.614 --> 00:35:06.494
Let's close this segment with

00:35:06.494 --> 00:35:11.574
a prayer, focusing on enduring faith and trusting in God's greater plan.

00:35:11.774 --> 00:35:17.354
Even when we don't understand it, let's ask God to give us the strength to forgive,

00:35:17.714 --> 00:35:24.174
to reconcile, and to trust his sovereignty over every aspect of our lives.

00:35:24.554 --> 00:35:29.834
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the story of Joseph and the powerful lessons

00:35:29.834 --> 00:35:36.634
it teaches us about faith, endurance, forgiveness, reconciliation,

00:35:36.634 --> 00:35:39.354
and most important, Lord, your sovereignty.

00:35:39.674 --> 00:35:45.694
Help us to hold our faith, even hold onto our faith, even in the midst of trials,

00:35:46.094 --> 00:35:49.674
trusting that you are at work within our lives.

00:35:49.894 --> 00:35:56.094
Give us the faith to forgive those who have wronged us and to seek reconciliation where it is needed.

00:35:56.474 --> 00:36:01.754
We trust in your greater plan, knowing that you can turn our pain into purpose

00:36:01.754 --> 00:36:04.454
and our trials into triumphs.

00:36:04.494 --> 00:36:06.314
In Jesus' name, amen.

00:36:07.034 --> 00:36:13.594
So as we conclude this segment, I hope you are inspired by Joseph's story to

00:36:13.594 --> 00:36:17.794
trust in God's plan, even when it leads through difficult times.

00:36:18.074 --> 00:36:21.294
Remember, God is sovereign and he's able to take.

00:36:22.089 --> 00:36:28.469
What it meant for evil and use it for good. Just as Joseph's trials led to triumph,

00:36:28.889 --> 00:36:33.649
God can use your challenges to bring about those purposes in your life.

00:36:33.989 --> 00:36:38.669
Thank you for joining me on this journey through Joseph's life.

00:36:38.929 --> 00:36:44.709
Stay tuned as we continue to explore our stories on lessons.

00:36:44.709 --> 00:36:51.189
We're going to delve into Psalms to see how King David trusted in God's provision

00:36:51.189 --> 00:36:59.289
and protection and how we can use those to trust God for our lives,

00:36:59.409 --> 00:37:01.149
to care for us in our lives.

00:37:01.649 --> 00:37:07.229
I love that. We'll focus on Psalms 37 chapter that speaks powerfully about trusting

00:37:07.229 --> 00:37:11.069
in the Lord, living in faith and security of the righteous.

00:37:11.469 --> 00:37:16.089
As we explore these scriptures, I encourage you to open your heart to the promises

00:37:16.089 --> 00:37:17.949
of God's provision and guidance.

00:37:20.069 --> 00:37:23.149
Thank you for joining me on this journey to Joseph's life.

00:37:23.349 --> 00:37:28.169
Stay tuned as we continue to explore more stories of faith and miracles and

00:37:28.169 --> 00:37:30.629
God's provision in our next segment.

00:37:30.869 --> 00:37:35.609
And always remember, no matter what trials you face, girl, God's got you.

00:37:35.789 --> 00:37:40.789
Until next time, keep holding on to your faith and trusting God's greater plan.

00:37:41.109 --> 00:37:46.709
This is Connie Moore signing off. Be blessed and I'll see you on our next segment.