Alternate Tuesday

7.00 pm to 8.00 pm

Bible Study Time

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JOSEPH PT2. (Gen. 37-50)

Your Value is Determined by God, Not Your Net Worth – Gen. 37:12-38

• Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelite traders (His great grand father’s – Abraham – son, from an Egyptian Mother, Hagar
• 20 shekels of silver – the lowest value of a slave in Ancient times. Equals only $160 USD today.
• They took his robe(royal coat) and dipped it in Goat’s blood to present a case of being eaten by wild beast- symbol of deception, betrayal and death.
• As a slave, he worth less than the traders' wares - gum, balm, and myrrh,
• “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” Gen. 37:33. His Father’s lament.
• Sold on auction block in Egypt to Potiphar (Pharoah’s guard captain)

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Indeed, he was torn to shreds mentally and emotionally. Though alive, he lost his freedom, self worth, identification, and family.

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YET… in God’s eyes, he was…

“The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Gen.39:2 NKJV

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And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Gen.39:2 KJV

Material things are not indicative of prosperity. True prosperity is knowing that God is with you. True prosperity is keeping His vision alive in your heart. True prosperity is not wealth itself but God’s favor, anointing, and power that work in your life to obtain it.

Deut. 8:18

Anointing/Calling VS Integrity

 3His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. Gen.39:3-4 ESV

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People can see the hand of God on a person’s life beyond physical evidence.

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• Potiphar saw it and made Joseph manager of his estate.
• The keeper of Pharaoh's prison saw it too and put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners and his estate. Gen39:21-23

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7And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. Gen. 39:7-10 ESV

Anointing is divine enablement. Without integrity, it falls short of God’s best for us. �Integrity (Completeness-the quality of being undivided or whole, whether in moral character or physical condition).

�Anointing is God’s part; Integrity is our part (Amos 3:3)

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Joseph cared so much about standing on God’s side in the presence of temptation. He thought about his master, Potiphar, but most important, …why should I do this great wickedness and sin against God.

God’s Gifts in Our Lives Open Doors for Us. Generous acts lead to promotion, advancement and fulfilment.

• Joseph’s ability to interpret dream opens a bigger opportunity for him to meet Pharaoh.
• His generous act to give by using his gifts was noticed in the prison.
• Our gifts and talents are truly for the good of humanity, not for ourselves. God blesses us when we begin to use our gifts to bless others.

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“Why are your faces downcast today?” 8They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” Gen.40:7-8

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Recognize that God is your source, not your effort or influence. His Gifts in our lives are channels of blessings.

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 15And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

“It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” ESV

“It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” KJV

1. Our present circumstance is not the total or entire story of our lives: from the pit, to slavery, to prison and then the throne tell us that life is not an event, but a journey full of events.
2. Our true worth comes from God not from: We may not be where we want today but we’re all on a journey. We may not have arrived, but we have left.
3. Anointing alone without integrity does not bring God’s best: We should accept ‘men of God’ on basis of both. Lack of integrity often show up in readiness to adopt any means to get what want. No moral compass or drawn lines.
4. Promotion comes from God: The abilities or gifts He gives us often contain the success we experience in life.
5. Patience through suffering and hardship positions us in the right place at the right time: Joseph would have missed pharaoh if he was released right after the butler and baker. Two more years, and then came the opportunity.

Lessons from Joseph’s Hardships