The Faith of Joseph

 

Intro. Character and Favoritism

 

Definition—Character: 1. The combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person, group, or thing from another.  2. A distinguishing feature or attribute, as of an individual, group, or category.  4. Moral or ethical strength.  5. A description of a person's attributes, traits, or abilities.

 

Definition—Favoritism: 1. A display of partiality toward a favored person or group

 

3 characters to look at:  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a Joseph

            All three had various things in common but one very specific trait.

 

A.   Abraham—God’s Promise in an heir (Gen. 15: 1-4)

1.      God made this promise.

2.      More than the stars, vs. 5

3.      Sara’s Impatience—Gen. 16: 1-3

                                                               i.      Decided to “help God”

                                                             ii.      Gave handmaiden

                                                            iii.      Hagar conceived, vs. 4

 

4.      End Results—Gen. 21: 8-10

                                                               i.      Showed favoritism toward Isaac

                                                             ii.      Cast out Ishmael and Hagar

                                                            iii.      Vs. 12, 14, 17

 

 

 

B.    Isaac—Two, older to serve younger (Gen. 25: 23)

1.      A wife for Isaac—Gen. 24: 12-18

2.      Two children, Nations—Gen. 25: 22-23

3.      A matter of favoritism—Gen. 25: 28

4.      Jacob’s deceit—Gen. 27

                                                               i.      Father’s blessing

                                                             ii.      Request Esau to prepare meal.

                                                            iii.      Overheard by Rebekah.

                                                           iv.      Disguises Jacob as Esau

                                                             v.      Gets blessing through lies and deceit.

 

5.      End result—Gen. 27: 41-46

                                                               i.      To spare Jacob’s life sent away

                                                             ii.      Lied again, need of wife not in foreign land

                                                            iii.      Son sent away, never to see Mother again.

 

C.   Jacob—12 Sons, 12 Tribes (Gen. 49)

1.      Had 12 sons but showed favoritism to Joseph. (Gen. 37: 3-4)

2.      Joseph’s dream—vs. Gen. 37: 5-10

3.      Brothers’ plot against him—Gen. 37: 18-28

4.      Covered up selling of brother by lying to Jacob, son killed. (Gal. 5: 20-21)

5.      Result—No mother, no help.

 

D.   Joseph in Egypt

1.      Found favor with Potiphar—Gen. 39: 1-5

                                                               i.      His faith against Potiphar’s wife—vs. 7-13

                                                             ii.      Cast into prison—vs. 19-20

                                                            iii.      Baker and Butler in his care—Gen. 40: 1-4

                                                           iv.      Their dreams and interpretations—vs. 8-20

2.      Restored to Pharaoh—Gen. 41: 1-14

                                                               i.      Interprets dream—vs. 25-32

                                                             ii.      Made in 2nd over all just under Pharaoh—vs.40-41

 

3.      Arrival of brothers in Egypt—Gen. 42: 1-5

                                                               i.      Unaware of Joseph’s identity—vs. 8

                                                             ii.      His first dream fulfilled—vs. 6, 9

                                                            iii.      Revealed true identity—Gen. 45

 

 

Conclusion

          Heb. 11: 6

            Rom. 8: 31

            Mk. 16: 16