GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
Associate Pastor Rick Bettez
December 30, 2016
1Cor 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Joseph was most certainly a young man of integrity & courage but he was also a young man of arrogance and accustomed to special treatment.
And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.
Joseph seemed to have a problem with putting himself above others.
God has a subtle way of letting us (CA Bel) see the folly or flaws of all the men & women in His plans without destroying their character completely.
Joseph was great because he was faithful to God, he was respectful toward his father Jacob, but Joseph was arrogant just like every one of us.
Gen 37:4 SANE’ –they hated, a strong Hebrew verb meaning to detest, turn against as a foe or intense emotions against someone.
Joseph had difficult and troubled relationships with his peers & brothers, but the root of the problem came from his father, Jacob (Israel).
Those who get continually supported, preferred treatment and have less accountability than others easily develop an attitude of entitlement
God the Father gives us the best example of spreading fatherly love around.
Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
Acts 10:34 Peter stated “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
Jam 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
As we go forward we can see the result of Jacob’s lack of discipline and his weak example as a father, has led to a group of troubled young men.
Joseph was given a gift from God and he was being called out by God for a great task, but he needed to remain humble.
Gen 37:5 shows very little restraint from Joseph.
Gen 37:6 Joseph can’t wait to tell his brothers, yet…we already know he doesn’t have a good relationship with them. This can only stir up more strife, Joseph knows this.
What is coming into view here is what we see today in our society as the HAVES & THE HAVE NOTS.
A purposeful focus on what some have and others lack.
The less fortunate are never told to rebel against those who have more nor is there a standard in God’s word for forcing equality on society.
Exo 30:15 “The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.
Lev 19:15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
Deu 15:11 “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'
We are continually tested in many areas within our spiritual walk…some testing is designed to show us our own weakness other tests are there to put muscle on our faith, either way it should lead to SM.
Focusing on what some lack or others have is a futile effort in life. It’s a social/political tool to ignite frustration to move hidden agendas forward.
Joseph is having genuine dreams or visions from God but it is how he is handling his gift right now & the fact that he had already made enemies of his own brothers even before these dreams that shows us a young man who is not humble.
Gen 37:18 is what is known as the OSN thoughts giving birth to sin (action), bitterness coming to the surface.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Testing and discipline, trials and difficulties are the training grounds for spiritual maturity. It is during these field tests that we flex our faith muscle