Joseph Part 6 Bible Study

Joseph in Prison – Testing, Trusting & Triumph

Gen 39:20-40:23

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

How many people like exams?

Wearisome, burn the midnight night oil

God sets examinations for us all – We learn the basic lessons as he entrusts great tasks to us.

Think of Abraham waiting for his promises son or Moses who spent time in the wilderness. We could also think of David who went through a lot before being crowned as King.

God is training, preparing & setting hard examinations.

Testing

Look at the tests that were given to Joseph.

Joseph was a boy who was truthful, honest and reliable.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

4 Phrases

1. Troubled on every side – adversary, strong, leaving him no room to fight back. If you give up you will suffer spiritual loss.

1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Lay your life on the altar and the flames will soon begin licking round the sides of the altar to consume the sacrifice.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2. Perplexed – idea of someone whose supplies are almost finished. He had come to the end of his strength and his resources are all but gone.

Look at Joseph in Genesis 40:14-15

3. Persecuted v9 – Hunted

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

If we are living for the Lord we will always have enemies.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. Cast down – you have received a terrible blow. The fighter is being counted out.

Think of Joseph – the pit, the journey across the desert, sold as a slave, prison

Psalm 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

Trust

God did not Send Joseph there alone.

Genesis 39:20, 21, 23

God was at his side teaching him to trust him.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Genesis 49:23-24 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from

anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord,

that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during

the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one

set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you."

Mary Stevenson

Psalm 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.

It was said of Christ in Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Triumph

2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

This is the triumph that Christ would shine through.

He noticed the anxiety and worry on the other prisoners faces.

He was in touch with God – the dreams were revealed to him.

He doesn’t mention the hatred of his brothers or the wickedness of Potiphar's wife. He is living a life of victory rather than bitterness and blame.

He was faithful with the baker.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.