God Is with Me

Pastor Judy Greer deals with the question, sometimes bad things happen to good people sometimes really good things happen to bad people just can't figure it out why it's happening. That's what you get to see happen to Joseph but in Joseph's life. You're also going to see what it looks like if you believe that God is with you and it all day like. As always, I'm your host Molly minutes.

It's pretty to just say Truscott when things go wrong, like when your child gets a scary diagnosis or your business goes under, what is your trust look like then how does that fit into God's plan today. Pastor Jenny tackles that question as he continues our overview of the Bible called the whole story. If you've missed any part of this new teaching series. You can listen online@jdgreer.com right now were getting an important reminder of God's sovereign control every situation. Now grab your Bible and a pen. As we join Pastor JD for a much-needed message today in Genesis chapter 50 in our message today with a question I want you to consider. The question is this how would your outlook on life change if you believe that God was really with you in every situation you would ever gone through in your life whatever situation you find yourself in now that God was in it.

God had directed you to do it that whatever we want to in your past that God was in that he was in that divorce that you went through. He was in a bad grade that you received the resume in the fact that you got passed over for promotion when opportunity that you really felt like you deserve but you didn't get it that God was somehow in value being passed over was in that disability that you were born with, and can't understand why he was. It was with you he was in the fact that you experience prejudice in your life and unfairness you been treated unfairly. How would your Outlook change if you knew God was in that he had a plan and it even though it fell out of control and it felt painful. I know that he was in it. Now you say will tell you that's the problem. I'm just not sure I believe that about everything in my life. I'm not asking you to believe yet housing just suppose for a minute.

Just imagine that you did, how would your outlook on your life. How would your attitude toward your life and the situation you're in now, how would that change if you really did believe it.

I say that because a Bible teacher named Andy Stanley says that is the question that is presented to us in the life of the guy were to take a look at whose name is Joseph stories in Genesis 50 sometimes bad things happen to good people sometimes really good things happen to bad people and you just can't figure it out.

Can't figure out why it's happening.

That's what you're going to see happen to Joseph but in Joseph's life. You're also going to see what it looks like if you believe that God is with you in it all for the beginning of the book of Genesis. If you remember from a few weeks ago and we saw that God given this promise to Abraham that he would bless Abraham and his descendents would be there God would never leave them he would watch over them and everything he would defend them from everything for the writer of Genesis, who was Moses is going to illustrate for us what that promise looks like in action through the life of Joseph Genesis. I believe I've always said this Genesis is the most important book in the Bible and the character that gets more space in Genesis than any other character is Joseph nearly 1/4 of the book of Genesis is about Joseph right so let me give you the last scene injures his life and then Morgan I'll walk you to the story that lead you to that point. Genesis chapter 50 verse 50 when Joseph brother Saul. The father was dead. They said all now it's can be a just going to hate us. If you pay us back for all the evil that we did to him. Verse 19 but Joseph said to them, do not fear brothers for a minor place of God has for you, you meant evil against me, but God he meant it for good to bring about so that many people should be kept alive as they are today, so do not fear. I will provide for you and I will provide for your little ones. Okay, here is the story if you remember Abraham was the man sterile old man who was selected to be the patriarch of this chosen family that was good be the nation through which God bless the world. Abraham's old so I'm in his old age.

He has this miracle baby named Isaac, and Isaac is going to have two sons one is named Jacob. The others named Esau. Esau is the older brother. He was the man's man.

He drove the Ford F1 50 and all the guys of Jacob less of a man's manager of the mini Cooper the Miata. Whatever. But Jacob is the one through whom the promise is going to to go so Jacob is going to have 12 sons Joseph and 11 other dudes now I write like that on purpose because that's how Jacob saw when Jacob talked about Joseph Jacob's face lit up and his eyes sparkled. Joseph always got the extra piece of chicken. Joseph always got the extra brownie. Joseph got to have friends over. To make matters worse I Jacob just to Joseph this coat of many colors not technically in Hebrew, it says coat of long sleeves which means it was this long ornate robe with long sleeves that was worn as a status symbol that was supposed to demonstrate you have to do manual labor. Typically it was the older brother who got to where it got exempted from war, but Jacob visited Joseph was one of the youngest brothers to the rest of the kids did their close off the clearance rack at the Dollar General. Joseph supports a new trenchcoat from Saks Fifth Avenue right and then to make matters worse Joseph start having these dreams you got 15 years old and one of these dreams he dreams that he and all his brothers and his mom and dad on the field cheating. We have been Joseph C per week.

It's a lot bigger and everybody else's and everybody else receive a week's earthbound on his chief Joseph shares this dream this family. One night over dinner as well. Having interpretations obvious. One day all of you were about on the meat out of the commanding go to the submitting. This, of course, whatever like like a barbecue at a bar mitzvah with his brothers. By the way, if you have a dream where all your friends and your family bow down to you, you keep that jump to yourself okay I will one day all Joseph's brothers around the mountains feeding the goats course Joseph have to go to his dad says to him I Joseph brother's been out for a while want your help on the new ATV I bought you in my jet zoom out mountains and figure out where they are and check on to Joseph goes around he finds him. Of course there also grimy and stinky from working with the sheep in your gums Justin Bieber with his wavy hair is your tight jeans in his coat of many colors and is like hello brothers older brothers. How is everybody got still talking about my dream I had another dream work on the big gerbil and you guys a little run gerbils and in that way in the middle of this. One of his brother says you know about sick of you and so he grabs him he throws them into a pit and I start planning out how they're going to kill them to make a long story short, instead of telling him they decide to sell them into slavery, but they take his coat and they rip it and they dip it in goats blood and they take it back to their dad Jacob and say dad were so sorry we found this on the road.

Obviously a wild animal.

A lot of hyenas even Jacob Hauer so sorry J. Joseph is dead meanwhile come back to Joe so he shows up on the slave market in Egypt. Miss Egyptian named Potiphar by some to be a slave now part of her happens to be the captain of Egypt's armies and then we see this phrase for the very first time the life of Joseph. Genesis 39 Sue and the Lord was with Joseph when Potiphar sees that the Lord was really with him and the Lord caused everything that he did to succeed in his hands. He made him overseer in his house and put him in charge of everything that he had all this is a crucial turning point in the life of Joseph wanted Joseph had said what I would probably have said while clearly God has forsaken me, and slipped into a depression. Or maybe he if he had said water can't possibly be a God who would allow something like this to happen to me. I can't believe in a God that would let that happen to me if Joseph had said that the story would stop right here but Joseph doesn't say that what he says is even in this I believe in God is with me. So instead of going into depression or unbelief. You serve God faithfully the place God places them. Potiphar sees that God is with him and he elevates Joseph to be in charge of everything in his house. Enter Potiphar's wife Potiphar's wife decides that Joseph is a lean mean hunk of Hebrew kebab. The writer of Genesis. By the way, says that Joseph was handsome in both form and appearance. That's the same phrase that we saw last week to describe Rachel you Jacob. Miramichi was just really like a great face and right body. Is this the boys they met. So you EEG sees it was really just one day when Potiphar was out doing military stuff.

Mrs. Potter comes in with her tight jeans and a clear heels doing her walk like an Egyptian rose and ISU propositions. Jacob and now she's pretty direct.

The only thing she says in the story, 39, seven is why with me. That's it is only in Hebrew is literally two words sex now what Joseph won't do it because it is against the laws of God and be it would be a betrayal of his master, who is trusted and was so much what we always assumed by the way that she was really good looking, but is nothing in the Bible that says that you should look like Jabba the Hutt. We don't know but whatever immunity was easy to say no.

I don't know, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and so she steals Joseph's coat and she says the Potiphar you left this coat behind when he was trying to rape me while Potiphar believes his tramp wife. Instead of believing Joseph and so he throws Joseph in the prison and there we see the phrase again. Verse 21 of the Lord was with Joseph and showed him, steadfast love, can't you hear Joseph like really God could you be with me a little less next time, maybe, sounds like you're doing what Potiphar's wife. The steadfast love and feel very steadfast. Verse 22. Then God gave him favor with the keeper of the prison and the keeper put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. We keeper the prison paid no attention to anything goes in Joseph start because the Lord was with him and whatever he did.

The Lord made it succeed.

How would your outlook and attitude in life be different if you really believed in whatever situation you're in. The God was behind it. You put you there. Joseph is in prison, but his spirit soars three in all situations because he believes that God is with him and got a put them where he was well for several years in prison a couple of Pharaoh's court servants get thrown in there with them on the Butler won the Baker and both of them had to have a dream so they tell their dreams of Joseph and so Joseph says the Butler. Your dream means that within three days, you're going to be released out of here and restored your position in Pharaoh's court. The Baker says that sounds awesome with my dreamy decision.

Dream means that within three days. You are to be hung by your neck and the birds are going to pick the flesh off your face and eat your eyes out your sockets about how you responded after the Baker but sure enough, it all takes place. Joseph says the Butler before he leaves the present date is member listen when you get out here will remember me because I'm here unjustly in the Butler says I promise I'll never forget you. How could I but promptly forget about him as soon as he's out forgets about them for more than two years again.

Can you imagine Joseph at this point God really I'm not asking for all lot of just asking for a little justice then two years later Pharaoh has his own dream and it's a strange one. He sees seven fat cows come up out of the Nile, followed by the Nile River, followed by seven skinny cows in the seven skinny cows eat the seven fat cows and then they turn to Pharaoh and say more chicken. Nobody can figure out what we just ends with a meeting the Right, so I'm limiting figure out what it means in the Butler cycle.

Yeah, I remember this this dude in prison who interprets dreams so they go get Joseph out of prison they bring to Pharaoh and Pharaoh says I hear that you can interpret dreams and Joseph will know no man can interpret dreams that I know the God in heaven who can interpret dreams when he says that by the way. Everybody in the courtroom is like oh no we didn't see Pharaoh's believe that they were God and you don't tell the most powerful man in the world. He thinks he's God that is really not God. But you got it with God is not him right how much confidence would you live with in life.

If you really believe that God is with you. Might you lose your fear of man and just be able to say what you know is true to people that are in front of you because you know the God by I will Joseph goes away. Talk to God comes back and says God tell me what your dream means. He says the dream means that he's innocent seven years of peace at the seven fat cows followed by seven years of famine. That's a skinny cows in the seven lean years. The seven famine years can be so bad is going to gobble up the all the years of feast so so if you're smart you'll lay out now. Kind of like storehouse stop so that when you going to famine you will have food so they do that Pharaoh was so grateful that he promotes Joseph to be the Prime Minister of Egypt so that he get Egypt prepared Joseph is literally over everybody in the kingdom except for Pharaoh, which by the way included Potiphar and his wife, which should've been a fun reunion fast for now.

About 10 years. The predicted famine has come, and things of gotten really really bad in all regions starving just like Joseph and said the only place in the whole region that has food is Egypt and that's because of Joseph's warning Joseph's family. His dad and his brothers are affected also to Jacob since his sons Joseph other brothers down to Egypt to buy food immediately.

Joseph recognizes them, but I guess that will recognize them because all makeup, you know, cobra head addressing that he wars your vice Pharaoh when he sees them be so overcome with emotion that he could barely control himself. He burst into tears as mascara starts to run, eventually after putting them through output to always test to see if they they they changed. He just can't stand it anymore.

He strips off his address and he says to his brothers, it's me, it's Joseph now to answer your question, you think this was a moment where they were glad think it is a moment where they were sad I would emotion you feel like there were feeling at this moment. This is the old credit moment we sold this dude into slavery 25 years ago, but we never see him again and now he is the most powerful man in the world. But Joseph sensing their terror says to them, 45, five only distress told me angry with yourself because you sold me here because I don't look at it that way. I think of it as God sending me before you to preserve for you a ring that on earth, and to keep alive for you. Many survivors so it was not you who sent me. Here is a it was God. How was your outlook on life change. How is your attitude toward your past change. If you believe that in everything you'd gone through in every situation you're in. The God was with you to see his brothers return. Now they get their father, Jacob, and they bring in the Joseph and after all these years.

They are reunited. Well, after many many years. Jacob dies and that brings us back to that last thing we looked at in Genesis 50 and and here it is. One more time when Joseph's brother saw the father was dead. Mesa now it's going to be that Joseph was just doing that so he did make her dad sad. Now you hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him. Joseph said to them, do not fear brothers reminded place of God, yeah.

As for you, you meant evil against me. See, God meant it for good to bring about the many people should be kept alive as they are today, so do not fear.

I will provide for you and your little ones, thus he comforted them in these folk kindly to them. There are couple of ways that you can interpret Joseph's life lesson first, and most importantly you can and should interpret it as a picture as a premonition of Jesus, did you hear the echoes of Jesus's story all through Joseph story I want to teach you to read the Bible this way so that you need to see this stuff instinctively only me go. Explain it to you one day many years into the future.

Another Savior would come and walk the exact same path. The Joseph walked he would be betrayed by his brothers. He would then be lied about impulsively condemn. Of course, unlike Joseph Jesus was not just sold into slavery.

He was put to death. But, like Joseph, he would be raised from that pit to sit on to the highest throne of the land and like Joseph instead of exacting vengeance from that throne he would use his exalted position to forgive and save his brothers and, like Joseph, he would weep tears of joy when we were reconciled him.

Jesus is the whole point of this story as he is. Every story in the Bible. The main point of the Joseph story is not to amaze you. Would Joseph's incredible faith is certainly not to try to tell you that regardless of what bad things happen to you as long as you avoid the aggressive cougars in your life you're going to be president of the USA one day. The whole point is to show you that in all things God is fully in control of history. Working out his perfect plan to put Jesus on the throne and then to save and glorify the church to his exalted rain and resurrection. Okay, but in light of that, in light of that, the other way you can interpret Joseph's life is as a picture of what looks like a lid with the assurance of God is with you because Jesus is on the front ones were in one day. Jesus is the Jesus of the real Joseph but in light of that, what you can do is then begin to read your life like Joseph read his the assurance that God was with you in every situation. Just like God was in complete control Joseph life working at all for his good plan. So he is in control of your life because you are sons and daughters of Abraham. Just like Joseph was is working all things for his good purposes in your life. Just as he was with Joseph's so I ask you again, how would your outlook on life change if you really believe that in all things God was with you and had been with you and that he had guided everything according to his appointed purposes because that is exactly what Joseph believes too many take you through his last statement and show you because it's kind of the heart of Christian faith right verse 19 chapter 50 you meant for evil human free will of God meant it for good. I never got a purpose and everything. Joseph said that things even the bad things he was overriding what other people meant for evil. He was overwriting it for good. The slavery led to Potiphar's house which led to the false accusation, which led to the prison, which led to the forgetting which led to Pharaoh, which led to a throne from which Joseph could save God's people got was as much in the pit in the prison as he was in the palace.

Now a couple of things here that want to make sure you see first believing this does not reduce the sin of others.

Notice that Joseph didn't downplay what his brothers did because it evil. You see, I say that because sometimes as a means of coping with our past. We try to downplay the bad things of people done well you know they were just confused.

How will they were just doing what they thought was right. You know all families have struggles this marriage just wouldn't meant to be a lot of people's parents get divorced. Joseph of course he imagined Joseph trying to say that, well, you know, sibling rivalry is normal, being sold into slavery, covered up by the lie that I believe by animals that happens that everybody he couldn't say that part of experiencing God's healing for your past. Listen involves facing up to the fact that people have sinned against you, your parents send him some of you, a former spouse sinned against you. A balsa sinned against you there been friends that it genuinely hurt you. They have sinned against you and you don't want to cope with it by just saying what was in that bad, it was back. It's just that that's not where the discussion stops God overwrites the evil that they did with good night.

Second, knowing that God has a good plan. Everything that mean you can always see it here.

Sometimes you can. Joseph like you can each stage of the journey was a necessary part of the end. But in the middle of it all Joseph could see that he hadn't read the book of Genesis. You know how the Last Supper was going to turn out what until the very end. He could see it. Recently my wife and I together we read the book 7 women by air attacks of seven women to change the world is a chapter in Erin Corrie 10 boom, Corrie 10 boom was the Dutch Christian.

When World War II was put into a concentration camp because she was helping to smuggle Jews and help them escape the Holocaust so she ends up in a concentration camp. She's there with her sister Betsy and she said she said was is everything that you would think it will be. It was awful. She said that the torture on the execution.

She said one overlook things that made it so bad was the felt and she said we just stayed in filter because of that there were just these simple like swarms of fleas always around. She said my sister Betsy who was stronger in faith and I was when they looked at me and says you know the Bible says we are to rejoice in all things and give thanks in everything. Which means we need a thank God right now for these fleets.

Course if you have your mind there is no way on God's green earth I never to say thank you for these fleets. She's a must to look at me and said what in your and San. I'm thinking for the both of us and she bowed her head. Thank God for this wretched fleets. She said we in our barracks we would meet every day would never happen and we meet, we have a little time of worship with just a small group of us and would say Bible verses to each other and we had a small Bible that we might smuggled and we read the Bible. It was the source of life to us.

She's the one thing I can never figure out what is the guards would never come into our barracks.

It was the only place on the entire concentration camp where they wouldn't go.

She says one day it dawned on me why they wouldn't come. In fact he said one explained it to me. It would always well Bible camp of the couldn't tell what they were doing if they come in and found them worshiping that would've beaten them or even worse I could kill, she said the reason they would come him was because of this lease. She said they flee they want to get fleas on them survey the state of the barracks so that they could keep things off of them. She says, and Betsy looked at me and said thank God for this lease not here. My question for you. Who were the fleas in your life making them right now you got a them in your mind right there not be sitting right next to the right nor the fleas in your life.

Can you think God for the fleas, knowing that he's got a purpose for them. Even if you can't quite see it right now.

Sometimes you die. Of course, without seeing it I heard that life is is in many ways like a tapestry diversity. Wendy's bespeaks tapestry like in the Biltmore house noted the enormous ornate works of art that every strand is in its place and it's beautiful.

You flip it over on the back and it looks like this chaotic mass always strings of disaster is life problems like that's not a tapestry menu does look like this chaotic mouse like there's no rhyme or reason. What happens is when David currently lives in over every single strand was in place. Every single strand was explained. Everything is going according to plan.

This is been an encouraging truth from Pastor JD Greer on Senate life to listen again. Visit us online@jdgreer.com case messages from an exciting new teaching series called the whole story we're going from Genesis to Revelation. Focusing on some of the main points in between so that we can see the overarching thing because the whole thing ultimately telling just one story, the redemption story of Jesus.

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