Pharaoh’s Dreams and Preparation for Tribulation, Genesis 41

 

From the pit, through the prison to the palace.

At seventeen years old, Joseph was sold into slavery, by his own brothers. Then, he was falsely accused by his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

He turned thirty years old in prison doing life without parole, but before the day is done, he’ll be second in command over Egypt.

How quickly things can change. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52

⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and the trump of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we ever be with the Lord.

Are you ready to change from this prison of corruption to the palace of immortality?  

For those who are ready, it’ll happen, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

Are you ready?

The Bible is not just an old Book about old events in the olden days. The Bible is alive and active and ever relevant to current events, and those just around the bend, and all the way to the very end of time.

Did you know almost 1/3^rd of the Bible is prophetic? It tells of things to come and is 100% accurate.

Are you preprayered? Joseph was.

He encountered some dreams, his own and others. They all were prophetic in nature; they told of things to come. They did it not with words but pictures, like scenes from a movie.

God often speaks like that. He uses types and shadows and pictures and parallels; Jesus spoke with parables.

You may not believe it, but I believe the Lord started painting a parallel picture for us the moment we stepped into Genesis 41.

We’re reading about Joseph’s life, but the Living Word of God is painting a picture of ours and what is soon to come.

Let’s dive in and I’ll show you what I mean.

Are you ready?

Joseph’s just been called from the prison to the palace because Pharaoh had some wonky dreams and heard that Joseph could interpret them.

But Joe humbly said “No, I can’t interpret anything, but God can interpret everything.”

So, Pharaoh told Joseph about seven fat cows being eaten by seven skinny cows, and seven healthy plump heads of grain being eaten by seven scrawny drought-stricken heads of grain. After eating they were still just as skinny, scrawny and drought stricken as before.

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. ²⁷ And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. ²⁸ This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 

Notice, twice he says that God is doing what God does, telling of things to come. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus tells us in John 16:13, that His Holy Spirit of Truth will guide us into all Truth and tell us of things to come.

He’s still speaking, telling us of things to come. Are we listening? Are we looking for His types and shadows and pictures and parallels?

²⁹ Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; ³⁰ but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. ³¹ So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 

The seven-year famine will be so severe that the years of plenty will be forgotten, the days of abundance will be unknown.

There’s another seven-year famine quickly approaching, not only a famine of natural food, but a famine of the Word of God.

One day, maybe today, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Presence of God, in the people of God, will be taken out of the way, caught-up (raptured) into Heaven. 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:52.

³² And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Friends, it is only by Divine timing we happen to be in this chapter at this time in HIStory. Twenty-nine times Genesis 41 mentions the number seven, more than any other chapter in the Bible.

Listen, is God speaking? Is He painting US a picture, drawing a parallel, a prophecy of our destiny?

Remember in, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and 1 Corinthians 15:52, “the last trump” and “the trump of God” depict an event that kicks off seven years of tribulation, seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowl judgements.

Our prior message detailed the amazing relevance of the number seven, with Israel and the US, then, now and coming soon. The next day, after giving that message, I discovered we were seventy days away from Inauguration Day for the forty-seventh president.

Could the second term of this president, be a sign that, the last Trump will trigger the trump of God; repeated twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

He’s still speaking, telling us of things to come. Are we listening? Are we looking for His types and shadows and pictures and parallels?

³³ “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 

Wow! Just hours ago, Joe was a stinky convicted felon doing life without parole. Now he’s clean shaven and boldly telling Pharaoh what to do.

Pharaoh, the ruler over all of Egypt, a man considered to be a god on earth. But ol’ Joe wasn’t threatened because when you commune daily with the King of kings, earthly kings carry no intimidation.

³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 

The Lord is painting a parallel picture today.

Egypt is going through a changing of the guard. So is America.

A man is selected over all the land of Egypt. So have we.

He appoints officers to fill out his cabinet. We are in the process of doing just that.  

³⁵ And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. ³⁶ Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”

They stored up food and grain for the seven-year famine.

Preparation is wise and good and should be done. However, as Christians, we prepare for more than just a seven-year famine, or a brief lifetime. Our sowing is toward an Eternal goal, a harvest of souls, so not one we’ve been given, will perish in the famine.

That is why in every service we offer books and Bibles and tracts for free; Seed for you to plant toward the soon coming famine.

We’re all called to God’s rescue mission.  

Have you led someone to Jesus today?

We pray you do.

The day’s not over, yet.

But there’s no time to waste.

³⁷ So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 

Joseph, a (falsely accused) convicted felon, becomes ruler over all the land of Egypt, the nation that has more influence with Israel than any other nation on the planet at the time.

If you don’t see it yet, pause and ask the Lord to reveal the parallel picture He’s painted for US.

Lord, we pray You open our ears, our eyes, our hearts, to what Your Spirit is saying to the Church.  

⁴⁵ And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. ⁴⁸ So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. ⁴⁹ Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.

They gathered in abundance in the days of plenty.

We are living in the days of plenty. For the moment, there’s more than enough, to fill our lanterns, to fulfill our mission.

To whom much is given, much is required.

The only thing we don't have much of, is time.

Dear Church, if we come up short, if we miss the mark, if we fail our mission, we are without excuse.

Jesus called the servant who buried his talent, his gift, his calling, a wicked, worthless lazy servant, and had him cast him into outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Matthew 25:25-30.

⁵⁰ And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. ⁵¹ Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” ⁵² And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

⁵³ Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the days of plenty will end.

Are you prepared? Preprayered? Are all those He’s given you?

⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 

The famine began to come. Jesus tells us when you see these things begin to happen, be not scared, but prepared, discerning the signs of the times, and lift up your head, for your redemptions draws nigh. Luke 21:28.

⁵⁵ So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” ⁵⁶ The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.

All the land cried out to Pharaoh for food.

They should’ve cried out to the one and only True God. Instead they cried out to Pharaoh, a man considered to be a god.

Pharaoh pointed the people to his right hand man, Zaphnath-Paaneah (Joseph).

There are multiple ideas regarding the definition of Zaphnath-Paaneah; the name Pharaoh gave to Joseph. One of the Egyptian definitions is: He who seizes on account of food.

The parallel painting gets clearer.

Soon, all will come, all tribes, all tongues, all nations, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, will come to the antichrist for the mark of the beast, so they can buy and sell and be able to eat. Rev. 13:16-17.

Friends, the bad news is, that this is going to happen, it is established by God and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.

The Good news is you don’t have to be here for any of it. God doesn’t want you to be here for any of it. That’s why He’s sounding the trumpet loud and long so much so that some are offended and plug their ears and run from the message.

We pray that’s not you. We pray that you hear and heed and preprayer your way all the way from the pit, through the prison, to the Palace with the Pearly Gates, taking many people with you.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word that’s alive and active and at work right here in our midst. Thank You for revealing to us things to come. Most of all thank You for giving us Your Love so that we care enough to share Your Way of escape with all those You’ve given us, so none, are lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

Habakkuk 1:5, “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

 

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Pharaoh’s Dreams & Present Day Prophecy, Genesis 41:1-7

A lot has happened since last Sunday.

We’re in the midst of a changing of the guard; in our text and in our nation.

Two years have passed since chapter 40, when the Lord used Joseph to interpret the dreams of the butler and the baker.

Remember me when you’re set free, Joseph pleaded with the butler.

But the butler forgot Joseph.

Now, two years have passed, and Joe’s forgotten in Pharaoh’s rotten prison.

But God hasn’t forgotten Joseph, or you, and a dream is about to set him free.

They say everybody dreams an average of 4-6 dreams per night. We forget 95% of them before we wake. On average folks spend 6 years dreaming during their lifetime.

Sometimes dreams are God given.

Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. ² Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. ³ Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. ⁴ And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. ⁵ He slept and dreamed a second time; and suddenly seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, plump and good. ⁶ Then behold, seven thin heads, blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. ⁷ And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads. So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed, it was a dream.

Seven times, in seven verses, we just read the word seven. Remember that, we'll come back to it.  

This is the third time we’ve seen God given dreams in the life of Joseph.

He had a couple God given dreams in Ch. 37, of sheaves bowing to him, then, the sun, moon and stars did too. A sneak peek at his destiny.  

In chapter 40 while in prison he interpreted dreams of the butler and the baker. A vision of their destiny. We saw how, in three days, the baker would be executed and the butler would be spared execution and given a second chance. (Genesis 40:8-22).

And then, during that Sunday morning service a week ago (11/3/24) we said, “In three days, Lord willing, the one who was spared execution in Butler, will be given a second chance.”

Sure enough, three days later, Wednesday about 2-3 a.m. over half the nation felt like the butler, like their destiny, their dream, their American Dream, had been spared execution and given a second chance. 

However, others felt like the baker, like death was at their door.

Now, Pharaoh has 2 dreams that revolve around the number seven and reveal what’s to come in the next 14 years of his nation, and the world.

Notice, each of the dreams are prophetic in nature. They all tell of things to come.

Jesus tells His disciples in John 16:13, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Did you know that almost 1/3 of the Bible is prophetic? Tells of things to come.

The Bible has 1,817 prophecies. 1,239 in the Old Testament and 578 in the New Testament. About half of all Biblical prophecy has already been fulfilled.

There are 324 documented prophecies about Jesus and He fulfilled every single one.

What are the odds?

Bury the entire state of Texas in a foot of silver dollars. Paint one red. Spin around, close your eyes and reach anywhere deep into the heart of Texas and pick that red silver dollar on your first try.

That’s the odds of Jesus fulfilling just eight of those prophecies. He fulfilled 324. With many more coming soon and very soon. The signs are everywhere.

The Bible is the only Book in all the world ever to declare accurately the end from the beginning.  

The Bible isn’t just any book, it’s 66 books, 40 authors, written over 1,500 years, from 3 continents, in 3 different languages, (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic). The Bible is perfectly consistence, 100% accurate, scientifically, geographically, medically, archeologically and every other “ology” because it’s HIStory. HIS Story. Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the Author. Man held the quill, but the Holy Spirt inspired what to write. It is timeless, and ever timely.

This is the only Resource we can be fully persuaded to be 100% accurate on every detail, every jot and tittle, of what is yet to come.  

Question:

Why didn’t God just speak in plain words, rather than painting a picture of fat cows and skinny cows, and plump grain and scrawny grain? Why didn’t he just tell the baker, in three days you’re dead, rather than giving him a dream about birds and baked goods on his head? Why didn’t He just tell the butler in three days you’ll be free, rather than giving him a dream about lush grapes and handing wine to Pharaoh? Why’d He give Joseph a dream about sheaves, and sun and moon and stars bowing to him?

Why’d Jesus teach with stories, word pictures and parables?

A picture is worth 1,000 words. A story is long remembered; words are soon forgotten.

Since God, the Master Communicator speaks like that, we should listen like that. We ought to be watching and listening for Him to speak with object lessons, parallels, and pictures.

Now, please pay close attention so there is no confusion. The following is to help US listen to God, no matter what object lesson, parallel or picture, He chooses or uses.

Consider that we just happen to be in Genesis 41at this moment in time. We didn’t orchestrate the timing, we’re simply walking through Genesis chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Genesis 41 mentions the number 7 more than any other chapter in the entire Bible; not once or twice, not three times, but 29 times.

When God says something once, it’s important. Twice, scoot to the edge of your seat and pay attention, it’s really important. Three times, stand up, draw close, take notes, it’s a wakeup call shouting PAY ATTENTION!

So, here we are looking at two dreams about the destiny of a nation. The nation that will impact Israel more than any other nation on the planet at that time. And the dreams just happen to revolve around the number 7.

So, we’d be remiss if we didn’t address the elephant in the room.

Egypt was in the midst of a changing of the guard. America is in the midst of a changing of the guard. We are 70 days away from the inauguration of the 47^th president. The nation that impacts Israel more than any other nation on the planet at this time.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 tells how the “trump of God” heralds the rapture of the Church, which triggers 7 years of tribulation, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls, as read in the grand finale of the Bible, Revelation.

The Messianic organization called, My Olive Tree, writes of the number 7:

The number 70 is made up of two numbers—and in the Bible, it represents perfection in the number 7, and completeness in the number 10.

The history of the Jewish people is in some way tied to the number 70 more than 50 times throughout the scriptures.

In Israel’s 70th year of independence (Hebrew year 5778), the United States embassy was moved by President Trump to Jerusalem.

President Trump was 70 years, 7 months, and 7 days old when he took office in 2017.

President Trump was born 700 days before Israel’s statehood on May 14, 1948.

President Trump was elected on Benjamin Netanyahu’s 7th year, 7th month, and 7th full day in office.

A total solar eclipse occurred 7 months after President Trump’s first day in office.

Please remember this is to help us listen to God, no matter what object lesson, parallel or picture, He chooses or uses.

WARNING:

Just as Pharaoh’s dreams were a warning about 7 years of famine, the mention of trump of God in the Bible comes at a time just preceding the 7 year rise of the lawless one, the antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-10. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He (Holy Spirit) who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.(Rapture of Church) ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,(the antichrist) whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.(Jesus 2^nd coming and Armageddon). ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, (A.I?) ¹⁰ and with all unrighteous deception (abortion, gender manipulation, inverted morality, right is wrong, good is evil) among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.(willingly reject the Truth that would save their souls).

Listen.

When the serpent tempted Jesus, he offered Him all the kingdoms of the earth if only Jesus would bow down and worship him. Jesus had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was empowered by the Holy Spirit and filled with the Word of God and used the Word of God like a sword and cut the serpent’s temptations to shreds.

Shortly after the trump of God, the serpent will seduce the most influential person on the planet into the role of the antichrist. 

He may have his eyes on Trump.

Do not worship Trump, pray for him. He faces a battle in the spiritual realm that is much more dangerous than an assassin’s bullet.

You may say, that's just foolishness...

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”—1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

Friends, the end of the Church age is quickly approaching, are you ready to meet your Maker? Are you drawn to, or repelled by, the sound of the trump?

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking to us with such simple, yet profound clarity. Help us to follow hard after You, leading all those You’ve given us, directly to You. So, in a moment, when we see You face to face, we’ll hear You loud and clear, say “Well done.” And of all those You’ve given us, none will be lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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Will America Be the Butler or the Baker?

 

Well, it’s Monday, November 4, 2024, 2:00 a.m. Tomorrow is Election Day.

Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

Will the trajectory of our nation change to slow down government spending and baby slaughtering? Or accelerate down its current path to destruction?

Yesterday our youth group did a skit about Genesis 40; when the Lord used Joseph to interpret the dreams of the butler and the baker. Foretelling that in three days, the butler would be spared execution and given a second chance, but the baker would be hung, and the birds would eat his flesh.

I found myself saying, “In three days, Lord willing, one who was spared execution in Butler, will be spared execution and given a second chance.”

But now I find myself thinking, the Lord’s will is not always done. His plan is always fulfilled, but not always His will. It’s not His will that any perish, but, alas, against His will, many will.

After the service I walked outside to find two adults arguing like children.

After trying to deescalate that situation I walked inside to the sounds of a mom scolding her children.

So much for a sermon about how:

 Joseph served others well, because he served the Lord well.

Joseph was Conscientious, Considerate, Compassionate, Courageous, and stayed in Communion with the Lord.

Joseph is a type and shadow of the path and pattern of Jesus. We should be too.

Our little village is a microcosm of our nation.

Most of the folks call themselves Christian. About half of them go to Church. Only about half of the folks that attend Church vote.

For several weeks in every service, we’ve stressed the importance of letting God’s Voice be heard through our voice, at the ballot box.

Yesterday was the last service to make our plea toward Godly Citizen Stewardship, tomorrow is Election Day.

If you haven’t voted, please vote for the platform that will most closely, Make America Godly Again.

And then, after having done all, all we can do is stand, united, and pray, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Will America be the butler, or the baker? 

The answer to that is largely up to His Church (Ekklésia).

Only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

The Lord’s will is not always done. 

His plan is always fulfilled.

Revelation 19:16-19

¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

¹⁷ Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, ¹⁸ that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

¹⁹ And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

 

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Joseph's Journey to Success, Genesis 39

 

Joseph's journey took him from the Pit to the Prison to the Palace.

In Chapter 39 we see Joseph:

Sold.

Slaved.

Seduced.

Slandered.

Sentenced...

And then the curtain will close with one more, "S" word so powerful that the Lord will keep the spotlight on Joseph for the rest of the book.

No, not Superman. It’s something we all can do.

Amazing to think nearly 1/4th of Genesis, is focused on a regular Joe.  And now even after about 3,800 years, his story is still being told all around the world.

Genesis 39:1, Sold.

39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

 Joseph sold by his own brothers, forcibly taken over 300 miles south, to another country, Egypt, and sold to a high ranking official, Potiphar. 

Joseph's just a young man, 17 years old, sold like property, sold like livestock, sold like a piece of meat.

Sold like, Jesus was sold for the price of a slave; thirty pieces of silver.

Sold, like every two minutes a child is sold into sex trafficking. 

The Average age is 12 years old. 

Over 40% are first sold by a family member. 

Only 1% are ever identified. 

The US is a top destination for sex trafficking.

Increased exponentially by open border policies.

From the true story, Sound of Freedom:

"It is the fastest growing crime network the world has ever seen; already passed illegal arms trade; soon to pass the drug trade. Over 2 million children a year are being sucked into the deepest recesses of hell... If you do nothing, someday it's going to reach the likes of you."  

We are part of His Church, His Ekklésia, people called out to effect change, to interpret, implement, enforce, God's will.

We are sending an offering to fight this evil. (Praying about how much and where. Perhaps one of these, or both: soundfreedomfoundation.org, or, OurRescue.org).

But there’s much more to do than simply making a donation.

Prayer is our most powerful tool for effecting change. So, we MUST pause right now, and EVERY DAY, to pray against this vile wickedness.  

BECAUSE GOD'S CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR SALE

Let's pray.

Loving Heavenly Father, we stand in the gap for Your children, and against this vile wickedness of sex trafficking.

Please, stop this evil.

Please close our borders, if not for US, please do it for the sake of the innocent children being exploited by the perverse open border policies of our sick politicians.  

Lord, please wake up Your people from their self-absorbed apathetic stupor. Put in us a passion to be active, fight, fight, fighting, against evil, and for Your righteousness.

Please have mercy on US, forgive US for allowing this sin to saturate our nation.

Thank You, Lord. Amen.

JOSEPH COULD NOT BE BOUGHT

The wicked world might've sold Joseph, but Joseph had the moral fortitude and conviction of character to know that come what may, trials or triumph, he was not for sale.

Genesis 39:2-6a, Slaved

² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. ⁵ So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

Joseph was sold and forced into slave labor. Like 28 million today are forced into slave labor.

But the Lord was with him and gave him favor with his master.

Nevertheless, Joseph was still a slave. Enslaved to the will and whim of his master. No matter how much the Lord blessed him, it was simply making the bossman richer. Day in day out, daily grind, no way out.

But God has other plans for Joe, and you...

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that you have Life, and have it more abundantly. John 10:10.

2 Corinthians 3:17, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

John 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:36, Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, and do not be encumbered again by a yoke of slavery.

Our Father God, Author of liberty, let freedom ring, our country ‘tis of Thee, let freedom ring long and strong in the land of the free, home of the brave.

JOSEPH KEPT HIS LIBERTY, EVEN IN SLAVERY

Dear child of God, never sell yourself out, or sell yourself short. You have been bought with a price, the precious, priceless blood of Jesus Christ, YOU ARE NOT FOR SALE.

Genesis 39:6b-10, Seduced

6b Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. ⁷ And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

⁸ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. ⁹ There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

¹⁰ So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

Guys, what would you do in Joe's shoes?

She's pretty, obviously seductive, and openly offering herself to you.

Do you do what she says, since she's the boss and you're just the lowly servant?

He was young, He was a slave, he could've easily thought, who am I to refuse my master? (boss at work?).

If I say no, it may not go well for me.

JOSEPH GAVE NO PLACE TO THE DEVIL. Ephesians 4:27.

Joseph did not yield to her advances, the devil's temptation.

He didn't even entertain her for a moment, or flirt with her just for fun. He flatly refused.  

JOSEPH HONORED THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE.

Nothing's been kept from me, but you, his wife. 

The marriage bed is a sacred place, not to be defiled. Even among the godless.

Hebrews 13:4, Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Joseph called it what it was, a great wickedness, and sin, AGAINST GOD. (Proper priorities, sin against GOD).

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. Ephesians 5:11.

Genesis 39:11-18, Slandered

¹¹ But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside,

If Joseph made a mistake, this was it. He should've made sure he was never alone with her.

1 Thessalonians 5:22, Avoid the very appearance of evil.

Code of Conduct for judges: Avoid the appearance of impropriety. 

Billy Graham in his over half-century worldwide ministry adhered to this and was never caught in the devil's snare that trips many ministries. He'd never go into a hotel room alone without first having his men, document that the room was empty.

¹² that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 

1 Cor. 6:18, hadn’t been written yet, but Joseph followed it to a T: “flee sexual immorality.”

¹³ And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, ¹⁴ that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

She slandered Joseph's good name by telling the men of the house. But they couldn't do anything but gawk and gossip.

¹⁶ So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; ¹⁸ so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

She repeated the slanderous lie to her husband.

The guilty rage loudest about the very things they themselves are guilty of.

This type of slanderous accusation should lead to a painful death sentence for Joseph.

Yet, Joseph remained silent. We read of no defense from Joseph. He doesn't accuse the wife. He allowed room for God to defend him.

JOSEPH GAVE GOD ROOM TO WORK

Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19.

Isaiah 53:7-8a. He (Jesus) was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. ⁸ Unjustly condemned, he was led away... NLT.

Genesis 39:19-20, Sentenced

¹⁹ So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. ²⁰ Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

Potiphar didn't become captain of the guard by being stupid.

Did he know the truth?

Wonder if he whispered to his wicked wife, you can't hide your lyin' eyes.

Perhaps that's the reason he put him into prison, rather than putting him to a painful death; like being impaled on a pole, or buried alive, burned alive, or torn limb from limb by crocodiles.

Once again, we hear nothing from Joseph, who apparently quietly placed his hope in the Judge of all the earth.

JOSEPH TRUSTED GOD TO WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD (Romans 8:28).

So far, Joseph has been sold, slaved, seduced, slandered, sentenced...

Doug, did you mistitle the message, Joseph's Journey to Success? It sounds more like his journey to death.

No, for Joseph it was a journey to Life.

Sold – but Joseph could not be bought.

Slaved – but he kept his freedom by walking in character and integrity.

Seduced – but gave no place for the devil, and he honored the sanctity of marriage.

Slandered – but didn't lash back, he silently gave place for God to defend and avenge. 

Sentenced – yet placed his fate in the True Judge of all the earth.

Joseph was a type and shadow, of the path and pattern of Jesus Christ.

What do you get when you add all that up?

Genesis 39:21-23, Success.

²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. ²³ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

Through it all Joseph succeeded, to such a degree that the rest of the book is focused on him. In the end, we’ll hear him say the powerful phrase, What you meant for harm, God used for good, Genesis 50:20.

We have one more “S” word. One word that describes what Joseph did. One word that made it all work. Something we all can do, starting today, no matter who we are or where we're at. We can, like Joseph, like Jesus, wax strong in Spirit and grow in favor with God and man, by doing this one thing…

JOSEPH SERVED THE LORD

Yes, God was with him. Yes, God gave him wisdom. Yes, God gave him favor.

But God blessed and prospered what Joseph did, what he set his hand to, the way he served, is what impressed Potiphar, and the Prison Warden.

Make a note, Joseph wasn't serving them, he was serving God.

There’s no greater joy and satisfaction than honoring the Lord by serving someone for His sake.

Try it sometime. You’ll see.

If they try to pay you, simply say: 

Thank you for the honor of serving you.

Those words rolling off your lips will bring more fulfillment than anything the world can offer.

Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord. Colossians 3:17.

Memorize that. Personalize it.

Whatever I do in word or deed I do all in the name of the Lord.

Then, do it... and you’ll never work again. It’ll be a joy.

Jesus says it like this:

Whoever wants to be great must be your servant of all, whoever wants to be first must be your slave, for the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26-28.

Thank you for the honor of serving you.

Let's pray.

Holy Father, thank You for sharing with us the story of Joseph. Most of all, thank You for the honor of serving You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

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