But God Meant It For Good (Genesis 50:20)

Pr Sandra Chin
17-02-2019

God's love brings hope. We are channels of that hope.

But adversity robs us of our future.

Look at the God of hope. The Lord is with us. He is for us. Our Father remains as a good, good Father.

Joseph's Predicament:
1) Daddy's Pet (Genesis 37:3)

Genesis 37:3 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors.

2) The Pit (Genesis 37:24)

Genesis 37:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

3) To Potiphar (Genesis 39:1-5)

Genesis 39:1-5 New King James Version (NKJV)
Joseph a Slave in Egypt
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. 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 [a]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 [b]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.

4) To the Prison (Genesis 39:20-23)

Genesis 39:20-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
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. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave[a] 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 [b]Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

5) To the Palace (Genesis 41:37-48)

Genesis 41:37-48 New King James Version
Joseph’s Rise to Power
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 [g]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.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name [h]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 [i]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.

He went on to trust God. He was favoured by the Lord and favoured by the people who owned him.

1) Take a Pause:
Take a pause before you start spewing out the anger. As you pause, you breathe and look up to the Lord. Otherwise we will feel bitter and unfair. The Lord holds your life in His hands. When you are in the pit, take a pause and look up to Jesus as He is our only hope. 

2) Take a Praise
In good times and bad times, praise God. Lord is still God even if the circumstances around us change. 

3) Take a knee and Pray
As we bring our prayer to the Lord, we are saying to Him that "Lord, You are the only one who could bring us out of this situation."

A lot of times we blame. It's time to shift the blame and go to prayer. 

4) Take a rest in His Presence
Like King David when he lost everything (1 Samuel 30), he strengthened himself in the Lord. Only God's strength and grace will sustain us. Strengthen by worship, by prayer and by people who will speak the same language and not condemn you. 

5) Take Practical steps
If you sit in your pit, you will be depressed.

Be like Joseph. Do with what you can with what's in your hand. Do something. When you are down, don't stay down. God is ever good. He will guide you. Continue to press on. Keep going to church. Keep serving. Don't let bitterness tie you down. Keep trusting Him.

6) Trust the Lord will Pull you up

7) Take another praise
In adversity whether it is physical or spiritual, remember the Lord is in control. Dwell under  the shadow of the Almighty so that His will be done, and not my way.

Step up and walk in His promises. Bow down and pursue God. Let go of your praise. Praise the Lord! Let the Lord take over. You are precious in God's sight.

God will mean it for good. What lesson is in it for me to learn?

Romans 8:28 New King James Version (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Love God. Praise God and pull down the enemy's stronghold.

We have hope in a good God that we love. God is ever so good.

As we look to the Lord as Joseph looked to the Lord, God molds us.

Stand right in the middle of God's love and receive His goodness. Don't let the chains of darkness bind us down.

God is very good. God is ever faithful.

Do what you can do and leave the rest to God.

No chain can hold you when you are in Christ. He has broken every chain and opened every door when you are in Christ Jesus.