1 00:00:32,579 --> 00:00:35,859 There's no greater name. Amen. If you in your Bibles turn to Genesis 2 00:00:36,019 --> 00:00:45,738 37 Genesis chapter 37, I did preach from this passage about five 3 00:00:45,738 --> 00:00:47,739 years ago. I just every once in a while I'd like to remind you 4 00:00:47,739 --> 00:00:53,139 that I do keep track and date all my messages when I've preached 5 00:00:54,179 --> 00:00:57,999 anyway, just in case you writing them in the side of somebody 6 00:00:57,999 --> 00:01:01,599 else. I don't know. A lot of people used to write down dates in 7 00:01:01,919 --> 00:01:04,559 the margin of their Bible when the preacher preached that particular 8 00:01:04,639 --> 00:01:07,199 text. Then they would like to remind the preacher every once in 9 00:01:07,199 --> 00:01:10,199 a while when he touches on that same text. So I just thought 10 00:01:10,199 --> 00:01:15,799 I'd preemptively strike let you know that I do keep track. But 11 00:01:15,799 --> 00:01:20,799 as far as the series in Joseph, it was in 2014 when we preached 12 00:01:20,799 --> 00:01:26,049 this a long time ago and I'm sure enjoyed studying for this and 13 00:01:26,049 --> 00:01:29,969 look forward to studying here in the next few weeks. There are 14 00:01:29,969 --> 00:01:32,689 so many lessons we can glean from the life of Joseph. Let's read 15 00:01:32,689 --> 00:01:36,609 the first few verses here in Genesis 37, verse 1. And Jacob dwelt 16 00:01:36,609 --> 00:01:40,329 in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 17 00:01:41,129 --> 00:01:45,449 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, 18 00:01:45,849 --> 00:01:49,309 was feeding the flock with his breast brethren, and the lad was 19 00:01:49,309 --> 00:01:52,909 with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's 20 00:01:52,909 --> 00:01:57,629 wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now 21 00:01:57,629 --> 00:02:00,589 Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was 22 00:02:00,589 --> 00:02:05,629 the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And 23 00:02:05,629 --> 00:02:08,629 when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than 24 00:02:08,629 --> 00:02:13,029 all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably 25 00:02:13,359 --> 00:02:17,159 unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren, 26 00:02:17,159 --> 00:02:20,959 and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, hear, 27 00:02:21,039 --> 00:02:25,359 I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. For behold, we were 28 00:02:25,519 --> 00:02:30,839 binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and also stood 29 00:02:30,839 --> 00:02:34,839 upright. And behold, your sheaves stood round about and made 30 00:02:34,839 --> 00:02:39,848 obeisance to my sheave, bowed down to his sheave, and his brethren 31 00:02:39,848 --> 00:02:43,688 said unto him, shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou 32 00:02:43,688 --> 00:02:48,408 indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for 33 00:02:48,408 --> 00:02:53,648 his dreams and for his words. Verse 9 and he dreamed yet another 34 00:02:53,648 --> 00:02:56,288 dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, behold, I have 35 00:02:56,288 --> 00:03:00,688 dreamed a dream more. And behold, the sun and the moon and 36 00:03:00,688 --> 00:03:04,348 the 11 stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father 37 00:03:04,579 --> 00:03:07,779 Father and to his brethren. And his father rebuked him and Said 38 00:03:07,779 --> 00:03:12,139 unto him, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and 39 00:03:12,139 --> 00:03:15,339 thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves 40 00:03:15,339 --> 00:03:20,738 to thee, to the earth? And his brethren envied him. But his father 41 00:03:21,699 --> 00:03:26,979 observed the saying. His father observed the saying. Let's 42 00:03:26,979 --> 00:03:31,019 pray. Heavenly Father, again we ask for your help. And as we study 43 00:03:31,019 --> 00:03:35,539 this passage, and Lord, may you illuminate our understanding. 44 00:03:35,539 --> 00:03:39,059 I pray God that you would lead and direct. Help me to say exactly 45 00:03:39,059 --> 00:03:42,219 what you'd want me to say. Help us to glean from this passage 46 00:03:42,219 --> 00:03:46,698 in Jesus name, Amen. We've said many times, Romans, chapter 47 00:03:46,698 --> 00:03:50,699 15 and First Corinthians, chapter 10 mention to us that the 48 00:03:50,699 --> 00:03:54,219 Old Testament was written primarily for New Testament saints. 49 00:03:55,419 --> 00:03:59,609 In that regard, it's the Bible says there in Romans 15 for whatsoever 50 00:03:59,609 --> 00:04:03,329 things were written aforetime were written for our example, for 51 00:04:03,329 --> 00:04:10,129 our learning, that we might hope and so understand that even 52 00:04:10,129 --> 00:04:16,209 King David only had about 12 of the old Testament books. So if 53 00:04:16,209 --> 00:04:22,169 you think about it, there was never even a prophet or a patriarch 54 00:04:22,819 --> 00:04:27,139 the Old Testament that had a complete Old Testament. No, no, no. 55 00:04:27,219 --> 00:04:30,059 The Old Testament was written primarily for us. For New Testament 56 00:04:30,059 --> 00:04:36,179 saints, the Old Testament is the foundation for the New Testament. 57 00:04:36,979 --> 00:04:41,179 Why I always encourage you if you're a New Christian. Yes, read 58 00:04:41,179 --> 00:04:44,779 the Book of John very first thing and get familiar with the life 59 00:04:44,779 --> 00:04:49,338 of Jesus. Maybe read through the Gospels first before you go back 60 00:04:49,338 --> 00:04:54,818 to Genesis. But as growing Christians, you should read the Bible 61 00:04:54,818 --> 00:04:59,298 through from Genesis to Revelation. That's how it was intended 62 00:04:59,298 --> 00:05:02,898 to be read. Don't pogo stick around, don't just get up in the 63 00:05:02,898 --> 00:05:08,058 morning, maybe I'll read there, you know, and so it will help 64 00:05:08,058 --> 00:05:12,298 you because the New Testament writers wrote in light of that, you 65 00:05:12,298 --> 00:05:15,249 already know your Old Testament. There are three thousands 66 00:05:15,329 --> 00:05:19,049 of references in the New Testament to the Old Testament. And 67 00:05:19,049 --> 00:05:21,929 so the writers, as they're inspired by the Holy Spirit and as 68 00:05:21,929 --> 00:05:26,089 they write, are writing the New Testament in their mind and by 69 00:05:26,089 --> 00:05:30,089 way of the Holy Spirit, they are writing, understanding and knowing 70 00:05:30,089 --> 00:05:33,689 that you already have read the Old Testament and are familiar with 71 00:05:33,689 --> 00:05:38,249 it and they are just building upon that foundation. So it's very, 72 00:05:38,249 --> 00:05:42,109 very important. The Old Testament instructs us, gives us 73 00:05:42,109 --> 00:05:47,469 hope, it warns us and helps us how to live day by day. Because we 74 00:05:47,469 --> 00:05:50,189 can see the children of Israel's lives and we can see Samson's 75 00:05:50,189 --> 00:05:54,789 life and we can see and on and on and on Gideon and so many examples 76 00:05:54,789 --> 00:05:58,549 in the Old Testament, David and the ups and downs and the goods 77 00:05:58,549 --> 00:06:01,909 and the bad. I still think it's amazing how we ended up with 78 00:06:01,909 --> 00:06:08,859 a true Old Testament, an accurate Old Testament. Because if 79 00:06:08,859 --> 00:06:13,139 you were a Jew copying Old Testament history, Jewish history, 80 00:06:13,219 --> 00:06:16,939 because it's basically Jewish history, From Genesis chapter 12 81 00:06:16,939 --> 00:06:23,259 on, it's Jewish history. Why didn't the scribes just change some 82 00:06:23,259 --> 00:06:26,779 of it? There's a lot of stuff in there. You know, if you're the 83 00:06:26,779 --> 00:06:31,139 typical historian, you'd have just left out some of that bad stuff. 84 00:06:31,139 --> 00:06:35,589 But no, it was left there for us, for our learning, for our example. 85 00:06:35,989 --> 00:06:41,109 And so we see this in the life of Joseph. What an example, what 86 00:06:41,109 --> 00:06:46,629 a way in which we can learn by such a wonderful, wonderful historic 87 00:06:46,869 --> 00:06:52,189 story. I want to start out by saying Joseph was born into a dysfunctional 88 00:06:52,189 --> 00:06:58,149 family. And what a dysfunctional family it was. I mean, 89 00:06:58,149 --> 00:07:02,919 if you've read through from the time of Jacob and Isaac, you 90 00:07:02,919 --> 00:07:06,559 just again, you find yourself going, what in the world happened 91 00:07:06,559 --> 00:07:09,159 here? I could tell you primarily, and I'm not going to preach 92 00:07:09,159 --> 00:07:13,239 on this tonight, but a lot of it had to do with polygamy, about, 93 00:07:13,239 --> 00:07:18,279 about them having four families in one family. You know, 94 00:07:18,279 --> 00:07:24,999 four wives, two wives and two handmaids. But four wives. And God 95 00:07:24,999 --> 00:07:28,959 just, God said you should, you know, marriage is one man, one woman 96 00:07:28,959 --> 00:07:37,399 for a lifetime. So we see the life of Joseph. He is born into a 97 00:07:37,399 --> 00:07:42,079 dysfunctional family. Again, Joseph's father's name is Jacob. 98 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:48,159 Jacob. Even his name means trickster or deceiver. We covered 99 00:07:48,159 --> 00:07:52,079 this a little bit here a couple weeks ago. And after a wrestling 100 00:07:52,079 --> 00:07:56,859 match with God. Go read it. In Genesis 32, God changed His name 101 00:07:56,859 --> 00:08:01,339 to Israel. Israel, which means one who strives and prevails with 102 00:08:01,339 --> 00:08:09,139 God. Or it also could mean father of nations. Jacob tricked 103 00:08:09,139 --> 00:08:13,859 Esau out of his birthright. Jacob tricked Esau out of the blessing 104 00:08:14,979 --> 00:08:18,739 of his father Isaac. I'm not going to go back. And you need to 105 00:08:18,739 --> 00:08:23,699 go, go back and read some of this. At the age of 75, after tricking 106 00:08:25,779 --> 00:08:32,339 Jacob, tricking his dad. And anyway, at 75, he fled to Uncle Laban's 107 00:08:32,339 --> 00:08:36,019 house. I'm doing a quick summary in the country of Haran. 108 00:08:36,099 --> 00:08:41,859 Haran is where Abraham came from. And there he found Rachel. 109 00:08:42,899 --> 00:08:47,179 He saw Rachel and said, woohoo, that's I want her. He went 110 00:08:47,179 --> 00:08:51,379 to Uncle Laban and said, I want Rachel. He said, well, serve 111 00:08:51,379 --> 00:08:55,219 me. Seven years. He served him seven years. And then Laban tricked 112 00:08:55,219 --> 00:09:00,059 the trickster. Laban. Uncle Laban, when he got up the next morning 113 00:09:00,059 --> 00:09:04,179 after he thought he had married Rachel, he had married Leah, 114 00:09:04,179 --> 00:09:10,219 the older daughter. Man, that would have been something. Wake up 115 00:09:10,219 --> 00:09:16,229 in the morning Morning, and he goes to his uncle and says, what 116 00:09:16,229 --> 00:09:24,869 in the world have you done to me? He serves Uncle Laban seven more 117 00:09:24,869 --> 00:09:28,989 years for Rachel. I always like to point out that he didn't 118 00:09:28,989 --> 00:09:32,109 have to wait seven more years. They waited a week. He got married 119 00:09:32,109 --> 00:09:41,279 to Rachel and then served for seven years. What a place. And what 120 00:09:41,279 --> 00:09:46,959 a. How do I say it? What a starting point for a family to be 121 00:09:46,959 --> 00:09:51,079 tricked that way. And I can tell you, it never got any better. 122 00:09:51,959 --> 00:09:58,239 It just didn't. It just continued to be such. Such a dysfunctional 123 00:09:58,239 --> 00:10:05,999 family. There, at Uncle Laban's house in Iran, Leah, the 124 00:10:05,999 --> 00:10:14,999 wife, his first wife, had six sons and one daughter, Bilhah and 125 00:10:14,999 --> 00:10:20,199 Zilpah, the handmaidens of Rachel and Leah. Between the two 126 00:10:20,199 --> 00:10:27,079 of them, they had four sons, and Rachel was barren. Rachel cried 127 00:10:27,079 --> 00:10:33,069 out to God, and God gave her son Joseph. It was about that time 128 00:10:34,029 --> 00:10:41,109 that Joseph decided to go home. If you remember the story, 129 00:10:41,109 --> 00:10:45,188 he heads out without Laban's permission, and Laban chases him 130 00:10:45,188 --> 00:10:50,149 down. There's another again, just dysfunctional, like crazy. As 131 00:10:50,149 --> 00:10:54,509 he approaches and he's going back home, he sends out gifts to 132 00:10:54,739 --> 00:11:01,859 his brother Esau, hoping that Esau would be satisfied, that his 133 00:11:01,939 --> 00:11:06,339 anger would be quenched by all the gifts he sent out beforehand. 134 00:11:06,819 --> 00:11:09,819 But when they finally got together, they hugged and kissed 135 00:11:09,819 --> 00:11:17,139 each other. As I said Sunday, apparently Esau had forgiven. I'm 136 00:11:17,139 --> 00:11:22,069 not sure that the future generations forgave him. We studied 137 00:11:22,069 --> 00:11:30,949 that in Obadiah, Rachel had one more son, and Benjamin. And while 138 00:11:30,949 --> 00:11:35,309 she was having that son, she died. So before I get to that 20 139 00:11:35,309 --> 00:11:42,429 years, Jacob was at Uncle Laban's house on his way back home 140 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:47,689 to the promised land. He lands in Shechem, and there his daughter 141 00:11:47,689 --> 00:11:52,529 is assaulted. There, in Shechem, the brothers get together 142 00:11:52,529 --> 00:11:55,449 and they go in and they slaughter all the men of that city. 143 00:11:56,969 --> 00:12:02,649 On the way home, Rachel again has Benjamin, and she dies in childbirth. 144 00:12:03,609 --> 00:12:08,169 On their way home, as they make their way home, Reuben, the 145 00:12:08,169 --> 00:12:21,849 oldest, has immoral relations with one of his dad's wives. Immorality, 146 00:12:22,889 --> 00:12:32,809 jealousy, anger, deceitfulness characterized the family of Jacob. 147 00:12:34,729 --> 00:12:41,499 Characterized it. One father, four poor families again. A lot of 148 00:12:41,499 --> 00:12:49,379 it could be just X marks the spot. A result of polygamy, by the 149 00:12:49,379 --> 00:12:52,819 way. God never condoned polygamy. God never condoned it. 150 00:12:53,059 --> 00:12:57,419 One man, one woman for a lifetime. When they asked in the 151 00:12:57,419 --> 00:13:04,629 New Testament about divorce, Jesus said, have you not heard? God 152 00:13:04,629 --> 00:13:07,469 said, leave your father and mother, cleave unto your wife, and 153 00:13:07,469 --> 00:13:11,229 they shall be one flesh. So he repeats the Old Testament account 154 00:13:12,109 --> 00:13:15,029 of one man, one woman for a lifetime. By the way, that is the 155 00:13:15,029 --> 00:13:22,109 definition of marriage. One man, one woman having kids, married 156 00:13:22,109 --> 00:13:29,879 for a lifetime, not two men or two women, so forth and so on. Amen. 157 00:13:33,639 --> 00:13:40,759 And Jacob, as he faced all these problems in his family, as 158 00:13:40,759 --> 00:13:46,119 his family went through all the. Just seemed like one thing after 159 00:13:46,119 --> 00:13:49,719 another, one adversity after another, one self inflicted wound. 160 00:13:50,839 --> 00:13:53,999 If you read the account, you find that Jacob does very little 161 00:13:53,999 --> 00:13:57,569 about him. In fact, in some instances he says very little. When 162 00:13:57,969 --> 00:14:03,809 Reuben committed the incest with his wife, he just said one word 163 00:14:03,809 --> 00:14:10,129 to him. There was no rebuke, there was no. It was just unbelievable 164 00:14:10,129 --> 00:14:13,529 the way that Jacob dealt with the family problems. In fact, that 165 00:14:13,529 --> 00:14:18,209 is the problem. He didn't deal with the family problems. He took 166 00:14:18,209 --> 00:14:21,299 after his father Isaac, who also was a father, passive father. 167 00:14:22,499 --> 00:14:27,299 And you read the account of Isaac, you see a man who was a passive 168 00:14:27,379 --> 00:14:32,499 father, a passive dad. And Jacob took on some of those characteristics 169 00:14:32,499 --> 00:14:41,019 as well. Again, no reproof of his kids and no condemnation of his 170 00:14:41,019 --> 00:14:46,519 children. By the way, King David did the same thing. Go through 171 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:51,239 and read other leaders in the Old Testament who were passive in 172 00:14:51,239 --> 00:14:57,719 their father kid role. We'll do some application of that in a 173 00:14:57,719 --> 00:15:00,439 moment. So let's look again at the particular verses here, one through 174 00:15:00,439 --> 00:15:05,039 four. And Joseph was the favored son of Jacob. Why was he 175 00:15:05,039 --> 00:15:09,079 the favored son? It gives you the reason at least one of them. 176 00:15:09,079 --> 00:15:12,279 It says that Israel loved Joseph more than all his children 177 00:15:12,359 --> 00:15:18,999 because he, he was the son of his old age. In other words, we've 178 00:15:18,999 --> 00:15:22,199 used this illustration many times in preaching about parenting 179 00:15:22,519 --> 00:15:27,879 and to be careful about favoritism. And so Jacob showed favoritism 180 00:15:28,119 --> 00:15:34,759 to Joseph. He showed favoritism. Now remember who Joseph's 181 00:15:34,759 --> 00:15:39,809 mom was. Joseph's mom was Rachel. Rachel was the wife that 182 00:15:40,289 --> 00:15:47,569 Jacob loved. Rachel wasn't having kids. She was barren. And 183 00:15:47,569 --> 00:15:52,929 then after Leah and Bilhah and Zilpah have had all these kids, Rachel 184 00:15:52,929 --> 00:15:56,409 cries out to God and she finally has one. And now Joseph's 185 00:15:56,409 --> 00:16:03,129 an older man and he loves that child because he's a child of his 186 00:16:03,129 --> 00:16:09,879 older age, but also because he is the firstborn of Rachel, the one 187 00:16:09,879 --> 00:16:16,519 that he loved. You know that he made him a coat of many colors. 188 00:16:16,519 --> 00:16:20,559 And we learned about that in Sunday school. We learned about that 189 00:16:20,559 --> 00:16:25,239 in children's church. And that again, Jacob loved him so much he 190 00:16:25,239 --> 00:16:28,079 made him a coat of many colors. And that's exactly what it 191 00:16:28,079 --> 00:16:32,729 is. And you read the Hebrew and you see the interpretations of 192 00:16:32,889 --> 00:16:36,889 this and there's different thoughts about what this particular 193 00:16:36,889 --> 00:16:43,169 coat meant. But we do know one thing. It made him stand out. It 194 00:16:43,169 --> 00:16:47,328 made him stand out that he was special to his dad. But I do believe 195 00:16:47,328 --> 00:16:51,649 if you read especially some older commentaries and men in the 196 00:16:51,649 --> 00:16:55,289 1800s, and then you make your way up to the 1900s, and I just never 197 00:16:55,369 --> 00:17:00,929 really saw this. But I. It's very. I think it anyway, is that 198 00:17:02,449 --> 00:17:09,969 being the firstborn of his beloved wife, Jacob gave him the 199 00:17:09,969 --> 00:17:16,769 firstborn rights. Reuben was the firstborn. But it seems as though 200 00:17:18,929 --> 00:17:23,019 in the context that it's written, and because of not just 201 00:17:23,019 --> 00:17:27,219 jealousy, but other things going on by his older brothers, seems 202 00:17:27,219 --> 00:17:33,419 as though Jacob had decided, I'm going to treat Joseph as the 203 00:17:33,419 --> 00:17:40,659 firstborn with all the rights of the firstborn. Which means he's 204 00:17:40,659 --> 00:17:46,139 the man. And we know that because he also put him in authority 205 00:17:46,139 --> 00:17:50,149 over his brothers, of going and checking on them. Look at verse 206 00:17:50,229 --> 00:17:54,509 13 and 14. It says, and Israel said unto Joseph, do not thy brethren 207 00:17:54,509 --> 00:17:58,629 feed the flock and Shechem come, and I will send thee unto them. 208 00:17:58,629 --> 00:18:04,149 And he said to him, here am I. In other words, Joseph says, I'm 209 00:18:04,149 --> 00:18:11,509 ready. You see, Such a wonderful character. Joseph was a 210 00:18:12,069 --> 00:18:15,399 man of integrity. When his dad asked him to do something, he said, 211 00:18:15,399 --> 00:18:19,719 here am I. You remember another man who did that when God 212 00:18:19,719 --> 00:18:23,279 asked him to do something? Abraham offering up Isaac immediately, 213 00:18:23,279 --> 00:18:29,838 no hesitation, Abraham says to God, here am I. Joseph was an obedient 214 00:18:29,838 --> 00:18:37,159 son. He said, look there. Next verse 14. And he said to him, go, 215 00:18:37,159 --> 00:18:40,479 and I pray thee, and see whether it be well with thy brethren 216 00:18:40,789 --> 00:18:45,269 and well with the flocks and bring me word again. So he sent him 217 00:18:45,269 --> 00:18:50,069 out of the vale of Hebron and he came to Shechem. If you put this 218 00:18:50,069 --> 00:18:56,628 in with verse two, at the very end, it says, and Joseph there was. 219 00:18:56,628 --> 00:19:00,389 The lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his 220 00:19:00,389 --> 00:19:03,069 father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil 221 00:19:03,069 --> 00:19:09,139 report. So there is no doubt in light of this passage here that 222 00:19:09,699 --> 00:19:16,579 Jacob had put Joseph in a position of reporting and checking 223 00:19:16,979 --> 00:19:22,019 and seemingly authority over his brothers. That would make you 224 00:19:22,019 --> 00:19:25,859 mad if your younger brother was kind of in charge. He's wearing 225 00:19:25,859 --> 00:19:30,499 the. There's some commentators who say that the coat of many colors 226 00:19:30,499 --> 00:19:36,989 was basically what a foreman would wear. You know, the guy that 227 00:19:36,989 --> 00:19:45,629 sits in the truck. My. My sons used to call one of my other sons 228 00:19:46,029 --> 00:19:54,509 paper cut because he was just a foreman. We work, we work, we sweat. 229 00:19:54,509 --> 00:19:57,349 You sit in the truck, you get a paper cut out now and again. It 230 00:19:57,349 --> 00:20:01,919 hurts, right? But that's what some commentators say. And maybe 231 00:20:01,919 --> 00:20:09,559 that is the case. This is this coat depicting that again, Joseph 232 00:20:09,559 --> 00:20:14,399 was the primary here is that Joseph was loved by his dad more 233 00:20:14,399 --> 00:20:18,439 than the others. But there's certainly some things behind that 234 00:20:18,439 --> 00:20:22,279 too. And whether or not he was given the authority of his brothers 235 00:20:22,279 --> 00:20:24,689 and whether or not he was given the rights of the firstborn. 236 00:20:24,689 --> 00:20:31,689 It seems as though that is true there. In verse two, it says 237 00:20:31,689 --> 00:20:34,369 he brought an evil report of his brothers to his dad. What does 238 00:20:34,369 --> 00:20:40,209 that mean? It means that his brothers were evil, they were wicked. 239 00:20:40,209 --> 00:20:44,769 You can see that throughout their lives, both the past scriptures 240 00:20:45,249 --> 00:20:50,579 prior to chapter 37 and then read the rest of it. They were immoral 241 00:20:50,579 --> 00:20:55,899 and wicked as proved by their actions. Whereas Joseph was a young 242 00:20:55,899 --> 00:21:03,819 man of character, as proved by his past and future actions. Joseph 243 00:21:03,819 --> 00:21:07,539 had a strong conviction when it came to the word of God. He had 244 00:21:07,539 --> 00:21:11,779 a strong conviction when it came concerning God's law. Think 245 00:21:11,779 --> 00:21:15,169 about all that Joseph went through. Think about the stand that 246 00:21:15,169 --> 00:21:18,729 he took when it came to Potiphar's wife and so many other 247 00:21:18,729 --> 00:21:26,249 things. A man, a young man, 17 years old, with strong convictions 248 00:21:26,249 --> 00:21:33,849 concerning God as the younger brother, as the younger sibling, 249 00:21:34,649 --> 00:21:39,809 because he was given some authority, whatever to degree what 250 00:21:39,809 --> 00:21:44,329 that may be, we. We don't know, can't be dogmatic. But nonetheless, 251 00:21:44,329 --> 00:21:49,849 his brothers hated him for it. They hated him in fact, so much so 252 00:21:49,849 --> 00:21:52,609 that verse four said, they couldn't speak peaceably unto him. 253 00:21:53,569 --> 00:21:58,169 They were disrespectful to him. They would cut him off. Can 254 00:21:58,169 --> 00:22:08,579 I remind you that darkness does not like light? Somebody said 255 00:22:08,579 --> 00:22:15,339 it this, the unprincipled are intolerant of those with integrity. 256 00:22:17,019 --> 00:22:23,499 Let me say it again. The unprincipled are intolerant of ones 257 00:22:23,499 --> 00:22:28,219 with integrity. So you have Joseph's brothers who are unprincipled. 258 00:22:29,259 --> 00:22:35,789 Anything goes any, anything else. Sleep with my dad's wife, I 259 00:22:35,789 --> 00:22:43,509 can murder a whole town. I can do all these things. Unprincipled. 260 00:22:44,869 --> 00:22:47,589 And then here's a young man who is principled, who's a man of 261 00:22:47,589 --> 00:22:54,269 integrity. And so what happens is they're intolerant of him. They're 262 00:22:54,269 --> 00:22:58,229 intolerant of him because of his actions, because of his character. 263 00:22:59,609 --> 00:23:03,929 Again, Joseph's conduct was consistent condemnation to them. 264 00:23:04,409 --> 00:23:08,369 To his brothers, it was constant condemnation to them. They 265 00:23:08,369 --> 00:23:14,969 hated him. They hated him because he was beloved of his dad. 266 00:23:14,969 --> 00:23:20,849 They hated him because he reported, and rightly so, to his 267 00:23:20,849 --> 00:23:26,699 dad of their evil wickedness. It was a constant reminder of their 268 00:23:26,699 --> 00:23:33,179 wickedness. Jesus said in John 3:20, Everyone that doeth evil, hateth 269 00:23:33,179 --> 00:23:38,179 the light. Neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should 270 00:23:38,259 --> 00:23:52,989 be reproved. I want to remind you that if the world loves us, possibly 271 00:23:52,989 --> 00:23:56,669 we're not being the light we should be. If the world loves us, 272 00:23:56,669 --> 00:24:03,629 we're possibly not being the salt that we should be. Because light 273 00:24:03,629 --> 00:24:15,349 dispels darkness. Light exposes the little corners of the 274 00:24:15,349 --> 00:24:19,789 room. It exposes. And that's what Joseph was doing. He was exposing 275 00:24:19,789 --> 00:24:24,109 their sin because of his conduct, because of the way he lived, 276 00:24:24,109 --> 00:24:30,269 because of his light. One of the reasons why I like Trump, and 277 00:24:30,269 --> 00:24:33,589 there's several reasons why I don't like him, I do not like his 278 00:24:33,589 --> 00:24:44,339 attitude at all. It's unchristian that New York, you know? 279 00:24:45,939 --> 00:24:50,939 Yeah, it's unchristian. A Christian shouldn't act the way he 280 00:24:50,939 --> 00:24:57,139 acts. Come on. A Christian should not say some of the things 281 00:24:57,139 --> 00:25:01,739 he says, especially the vulgar words. That's not Christian. Christians 282 00:25:01,739 --> 00:25:06,499 shouldn't have a dirty mouth like that. Right. Christians shouldn't 283 00:25:06,499 --> 00:25:14,049 treat people the way he treats people. Say amen. Absolutely. Calls 284 00:25:14,049 --> 00:25:17,529 them all sorts of things. Nicknames, everybody, doesn't he? 285 00:25:17,849 --> 00:25:25,249 We laugh at it, but it's not right. Amen. But I love some things 286 00:25:25,249 --> 00:25:31,849 about him, too. One of the things I admire about him is those 287 00:25:32,409 --> 00:25:39,859 who are immersed in darkness hate him. They hate him. They despise 288 00:25:39,859 --> 00:25:46,059 him. Don't get me wrong. Some of it is the attitude, but mostly 289 00:25:46,059 --> 00:25:51,939 it's not. Mostly it's because of what he stands for. I'm thankful. 290 00:25:51,939 --> 00:25:56,059 I agree with nearly every policy he's ever done. I agree with 291 00:25:56,059 --> 00:26:02,119 all of them. He, for the most part, hangs right there when it comes 292 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,439 to biblical morality. He hangs right there at it. I'm so thankful. 293 00:26:05,599 --> 00:26:09,199 We'd be given a little space of grace. Unlike the previous administration, 294 00:26:09,519 --> 00:26:18,119 who was wicked, evil and just unbelievable. Wicked and evil man, 295 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:23,479 preacher. Wicked. When you believe the things and institute 296 00:26:23,479 --> 00:26:26,719 things that the Biden administration instituted, you are 297 00:26:26,719 --> 00:26:30,999 witness. Wicked. Anti Bible, anti Christian. And I could continue 298 00:26:30,999 --> 00:26:36,759 to go on and I could feel the blood rushing to my head again. Trump 299 00:26:36,759 --> 00:26:43,039 isn't perfect either, but I admire and I just. It gets me excited 300 00:26:43,279 --> 00:26:47,519 when he implements things that are morally and biblically sound. 301 00:26:48,639 --> 00:26:54,569 I just want to. Just want to cry. Yes. Reverse all those liberal 302 00:26:54,889 --> 00:27:02,009 policies, whether they be moral or economic. I love. The Bible 303 00:27:02,009 --> 00:27:11,489 says, go to the ant, you sluggard. The Bible says, if you 304 00:27:11,489 --> 00:27:19,539 are capable and you are a person who's physically capable and 305 00:27:19,539 --> 00:27:28,379 you don't work, you should not eat. It's as simple as that. The 306 00:27:28,379 --> 00:27:31,939 previous administration just want to hand out money to Everybody, 307 00:27:33,299 --> 00:27:38,139 by the way, your money. Okay, I gotta get off the politics. The 308 00:27:38,139 --> 00:27:47,309 point I was making was a lot of the policies that Trump has implemented 309 00:27:47,309 --> 00:27:56,669 and done, the liberals hate because it exposes them. It exposes 310 00:27:56,669 --> 00:28:01,109 them. Understand that. Romans tells us that the law of God's been 311 00:28:01,109 --> 00:28:04,629 placed on every heart. The Bible says there's a little light 312 00:28:04,629 --> 00:28:07,549 in everyone, that everyone who comes to the world, John says, has 313 00:28:07,549 --> 00:28:11,719 been given some light. The difference between being an animal 314 00:28:11,719 --> 00:28:16,199 and a human being is that we have a conscience, we have moral 315 00:28:16,199 --> 00:28:21,119 awareness. And yes, sometimes for a liberal, it may be recessed 316 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:24,959 way, way, way, way down in there, in the crevices, the dark, 317 00:28:24,959 --> 00:28:33,159 dark, dark, you know, but it's still there. The reason why they 318 00:28:33,159 --> 00:28:36,209 cry so loud and they're so intense, tolerant of us, when they 319 00:28:36,209 --> 00:28:42,369 tell us to be tolerant of them, is because their sin has been 320 00:28:42,369 --> 00:28:48,769 exposed, their immorality has been exposed, and that's what Joseph 321 00:28:48,769 --> 00:28:55,169 did to his brothers. Please do not think I'm comparing Joseph with 322 00:28:55,169 --> 00:29:09,459 Trump. That's what Joseph did to his brothers. Conflict. Darkness 323 00:29:09,459 --> 00:29:12,059 versus light. I mean, the Bible describes it over and over 324 00:29:12,059 --> 00:29:17,259 again. Good versus evil. It's a real thing. May we be reminded 325 00:29:17,259 --> 00:29:21,059 there is a battle taking place that we cannot see, and it bleeds 326 00:29:21,059 --> 00:29:25,699 into what we can see. Many, many times a battle's taking place. 327 00:29:26,829 --> 00:29:30,669 Good versus evil. Children of God versus the children of Satan, 328 00:29:30,989 --> 00:29:33,669 said man. That's a pretty bold statement. Well, let me remind you, 329 00:29:33,669 --> 00:29:38,269 John 1:12 says Jesus said Jesus words. But as many as received 330 00:29:38,269 --> 00:29:43,389 him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. We are children 331 00:29:43,389 --> 00:29:46,429 of God. If you're saved tonight, isn't that amazing. But 332 00:29:46,429 --> 00:29:50,029 notice what he says about some of the Jews and especially the pharisees 333 00:29:50,269 --> 00:29:54,789 in John 8:44. These are Jesus words as well. He says to them, ye 334 00:29:54,789 --> 00:30:03,669 are of your father, the devil. You're saved tonight. You're a son 335 00:30:03,669 --> 00:30:07,909 of God. You're a child of God. If you're not saved, the Bible says 336 00:30:07,988 --> 00:30:12,949 you're a child of the devil. And there is a great war taking place. 337 00:30:15,749 --> 00:30:21,079 And Joseph in the home did not create the problems so much as that 338 00:30:21,079 --> 00:30:27,159 he revealed the problems. He shed light on the problems as they 339 00:30:27,159 --> 00:30:34,639 surfaced. And then lastly, remind you tonight that the Old Testament, 340 00:30:34,719 --> 00:30:39,999 God spoke by way of visions and dreams, or he spoke directly 341 00:30:39,999 --> 00:30:45,079 to them. We know from Genesis chapter 12 that when God came to 342 00:30:45,319 --> 00:30:50,239 and gave Abraham the promise, he promised him all the soil that 343 00:30:50,239 --> 00:30:53,279 he walked on, that his seed would be as the stars of heaven, 344 00:30:53,279 --> 00:30:56,599 as the sand of the seashore. He promised him that through him 345 00:30:56,919 --> 00:31:00,639 and through his future seed that all the nations of the earth 346 00:31:00,639 --> 00:31:05,159 would be blessed. Acts chapter 7 says, When Stephen's preaching, 347 00:31:05,399 --> 00:31:10,429 he says that that particular passage is in Genesis 12, that God 348 00:31:10,909 --> 00:31:15,789 appeared unto Abraham. So the New Testament gives us further information 349 00:31:15,949 --> 00:31:19,869 into that Old Testament story. Where the Old Testament says that 350 00:31:20,669 --> 00:31:25,188 God promised him these things. The New Testament tells us that he 351 00:31:25,188 --> 00:31:28,629 actually appeared to him and talked to him and gave him those 352 00:31:28,629 --> 00:31:32,429 promises. So God would speak to them directly or God would speak 353 00:31:32,429 --> 00:31:34,869 to them through visions and dreams. We learned about that through 354 00:31:34,869 --> 00:31:38,359 King Nebuchadnezzar, didn't we? And God spoke through dreams 355 00:31:38,359 --> 00:31:41,879 and through visions and through Daniel and so many other 356 00:31:41,879 --> 00:31:44,719 prophets, through dreams and visions. That's the way in which 357 00:31:44,719 --> 00:31:48,399 God spoke and gave divine revelation in the Old Testament. 358 00:31:49,279 --> 00:31:52,599 But the New Testament, God speaks through his word. Hebrews 359 00:31:52,599 --> 00:31:56,159 1:1 says, God, who at sundry time and divers manners spoke in 360 00:31:56,159 --> 00:31:59,039 times past, referring to the Old Testament, hath in these last 361 00:31:59,039 --> 00:32:05,089 days spoken to us by his Son. And this is the written word. Jesus 362 00:32:05,089 --> 00:32:08,929 is the living word. This is the written word. And God speaks 363 00:32:08,929 --> 00:32:13,969 through His Word. This word was completed around 100 AD. The 364 00:32:13,969 --> 00:32:16,929 Bible says no man add to or take away, or they're in danger of 365 00:32:16,929 --> 00:32:21,369 hell. Corinthians tells us, when that which is perfect is come, 366 00:32:21,369 --> 00:32:23,889 that which is apart will be done away with. What is that which 367 00:32:23,889 --> 00:32:26,689 is perfect? It's the Word of God. When the Word of God was completed, 368 00:32:26,689 --> 00:32:29,819 there was no, no need, no longer any need for the gift of tongues, 369 00:32:30,619 --> 00:32:34,299 no longer any need for the gift of prophecy or the gift, these 370 00:32:34,299 --> 00:32:37,019 special sign gifts. No, there was no need for that anymore. Because 371 00:32:37,019 --> 00:32:41,899 God did not need to directly speak to his people verbally or through 372 00:32:41,899 --> 00:32:45,739 visions or through whatever the case is. No, we have the complete 373 00:32:45,739 --> 00:32:50,739 Word of God. Those sign gifts were merely a transition for the 374 00:32:50,739 --> 00:32:54,389 church to transition from again, the Old Testament Testament 375 00:32:54,869 --> 00:32:58,229 system to the New Testament covenant. The New Testament system. 376 00:32:59,509 --> 00:33:05,669 Clearly they were done away with. Clearly. So God speaks through 377 00:33:05,669 --> 00:33:09,469 His Word today. But in the Old Testament, and I've preached this 378 00:33:09,469 --> 00:33:12,589 to you before, in the Old Testament, he spoke through visions 379 00:33:12,589 --> 00:33:18,999 and dreams or directly. Who had a dream? I know Martin Luther 380 00:33:18,999 --> 00:33:23,519 did. I mean, I'm sorry, is it not Martin Luther? Yeah. Mr. King, 381 00:33:24,959 --> 00:33:33,879 Joseph had a dream. Had two. That is God's divine revelation just 382 00:33:33,879 --> 00:33:38,799 as much as this is God's divine revelation. When God gave 383 00:33:39,759 --> 00:33:43,919 Joseph the dream, it would be the same as if he has written it 384 00:33:43,919 --> 00:33:49,599 down for us today in the book. Jacob would have known that. Why? 385 00:33:49,599 --> 00:33:57,759 Because God spoke directly to Jacob on occasion. So When God gave 386 00:33:58,319 --> 00:34:01,959 Joseph the dream of the sheaves bowing down to his sheave 387 00:34:01,959 --> 00:34:06,359 and the sun, moon and stars bowing down to him, it was God's 388 00:34:06,359 --> 00:34:11,259 divine revelation. God telling the family and telling Jacob and 389 00:34:11,259 --> 00:34:14,339 telling his brothers that it would be Joseph who would lead the 390 00:34:14,339 --> 00:34:23,739 family one day, that Joseph would be the leader. Jacob would 391 00:34:23,739 --> 00:34:26,019 have been very much aware that that's the way in which God spoke. 392 00:34:26,819 --> 00:34:32,779 In fact, that's why it says there that he observed he used that 393 00:34:32,779 --> 00:34:39,349 word. What it should have said was, Joseph's going to be the leader 394 00:34:39,349 --> 00:34:45,469 of our family. God just said it now, Reuben. And he should have 395 00:34:45,469 --> 00:34:48,149 gone down through every one of the other boys and said, guess who 396 00:34:48,149 --> 00:34:53,589 is going to be the leader of our family? It's Joseph. Daddy should 397 00:34:53,589 --> 00:34:58,029 have took care of it. But that's not what happened. And I'll 398 00:34:58,109 --> 00:35:03,389 just say again, it's either that or you have Joseph being ambitious 399 00:35:04,169 --> 00:35:09,769 and prideful. And that's not consistent with Joseph's character. 400 00:35:10,889 --> 00:35:17,209 In other words, who's just making it up? Certainly not intuitive 401 00:35:17,209 --> 00:35:22,849 of his past character, nor was it, was it any way close to his future 402 00:35:22,849 --> 00:35:27,169 character. No, no. God spoke to him and his dad should have recognized 403 00:35:27,169 --> 00:35:30,459 that. Let me give you a few things that will be done. We as parents 404 00:35:30,459 --> 00:35:35,379 need to be careful about passive parenting. Passive parenting 405 00:35:35,379 --> 00:35:39,219 produces bad kids. The Bible says in Proverbs 22, and we've heard 406 00:35:39,459 --> 00:35:43,179 this verse a thousand times, most of us train up a child and the 407 00:35:43,179 --> 00:35:47,899 way to go. And many times we talk about training. And I use the 408 00:35:47,899 --> 00:35:51,819 tomato plant illustration where you put the little cage over 409 00:35:51,819 --> 00:35:55,779 the tomato plant so that you can get the little, you know, branches 410 00:35:55,779 --> 00:35:58,339 to go up in the. So that doesn't just lay on the ground. You're 411 00:35:58,339 --> 00:36:01,299 training that tomato plant to go up. Or maybe you talking about 412 00:36:01,299 --> 00:36:04,859 a vine and you put up a little trellis and you make the vines grow 413 00:36:04,859 --> 00:36:07,459 through the trellis and blah blah, blah, blah, blah. But can I 414 00:36:07,459 --> 00:36:11,459 remind you, it says train. You know what a trainer does? A trainer 415 00:36:11,459 --> 00:36:17,339 trains. Not like a choo choo choo choo. No, no, I'm talking about 416 00:36:17,579 --> 00:36:21,089 nobody. Okay, never mind. Ms. Cindy Biddles on here. Laugh at that 417 00:36:21,089 --> 00:36:30,449 one. Train up a child. I on occasion have had a trainer. My wife 418 00:36:30,449 --> 00:36:34,209 will testify the last time I went to a trainer. It's been a long 419 00:36:34,209 --> 00:36:39,849 time ago. My wife, she was going through that 24 hour fitness 420 00:36:39,849 --> 00:36:43,129 and I said, well, you know what, I'll just check it out myself. 421 00:36:44,729 --> 00:36:48,179 The trainer know, she gets weighed and all this stuff, blah, 422 00:36:48,179 --> 00:36:57,299 blah, blah. Trainer weighs me, man, you hide your weight Good. How 423 00:36:57,299 --> 00:37:01,818 in the world do you weigh that much? I'm like, I don't need no training. 424 00:37:01,818 --> 00:37:09,019 Then I must be fine. No, but, man, a lot of effort, a lot of time 425 00:37:09,019 --> 00:37:12,199 from the trainer. The trainer was really good. He not only would 426 00:37:12,199 --> 00:37:15,679 he work us out that hour or whatever, but, man, there was calls, 427 00:37:15,679 --> 00:37:20,719 there was messages, and there was everything to help and train 428 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:25,799 and get us. It takes work, by the way. Parenting is work. A passive 429 00:37:25,799 --> 00:37:29,999 parent is a lazy parent. A passive parent is a parent who doesn't 430 00:37:29,999 --> 00:37:35,399 want confrontation. Can I remind you, you're a trainer. Act 431 00:37:35,399 --> 00:37:41,369 like. May mean a little less sleep, by the way. It may mean a 432 00:37:41,369 --> 00:37:44,969 little less work. I'm talking about your real job, your day job. 433 00:37:45,689 --> 00:37:50,249 Again, love is spelt T I m e. But training takes time. Passive 434 00:37:50,249 --> 00:37:54,529 parenting leads to inconsistency, both positive and 435 00:37:54,529 --> 00:38:01,289 negative. We need to be consistent with our children, especially 436 00:38:01,289 --> 00:38:05,219 when they're small and as they grow up. The thing that's got me 437 00:38:05,219 --> 00:38:08,219 the most, I know the teenagers next door. One of the things I've 438 00:38:08,219 --> 00:38:13,019 seen over the years, over 30 years of pastoring now, is parents 439 00:38:13,019 --> 00:38:17,539 give up as the children get older. Seen so many parents give 440 00:38:17,539 --> 00:38:20,299 up, especially as they come to the teenage years and just kind of 441 00:38:20,299 --> 00:38:23,459 allow their teenagers to do whatever. Why would you do that? 442 00:38:23,459 --> 00:38:27,659 You had all that invested, all that time and effort invested when 443 00:38:27,659 --> 00:38:30,349 they were younger. Why do you just kind of let them do their own 444 00:38:30,349 --> 00:38:34,909 thing? Because you're lazy. You don't want to confront them. 445 00:38:35,229 --> 00:38:41,109 You're afraid that they'll rebel. Can I tell you, you should 446 00:38:41,109 --> 00:38:43,109 have a little more faith in your child if you've raised them 447 00:38:43,109 --> 00:38:47,469 right, that if you confront them with their bad behavior as a 448 00:38:47,469 --> 00:38:52,109 teenager, that they will not conform. I believe God can do anything. 449 00:38:55,639 --> 00:38:59,239 Children, you read some of the books again. The Bible's the greatest 450 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:01,599 parenting book, but there are some good books out there. One of 451 00:39:01,599 --> 00:39:05,599 them is written by. I think it's James Dobson on boundaries that 452 00:39:05,599 --> 00:39:08,119 kids want. Boundaries. If you've ever read. It's a great. It's 453 00:39:08,119 --> 00:39:12,559 a good book. Kids truly do want some boundaries. They want to 454 00:39:12,559 --> 00:39:15,159 know where they stand. They want to know where they're at with 455 00:39:15,159 --> 00:39:20,049 mom and dad. Don't give up on your kids as they grow up. One of 456 00:39:20,049 --> 00:39:23,929 the best times in my life was when my kids became teenagers. I 457 00:39:23,929 --> 00:39:27,169 enjoyed it so very much. Two of them are in here tonight. Loved 458 00:39:27,169 --> 00:39:33,689 it. Loved it. It ought to be a great, great experience. Be careful 459 00:39:33,689 --> 00:39:37,289 about favoritism. Favoritism leads to jealousy and anger. This 460 00:39:37,289 --> 00:39:45,539 is where the word equitable equality actually does fit to treat 461 00:39:45,539 --> 00:39:49,219 all our kids equal. I know one's personality may be a little 462 00:39:49,219 --> 00:39:52,539 more this or you may have a little more in common with that one. 463 00:39:52,619 --> 00:39:58,539 But you need to do everything you can to treat your children the 464 00:39:58,539 --> 00:40:04,019 same. Grandparents treat your grandkids the same. You do one for 465 00:40:04,019 --> 00:40:07,179 the other. You do one for one, do the for the other. My pawpaw and 466 00:40:07,179 --> 00:40:11,299 grandma were great at that. Being a light will open the eyes 467 00:40:11,299 --> 00:40:17,179 of the wicked of their moral fallenness. Just be aware of that. 468 00:40:17,179 --> 00:40:21,459 Many people who do not like you, especially maybe in your workplace 469 00:40:21,459 --> 00:40:25,419 or wherever, may not like you because you are a light. And it exposes 470 00:40:25,419 --> 00:40:29,139 their darkness. It exposes them. You're just shedding a light 471 00:40:29,139 --> 00:40:37,139 on it. Shedding a light on it. Their conscience is pricked. Lastly, 472 00:40:39,469 --> 00:40:44,429 had Jacob had faith in the divine revelation, the dreams that 473 00:40:44,429 --> 00:40:49,949 were given to Joseph, he would have known that Joseph was not dead. 474 00:40:51,629 --> 00:40:56,589 He would have believed. He would have told his 11, his 10 sons. 475 00:40:57,709 --> 00:41:03,999 I don't believe you because God's word says that that Joseph 476 00:41:03,999 --> 00:41:08,519 one day will lead our family. And if God's word said that, then 477 00:41:08,519 --> 00:41:10,759 I just believe it. I trust that that's what's going to happen. 478 00:41:10,759 --> 00:41:16,199 So Joseph can't be dead. You guys are lying. You say. Well that's 479 00:41:16,919 --> 00:41:22,359 a little far fetched. No, it's not. Think about Abraham. Genesis 480 00:41:22,359 --> 00:41:29,839 22. Amen. God says to Abraham, take your son, your only son, offer 481 00:41:29,839 --> 00:41:34,459 him up a sacrifice. And Abraham said, here am I. And he doesn't 482 00:41:34,459 --> 00:41:41,819 blink. He doesn't, you know, he goes, takes him, takes him up 483 00:41:41,819 --> 00:41:44,979 to Mount Moriah. There he offers him up and of course God stays 484 00:41:44,979 --> 00:41:49,139 his hand. But the New Testament again tells us in Hebrews 485 00:41:49,139 --> 00:41:54,779 11 it says that Abraham did so because he knew that the promise 486 00:41:54,779 --> 00:42:01,019 of God was true. That that Isaac, that through Isaac the Messiah 487 00:42:01,019 --> 00:42:06,059 would come. And therefore Isaac could not die. Or if he died, 488 00:42:06,059 --> 00:42:08,059 God would need to raise him from the dead in order to keep his 489 00:42:08,059 --> 00:42:11,379 promise. And God will keep his promises every time. Because God 490 00:42:11,379 --> 00:42:17,379 cannot lie. So Abraham, unlike Jacob, believed in the divine revelation 491 00:42:17,859 --> 00:42:21,739 that was given and trusted in the divine revelation. So much so 492 00:42:21,739 --> 00:42:27,909 that he was willing to kill his son. It's amazing the distinguishing 493 00:42:28,069 --> 00:42:33,189 of the two from one another. Let's be Abraham. Amen. Let's follow 494 00:42:33,189 --> 00:42:37,389 the word of God. Trust the word of God. Trust the Lord. He'll 495 00:42:37,389 --> 00:42:40,909 never let you down. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. 496 00:42:40,909 --> 00:42:43,269 Lean not on understanding and all the ways. Acknowledge him and 497 00:42:43,269 --> 00:42:48,309 he'll direct thy paths and just put it all out. Just trust him, 498 00:42:49,279 --> 00:42:53,919 just trust him again. If Jacob had trusted the divine revelation 499 00:42:55,119 --> 00:42:58,879 and what peace that would have brought in his heart. It brought 500 00:42:58,879 --> 00:43:01,119 peace in Joseph's heart and we'll learn that as we go along in 501 00:43:01,119 --> 00:43:05,639 the story. Why was Joseph able to go through the things he went 502 00:43:05,639 --> 00:43:08,959 through? Because he had peace in knowing that one day he would 503 00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:14,119 leave his Father's house. He believed the promise. He believed 504 00:43:14,119 --> 00:43:22,129 that the revelation. Amen. Just believe the book. It's a blessed 505 00:43:22,129 --> 00:43:25,529 book. It's a great book. It's a miraculous book. It's a life changing 506 00:43:25,529 --> 00:43:34,769 book. It's a powerful, powerful book. Let's all stand. Draw 507 00:43:34,769 --> 00:43:39,129 Me Nearer and I have preached a little too long. So hymn 2:23, 508 00:43:40,179 --> 00:43:43,299 draw me nearer, nearer, nearer Blessed Lord, let's pray. Heavenly 509 00:43:43,299 --> 00:43:47,779 Father, Lord, we thank youk again for the Old Testament, the 510 00:43:47,779 --> 00:43:52,939 examples that we have there, the good and the bad. And Lord, may 511 00:43:52,939 --> 00:43:57,499 we live a life that's consistent. May we be parents that 512 00:43:57,499 --> 00:44:02,099 are consistent. Lord, may we continue to be the light and salt 513 00:44:02,099 --> 00:44:06,989 that we ought to be. And Lord, most of all, may we trust your word. 514 00:44:07,629 --> 00:44:12,189 May we have faith in you, thank you and love you in Jesus name. 515 00:44:12,269 --> 00:44:15,629 Amen. All right. Hymn 223, draw me near. If you want to come 516 00:44:15,629 --> 00:44:16,189 pray tonight.