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Luccas Rodor: Hi, friends,
welcome to our Sabbath School
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Study Hour here in the Greater
Sacramento Area in California
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here at the Granite Bay
Hilltop Adventist Church.
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It's so good that
we're here with you.
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Thank you so much for investing
this time with us and allowing
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yourself to be used by
God to learn here with us.
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We have a really interesting
study in today's lesson.
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We're going to be studying
lesson number 11, which has a
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title, "Joseph,
Master of Dreams."
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But before we dive into this
study this week, I'd like to
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invite you to take advantage
of our free offer here today.
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The title is "The Power of a
Positive No," and it has a lot
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to do with how to
face temptation, how to
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say no to the
temptations around us.
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If you would like to
receive this free offer,
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you can call 866-788-3966.
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You could ask for
the study number 159,
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and we'll be able
to send that to you.
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If you're in the
continental North America, then
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you could text
SH084 to the number 40544,
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and you can have
a digital download.
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Also, if you're living outside
continental North America, and
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you would still like to take
advantage of this free offer,
00:01:45.97\00:01:48.20
you can go to
study.aftv.org/SH084, and you
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could also acquire a
digital download through there.
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I would really invite you
to take advantage of this.
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It's going to do a lot of good
for your spiritual life, for
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your fight against temptation,
your fight against the enemy.
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Before we get started
today and before we dive
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deep into the lesson,
I'd like to invite you
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to say a word of
prayer here with me.
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"Dear Lord God, thank
You so much for your love.
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Thank You so
much for Your grace.
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Thank You so much
for allowing us to
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study and learn more about You.
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Right now, as we learn about
Joseph's life, I would like to
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ask You, Lord, to open
our minds, open our hearts.
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Give us a
deeper understanding of
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Your character, of who You are.
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I thank You for this privilege
that we have, Lord, of coming
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together around the
world, opening the same
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Bible and studying
the same story, and
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learning more
about the same God.
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Please be with us today.
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Be with those that are watching
from around the world, from
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home, those who
are here with us today.
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I ask You these things
in Jesus's name, amen."
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As I said before, this week's
lesson is extremely interesting.
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This is one of my favorite
Bible stories of all times.
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As a little child, I remember
learning about this story,
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learning about the character
here, and there's many beautiful
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life lessons that you can learn
coming from the story of Joseph.
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Now, we've been studying the
stories of different patriarchs,
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different stories from
the book of Genesis, and
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when we arrive at the
story of Joseph, this is
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towards the end
already of Genesis.
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We really have not only the
story itself, but the entire
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details, all the nuances, the
cultural innuendos, everything
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that we've learned so far about
the beginning of the world and
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these first, you
know, couple thousand years.
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And when we arrive in Joseph's
story, as we've seen before with
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Abraham's story, with Isaac and
Jacob's story, the author who
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is--we believe to be Moses,
that was writing furiously, he
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really slows down, and he's very
descriptive when it comes to the
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stories of these
first patriarchs.
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Joseph's story includes an
extraordinary amount of details
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that reveal God's plan
and reveal God's character.
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It talks more about
who God is than the actual
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character that
we're studying about.
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Now, the very descriptive
narrative that is found here in
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chapter 37 through the chapter
50, that covers the stories and
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the events that happen
during the life of Joseph, begin
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covering his dreams, begin
covering the stories of how his
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dreams affect his
life with his family.
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Now, what's interesting is that
the coverage of Joseph's story
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in these
chapters, they're longer.
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The narrative here is a
bigger block than the narrative
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of any other patriarch,
of any other man or story
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that we find here
in the book of Genesis.
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He appears among the
rest of Jacob's sons,
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but truly in Genesis
he's portrayed as important
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as Abraham, as
Isaac, and as Jacob.
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He's extremely important in the
following in the story, because
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the story of Jacob--sorry--the
story of Joseph is
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a crossroads in
the story of Genesis.
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Here we connect what
happened to this family all the
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way from
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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It's connected to how this
family truly becomes a nation.
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And Abraham and Isaac and
in Jacob we see a family that
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wanders, a family
that moves around.
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But with Joseph, you start
seeing what happens to them, the
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progression of the
story of redemption and what
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happens to the
children of Israel.
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At this point, Jacob had been
renamed Israel, we know that.
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At this point, they
already have a family structure,
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but they're not
yet really a nation.
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That happens throughout the
development of the story that
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comes through Joseph when the
family has to go up into Egypt.
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Then we're going to be
studying this not only today,
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but in next
week's lesson, as well.
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Now, there are two theological
lessons that are emphasized here
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that are extremely important in
understanding what's going on.
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First of all is the
truth that God, unlike
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humans, He always
fulfills His promises.
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If you remember, with Abraham,
we went through the whole story
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where Abraham, he repeatedly
attempted to--he repeatedly
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attempted to fulfill
God's promises for God.
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He tried to help God help him.
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You see that happening when he
goes into Egypt, where he feels
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that it's necessary for him
to masquerade as Sarah's brother
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and not her husband,
the half-truth, right?
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We see that happening with the
whole story with Ishmael, right,
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where not only Abraham,
but his wife, they feel this
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need to help God
fulfill His promise.
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So, that is the pattern not only
with these people--because after
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all, they're people, right,
they're human beings that are
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fallible, that are
weak, and that sometimes
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make mistakes, just
like you and just like me.
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But we see that also here, that
this story emphasizes that God
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is the one that
fulfills His promises.
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It's not really about humans.
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It's not about people, even
though here we find the stories
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of good people, of
righteous, faithful people that
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find it important
to obey God and to be
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faithful to Him, but
this story is about God.
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The main character is the
Lord God that fulfills His
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promises to the
human counterparts.
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If you remember--and I'd like to
quote here Revelation chapter 3,
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verse 7, the doors that God
opens, no one can shut, and the
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doors that God
shuts, no one can open.
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God is the God of
multiple opportunities.
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God is the God that has
multiple ways of doing so
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many things that we
just can't even fathom.
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You know, sometimes we get
caught up in our own way of
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seeing things and
our own perspectives,
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and we end up
thinking that either God has
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to work this way, or
this way, or this way.
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There are no other ways.
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There's this, there's
this, and there's this.
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Friends, God is ambidextrous.
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God can operate with both hands.
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He's not limited to just a
few different opportunities,
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a few speckled
ways of doing things.
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God has a perspective that we
can't even imagine, and that's
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something that not only us, but
we see here with these men--you
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know, with Abraham, with Isaac,
with Jacob, and with the women
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involved in the stories--you
know, with Rebekah, with Rachel,
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with Sarah, with Tamar, that
we're going to talk a little bit
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about this week--this is
something that these people
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learned throughout their lives,
as God dealt, and lived, and
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dealed with them--or dealt with
them--we see that they also,
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over time, progressively
learned that God is
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the God that has
uncountable, multiple
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opportunities
and multiple options.
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So, that's the
first thing that we
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have to understand
here in this story.
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That's the first
theological reality about God's
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nature that we
have to understand.
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The second is that
evil, adversity, the setbacks
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of life and of history
do not have the last word,
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because many times
we're tempted to believe that.
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We're tempted to believe
that everything is happening
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around us, everything
that is happening around us,
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that is what has the
final word in our life.
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The events, the circumstances,
the chaos, the setbacks that we
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have in life, that there's no
coming back from these things.
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Friends, the God of the Bible,
He is the God of the last word.
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Doesn't the book of
Revelation call Him the Alpha
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and the Omega, the
First and the Last?
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Those are the
first--Alpha is the first letter
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of the Greek
alphabet, Omega is the last.
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What that means is that
God--among other things--because
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you know that the descriptions
of God in the Bible, they also
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can be understood in many ways,
but one of the understandings,
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one of the interpretations of
what that means is that God has
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the first word, and God
has the last word, always.
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He covers through and through.
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There is no other way with God.
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And so this
reality is that I don't
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have to become
anxious or worried.
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The Bible says that
multiple times also.
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Don't be anxious.
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Don't be worried, because
God is always in control.
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In His eternal providences,
the Lord of Hosts is capable of
00:10:01.56\00:10:05.10
transforming the absurd events
of life, as we see in Joseph's
00:10:05.13\00:10:09.27
story, He is capable of
transforming the craziest, most
00:10:09.30\00:10:12.84
absurd situations of life into
building blocks of His purposes.
00:10:12.87\00:10:19.11
Now, Joseph enters the biblical
narrative as Jacob's favorite
00:10:19.15\00:10:22.65
son, the object of his improper
affections, and that, of course,
00:10:22.68\00:10:28.26
as any sibling that has to go
through this understands, that,
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of course, attracts the
hostility, and the hatred,
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and the
jealousy of his brothers.
00:10:36.50\00:10:38.90
And this is what unleashes
the plot of this entire story.
00:10:38.93\00:10:42.20
Joseph is ridiculed
as the dreamer, which
00:10:42.24\00:10:45.01
is translated as
the master of dreams.
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That's literally
what they called him,
00:10:48.21\00:10:49.91
the master of dreams, here
comes the master of dreams.
00:10:49.94\00:10:52.75
That's what we see in the
Sabbath School lesson--sorry, in
00:10:52.78\00:10:55.88
the Sabbath School memory verse,
which is Genesis 37, verse 19,
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where it says, "Then they
said to one another, 'Look, this
00:10:59.69\00:11:02.59
dreamer is coming.'"
00:11:02.62\00:11:04.43
No, literally,
what they're saying
00:11:04.46\00:11:05.76
is, "Look, the
master dreamer is coming."
00:11:05.79\00:11:09.23
And, indeed,
dreams play a big part of
00:11:09.26\00:11:11.73
Joseph's story,
of Joseph's life.
00:11:11.77\00:11:14.37
Not only was he given the
gift of interpreting these
00:11:14.40\00:11:17.54
dreams, but
moreover, he fulfills the
00:11:17.57\00:11:20.11
great dream that
God had for his life.
00:11:20.14\00:11:23.21
We see that dreams
go through and through
00:11:23.24\00:11:25.55
Joseph's life
and Joseph's story.
00:11:25.58\00:11:28.38
Now, on Sunday's
lesson, to begin this week's
00:11:28.42\00:11:30.95
lesson, we have the
title, "Family Troubles."
00:11:30.99\00:11:33.92
And what we find here, the point
of the story that we come upon
00:11:33.96\00:11:37.89
is that we find Jacob, all
right, the father of the story,
00:11:37.93\00:11:41.26
at this point, comfortably
establishing the land, right?
00:11:41.30\00:11:45.03
After everything that had
happened up to this point, you
00:11:45.07\00:11:47.20
know, running away
from Esau and going to his
00:11:47.24\00:11:50.84
Uncle Laban, marrying Rachel,
and the whole development of
00:11:50.87\00:11:56.14
the story, here we
find that Jacob is finally
00:11:56.18\00:11:59.55
established, well
established in Canaan.
00:11:59.58\00:12:03.32
And that's when his problems,
at least in this regard, in our
00:12:03.35\00:12:06.55
context today, that's
where the problems begin,
00:12:06.59\00:12:09.82
because they begin at
home within his family.
00:12:09.86\00:12:11.93
The story here
doesn't really describe
00:12:11.96\00:12:13.83
many difficulties
surrounding Jacob.
00:12:13.86\00:12:17.17
The problems really come
from within his own household.
00:12:17.20\00:12:20.70
And I think that
that's something that
00:12:20.74\00:12:22.04
many of us can relate to.
00:12:22.07\00:12:23.41
You know, sometimes in life,
everything is working great.
00:12:23.44\00:12:26.21
You know, everything is good
at work, everything is good with
00:12:26.24\00:12:28.88
friends, you're successful,
the doors are opening, but your
00:12:28.91\00:12:33.48
problems truly are at home,
perhaps with a spouse, perhaps
00:12:33.52\00:12:36.55
with your children, with
siblings, and this is what is
00:12:36.58\00:12:40.12
happening in the
life of this family.
00:12:40.16\00:12:42.06
They're going
through a period of crisis.
00:12:42.09\00:12:44.69
Joseph, which was the son of
his old age, of Jacob's old age,
00:12:44.73\00:12:48.63
occupies a place of prominence
within his father's heart.
00:12:48.66\00:12:52.50
And so his father unwisely gives
him a cloak of many colors, a
00:12:52.53\00:12:57.87
beautiful cloak,
the clothes of kings.
00:12:57.91\00:13:00.71
This cloak possibly even
suggested that Jacob intended to
00:13:00.74\00:13:06.68
give Joseph the
birthright to make him or to
00:13:06.72\00:13:11.09
give him the
blessing of the firstborn.
00:13:11.12\00:13:13.96
Now, of course, the
other brothers, as they
00:13:13.99\00:13:15.86
saw this
favoritism, as they saw what was
00:13:15.89\00:13:18.26
happening here,
they weren't happy.
00:13:18.29\00:13:20.70
And Jacob was doing
this, of course, because of
00:13:20.73\00:13:22.83
his love for Rachel,
for his great love for
00:13:22.86\00:13:26.43
the wife that
he wanted to marry.
00:13:26.47\00:13:29.47
Now, the intentions of Jacob's
favoritism become even more
00:13:29.50\00:13:32.74
evident to the rest of the sons,
because we see their actions.
00:13:32.77\00:13:35.74
We see how they
react to all of this.
00:13:35.78\00:13:37.65
They feel discriminated against.
00:13:37.68\00:13:39.18
They feel
outcast. They feel wronged.
00:13:39.21\00:13:41.48
And I'll be honest with you,
it makes sense that they would.
00:13:41.52\00:13:44.85
Who wouldn't
feel this way when one
00:13:44.89\00:13:46.92
parent favors one
child over the other?
00:13:46.96\00:13:50.03
Of course, they
would feel this way.
00:13:50.06\00:13:51.36
And it was so blatant, it was so
00:13:51.39\00:13:52.79
explicit, it
was made so obvious.
00:13:52.83\00:13:55.06
Friends, favoritism is a
great sin that is displayed in
00:13:55.10\00:13:58.13
dysfunctional parents
that never learned how to be
00:13:58.17\00:14:02.34
parents, and that
dysfunctionality becomes evident
00:14:02.37\00:14:06.14
in the dynamic of
family relationships.
00:14:06.17\00:14:09.01
In the ways that parents act
with their children, in the ways
00:14:09.04\00:14:11.35
that they treat them,
that becomes evident, and that
00:14:11.38\00:14:13.88
creates a serious dysfunction
in the family setting.
00:14:13.92\00:14:18.25
The hatred of Joseph's brothers
for him, seen as the master
00:14:18.29\00:14:21.62
dreamer, is worsened
by the reports that he
00:14:21.66\00:14:24.76
gives of his
brothers to his father.
00:14:24.79\00:14:27.46
So, here we see that, you
know, Joseph is one of those
00:14:27.50\00:14:29.96
characters in the Bible that
you don't really see him making
00:14:30.00\00:14:32.83
a whole bunch of
different mistakes, right?
00:14:32.87\00:14:35.67
You have two
figures in the Old Testament
00:14:35.70\00:14:37.54
that are
ante-types of Christ in this.
00:14:37.57\00:14:39.91
The Bible doesn't--of
course, these were people
00:14:39.94\00:14:41.91
that did make
mistakes, right, because they
00:14:41.94\00:14:44.71
still needed
Jesus to die for them.
00:14:44.75\00:14:46.38
They needed a
Savior, but the Bible doesn't
00:14:46.41\00:14:49.45
attribute to them
a direct sin, right?
00:14:49.48\00:14:52.25
You have Joseph and you have
Daniel, and the stories of these
00:14:52.29\00:14:55.52
two men are very
similar in many ways.
00:14:55.56\00:14:57.99
We'll get to that.
00:14:58.03\00:14:59.33
But here we see that Joseph,
at least in this way, or in this
00:14:59.36\00:15:02.96
moment, he displayed
perhaps immaturity, you know,
00:15:03.00\00:15:06.63
perhaps a naivety,
because here we see that
00:15:06.67\00:15:12.57
he used to
tattle on his brothers.
00:15:12.61\00:15:14.68
Now, we don't know in
what spirit this was done.
00:15:14.71\00:15:16.81
We don't know in
what way it was done.
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.28
The Bible records the words, but
we don't see the emotion, the
00:15:18.31\00:15:21.38
feelings behind that, because
it's written word, and it's more
00:15:21.42\00:15:24.25
difficult to extract
emotion, to extract feeling.
00:15:24.29\00:15:27.56
So, we don't know how Joseph did
this, but again, to anyone that
00:15:27.59\00:15:31.69
has younger siblings, maybe even
older siblings, you know, that
00:15:31.73\00:15:35.60
it doesn't feel good
to be tattled on, right?
00:15:35.63\00:15:37.90
It's, no one likes a tattletale,
so I know that personally.
00:15:37.93\00:15:41.50
I used to hate it when my
little brother, when Michael
00:15:41.54\00:15:44.14
used to come along,
and he used to tell my
00:15:44.17\00:15:45.47
parents the wrong
things that I was doing.
00:15:45.51\00:15:47.34
And the funny
thing about Michael
00:15:47.38\00:15:48.68
is that he
would tell on himself.
00:15:48.71\00:15:50.91
So, you know, if we got
something from the kitchen, we
00:15:50.95\00:15:53.05
got maybe a chocolate or a
cookie or something from the
00:15:53.08\00:15:56.12
kitchen, and we--even when
we shared it, right, and I would
00:15:56.15\00:15:59.19
say, "Michael, don't tell mom,
don't tell dad," Michael, he
00:15:59.22\00:16:01.79
just couldn't, he would come and
he would say--he would go up to
00:16:01.82\00:16:04.69
them, and he'd
already say, "I'm sorry."
00:16:04.73\00:16:06.90
And, of course,
they would say, "Well,
00:16:06.93\00:16:08.20
what do you mean you're sorry?
00:16:08.23\00:16:09.53
Sorry for what?"
00:16:09.56\00:16:10.87
And then he would
spill out the whole story.
00:16:10.90\00:16:12.20
That--I'd get in trouble.
00:16:12.23\00:16:15.40
He wouldn't, right?
Michael's more innocent.
00:16:15.44\00:16:17.01
My little brother
had Down Syndrome,
00:16:17.04\00:16:18.34
and so he's a
more innocent being.
00:16:18.37\00:16:22.24
But any sibling
that knows what that's
00:16:22.28\00:16:25.08
like, knows that it's not nice.
00:16:25.11\00:16:26.68
Now, in Joseph's
story, we have that.
00:16:26.72\00:16:29.68
That is just one of the
different nuances of the story
00:16:29.72\00:16:32.85
that revealed to us that
his brothers were--or why his
00:16:32.89\00:16:35.82
brothers had
that problem with him.
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.09
He used to give
reports on them to his father.
00:16:38.13\00:16:41.40
And in his
favoritism, Jacob becomes guilty
00:16:41.43\00:16:44.67
of the bad
relationship of his sons,
00:16:44.70\00:16:46.74
of course, because
he's instigating it.
00:16:46.77\00:16:49.00
He's making it very obvious,
while one is learning how to
00:16:49.04\00:16:52.04
read, how to write,
one is learning how to,
00:16:52.07\00:16:54.41
you know, how to
take over the family,
00:16:54.44\00:16:56.14
the other ones are
outcasts in the field.
00:16:56.18\00:16:57.71
They're taking
care of the flocks.
00:16:57.75\00:16:59.15
They're not really
involved in the plans.
00:16:59.18\00:17:01.55
And so here we see that
Jacob, he is instigating
00:17:01.58\00:17:04.69
this jealousy, this
resentment among the sons.
00:17:04.72\00:17:10.89
But again, Joseph, he
doesn't really appear as
00:17:10.93\00:17:13.13
the wisest and most
prudent of the family.
00:17:13.16\00:17:16.20
He could've been more tactful,
perhaps, with his siblings.
00:17:16.23\00:17:19.50
He could've, you know, maybe
00:17:19.53\00:17:20.84
given a
different kind of report.
00:17:20.87\00:17:22.84
We don't know.
00:17:22.87\00:17:24.17
The truth is that we
don't really know what
00:17:24.21\00:17:25.81
these reports were
like or what was happening.
00:17:25.84\00:17:27.71
What we do know is that no
one likes when someone tells on
00:17:27.74\00:17:30.68
them, and that's
what Joseph was doing.
00:17:30.71\00:17:34.02
He was giving reports.
00:17:34.05\00:17:35.58
Another element to the story
that certainly created some
00:17:35.62\00:17:39.32
resentment between them is the
fact that to Joseph were given
00:17:39.35\00:17:42.89
these wonderful dreams, these
incredible dreams, which he
00:17:42.92\00:17:46.96
reports to the
rest of his family.
00:17:47.00\00:17:48.90
Now, again, perhaps a wiser,
more mature person would know
00:17:48.93\00:17:53.74
that his brothers already had a
hard time with him, and maybe he
00:17:53.77\00:17:56.54
would, you know, pepper down the
dreams, or he would just, you
00:17:56.57\00:17:59.81
know--I don't know--if
he would hide them or if he
00:17:59.84\00:18:01.84
would keep to
himself, at least for that
00:18:01.88\00:18:03.71
moment, or what
the option would be.
00:18:03.75\00:18:06.78
But what we see is
that Joseph, he goes out,
00:18:06.82\00:18:09.48
and he just
readily reports the dreams.
00:18:09.52\00:18:11.29
Of course, he was, you
know, excited about them.
00:18:11.32\00:18:14.42
He was
fascinated by these dreams.
00:18:14.46\00:18:16.99
But he goes out, and he reports
it to his family, with the
00:18:17.03\00:18:19.93
implication that he, Joseph, in
some way, considered himself to
00:18:19.96\00:18:24.97
be the object of a great mission
from God, which was true.
00:18:25.00\00:18:29.27
There was nothing wrong
with that, that was true.
00:18:29.30\00:18:31.74
But, of course, that
would instigate further
00:18:31.77\00:18:33.98
jealousy and resentment from
his brothers, and that truly
00:18:34.01\00:18:37.21
becomes a sore
spot of hatred for them.
00:18:37.25\00:18:40.28
Even if it weren't Joseph's
intentions by telling them this
00:18:40.32\00:18:43.85
dream, it was the result,
the resentment, the hatred.
00:18:43.89\00:18:47.72
It was the result of it.
00:18:47.76\00:18:49.62
The twofold dream could only be
interpreted as prophetic, and we
00:18:49.66\00:18:53.46
see that Jacob, while he does
rebuke Joseph at one moment,
00:18:53.50\00:18:57.50
saying, you know, "Well, what,
you think you're going to be
00:18:57.53\00:18:59.40
greater than
myself and your mother?"
00:18:59.43\00:19:00.97
And I imagine that Jacob,
who himself had witnessed a
00:19:01.00\00:19:05.37
dream--at least one that we know
of--you know, with the ladder
00:19:05.41\00:19:08.98
event in
Bethel--I'm sure that Jacob, he
00:19:09.01\00:19:12.01
understood that
something was happening,
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.55
that these weren't
just regular dreams.
00:19:14.58\00:19:19.12
What no one could know,
what no one could ever imagine,
00:19:19.15\00:19:21.82
especially Jacob and even Joseph
at this point, was the enormous
00:19:21.86\00:19:25.03
price that would be
paid by all of them in order
00:19:25.06\00:19:28.26
to fulfill these
dreams, what they were.
00:19:28.30\00:19:31.57
Here we transition to Monday's
lesson, which is the moment of
00:19:31.60\00:19:34.77
the attack, the
attack on Joseph.
00:19:34.80\00:19:37.21
Now, we all know that jealousy
is a terrible counselor.
00:19:37.24\00:19:41.98
The hard thing is
noticing how it affects us.
00:19:42.01\00:19:45.25
You know, sometimes when
we're--not sometimes--usually,
00:19:45.28\00:19:48.22
when we're the ones going
through whatever is happening,
00:19:48.25\00:19:51.99
it becomes difficult
for us to have a broader
00:19:52.02\00:19:54.49
perspective of the
unfolding of events.
00:19:54.52\00:19:57.19
Usually, you know, that's why
we ask for counsel--people that
00:19:57.23\00:19:59.46
are around us, people that can
perhaps be more unbiased than
00:19:59.49\00:20:03.00
us--it's easier to understand
and to perceive what's going on.
00:20:03.03\00:20:06.40
But it's difficult many
times for you to see that
00:20:06.43\00:20:08.70
you're being
jealous, that you're going
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.57
through feelings of
covetousness, right?
00:20:10.61\00:20:13.31
It affects all of us.
00:20:13.34\00:20:14.64
And the evils that are
involved in how it manifests
00:20:14.68\00:20:17.08
itself, even the
smallest intentions and
00:20:17.11\00:20:19.55
motivations, many
times, does go unnoticed.
00:20:19.58\00:20:22.58
These are things that happen
gradually, especially when it
00:20:22.62\00:20:24.89
comes to jealousy
and to covetousness.
00:20:24.92\00:20:27.22
These are feelings that come
on gradually, and they end up
00:20:27.26\00:20:30.73
affecting our
actions, again, gradually,
00:20:30.76\00:20:33.86
in a way that
sometimes we don't perceive.
00:20:33.90\00:20:36.73
That's why the best thing is
always to ask God to open our
00:20:36.77\00:20:39.43
eyes and give us actually
His eyes, so that we can see our
00:20:39.47\00:20:43.27
actions, see our words, how
we're affecting other people,
00:20:43.30\00:20:46.27
how we might be
hurting other people.
00:20:46.31\00:20:48.44
It's a constant
prayer. "Lord, open my eyes.
00:20:48.48\00:20:51.11
Help me understand
what I'm doing, what
00:20:51.15\00:20:52.61
I'm seeing, what
I'm going through.
00:20:52.65\00:20:54.32
All me to act with
Your will, not my will."
00:20:54.35\00:20:59.45
Friends,
jealousy and covetousness
00:20:59.49\00:21:01.46
are the twin brothers of hatred.
00:21:01.49\00:21:04.36
The perfect storm
was upon this family.
00:21:04.39\00:21:08.36
Sometimes it's very
hard to speculate just how
00:21:08.40\00:21:10.47
far jealousy and
hatred take their victims.
00:21:10.50\00:21:13.97
Here, Jacob's
foolishness reveals itself.
00:21:14.00\00:21:17.97
He had certainly
noticed, all right?
00:21:18.01\00:21:20.31
And look, friends, we're
speaking--I know that we're
00:21:20.34\00:21:22.44
speaking of very dear characters
of the Bible: Abraham, Isaac,
00:21:22.48\00:21:27.82
Jacob, people that we look up
to, people that are mentioned in
00:21:27.85\00:21:30.59
the hall of faith
in Hebrews chapter 11.
00:21:30.62\00:21:34.22
But the thing about
the Bible is that the
00:21:34.26\00:21:36.96
Bible doesn't
hold back its punches.
00:21:36.99\00:21:38.89
The Bible reveals the
flaws of its characters.
00:21:38.93\00:21:41.86
We see that in the
life of Abraham, yes, we do.
00:21:41.90\00:21:44.40
And we see that here in the
life of Jacob multiple times.
00:21:44.43\00:21:47.84
Here is another
moment--all you have
00:21:47.87\00:21:49.47
to do is think a
little bit, all right?
00:21:49.50\00:21:51.37
Look at what the text is saying.
00:21:51.41\00:21:52.94
The text is telling us
that Jacob sends Joseph
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.58
to give food, to
provide food for his sons,
00:21:56.61\00:21:59.38
certainly wanting a
report back from him.
00:21:59.41\00:22:02.35
What did he think
was going to happen?
00:22:02.38\00:22:04.62
I mean, he knew that his sons
00:22:04.65\00:22:06.65
held this
resentment against Joseph.
00:22:06.69\00:22:08.86
There's no way to hide that.
00:22:08.89\00:22:10.19
You know, friend, you can hide,
you can hide for a long time.
00:22:10.23\00:22:18.67
You can hide something from
everyone for a short time, or
00:22:18.70\00:22:22.00
you can hide something from
a few people for a long time.
00:22:22.04\00:22:26.17
You can hide, but
you can't hide forever.
00:22:26.21\00:22:30.91
So, in this case, it's
impossible that Jacob's
00:22:30.95\00:22:33.38
sons hid their
feelings or true feelings
00:22:33.42\00:22:36.28
for Joseph from
their father forever.
00:22:36.32\00:22:38.82
Again, you can hide from a lot
of people for a little bit of
00:22:38.85\00:22:42.56
time, or you can hide from a
little bit of people for a long
00:22:42.59\00:22:45.06
time, but you can't hide
from everyone all the time.
00:22:45.09\00:22:47.86
That's impossible.
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.16
And so it's certain that
Jacob knew of the feelings
00:22:49.20\00:22:53.34
that his older
sons had for Joseph.
00:22:53.37\00:22:55.90
So, what was he
expecting was going to
00:22:55.94\00:22:57.67
happen by
sending Joseph to them?
00:22:57.71\00:23:00.31
What did he have in mind?
00:23:00.34\00:23:01.98
What did he imagine?
00:23:02.01\00:23:04.15
Deep down the
brothers were jealous of God's
00:23:04.18\00:23:06.45
divine favor towards
their younger brother.
00:23:06.48\00:23:08.55
Of course, they were.
00:23:08.58\00:23:09.88
As a result of these horrible
feelings, a very twisted, odious
00:23:09.92\00:23:15.56
plan is spawned in the
imagination of these young men.
00:23:15.59\00:23:19.83
They create a plot
to murder their brother.
00:23:19.86\00:23:24.23
You know, sometimes
considering this story,
00:23:24.27\00:23:25.77
I keep thinking,
"How was it possible?
00:23:25.80\00:23:28.87
How did this happen?"
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.81
These were young
men that knew God.
00:23:30.84\00:23:34.34
They had witnessed their
father being faithful to God.
00:23:34.38\00:23:37.61
They had noticed the protection
of God to their family.
00:23:37.65\00:23:40.92
How did they become so callous?
00:23:40.95\00:23:43.32
How did they become so hard?
00:23:43.35\00:23:45.39
How could they come up with such
a horrible crime against their
00:23:45.42\00:23:48.52
own flesh and blood who
was even younger than they?
00:23:48.56\00:23:53.09
How could they not foresee this
immense impact of their actions
00:23:53.13\00:23:56.83
on their father and on
the rest of their family?
00:23:56.87\00:24:00.20
But the truth is that
hatred is shortsighted.
00:24:00.24\00:24:04.64
Hatred doesn't
consider the long,
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.41
far-reaching
implications of its actions.
00:24:06.44\00:24:09.68
And here this is what we
see that happens to this family.
00:24:09.71\00:24:13.38
The evil and the cruelty of
human heart is shared with the
00:24:13.42\00:24:17.39
heart of the devil, and here we
see that these young men, they
00:24:17.42\00:24:20.99
were in one way
or another possessed.
00:24:21.02\00:24:24.16
They were being led by
the spirit of the devil.
00:24:24.19\00:24:28.80
Certainly, they
weren't being led by God.
00:24:28.83\00:24:32.57
But even then, in the midst
of this chaotic storm that they
00:24:32.60\00:24:37.27
find themselves in, God's divine
providence is already at work.
00:24:37.31\00:24:42.38
Remember what we said, that God
always has the final word, and
00:24:42.41\00:24:46.28
that God always
fulfills His promises?
00:24:46.31\00:24:48.88
In a mysterious
way--because we know
00:24:48.92\00:24:50.59
that God, He allows free will.
00:24:50.62\00:24:52.95
God gives us
space for free will.
00:24:52.99\00:24:55.69
But in a mysterious way, this
incredible biblical God, He has
00:24:55.72\00:25:00.63
this way of working His wonders,
His providence through the
00:25:00.66\00:25:06.94
different events that
happen through the history
00:25:06.97\00:25:09.30
of the world and
the history of people on
00:25:09.34\00:25:12.37
a personal and
even individual level.
00:25:12.41\00:25:15.28
Ellen White, in the book,
"Thoughts from the Mountain of
00:25:15.31\00:25:18.65
Blessings," page 10, "If
received in faith, the trial
00:25:18.68\00:25:22.18
that seems so bitter and hard
to bear, will prove a blessing."
00:25:22.22\00:25:26.76
And that's what we
see happening here.
00:25:26.79\00:25:28.22
Ephesians chapter 1, verse 11,
tells us, and it bears witness
00:25:28.26\00:25:31.59
that "In Him, also, we have
obtained an inheritance, being
00:25:31.63\00:25:35.30
predestined according to
the purpose of Him who works all
00:25:35.33\00:25:38.40
things according to
the counsel of His will."
00:25:38.43\00:25:40.44
Friends, even when the path
is dark, full of detours, bumps,
00:25:40.47\00:25:43.41
and potholes, God
is never asleep or
00:25:43.44\00:25:46.01
indifferent to the
circumstances that surround us.
00:25:46.04\00:25:49.14
His paths might seem more
mysterious and devoid of reason
00:25:49.18\00:25:53.11
to us, but that doesn't
mean that God is illogical.
00:25:53.15\00:25:55.65
What that means is that
God is beyond our logic.
00:25:55.68\00:25:58.45
He is beyond our
capability and our capacity
00:25:58.49\00:26:04.09
of reasoning and of
understanding things.
00:26:04.13\00:26:07.30
Dark chapters that might even
appear to have no answers, later
00:26:07.36\00:26:13.70
on understood through
hindsight, makes sense in
00:26:13.74\00:26:19.91
the masterfully woven
portrait of who God is.
00:26:19.94\00:26:27.62
Friends, God is always in
absolute control of all things.
00:26:27.65\00:26:31.65
While the devil uses
trials of life to discourage us,
00:26:31.69\00:26:34.69
God uses these
same trials sometimes to
00:26:34.72\00:26:37.16
encourage us, to
strengthen, and to mature us.
00:26:37.19\00:26:39.69
The God of the
hilltops continues
00:26:39.73\00:26:41.53
to be God in the valleys.
00:26:41.56\00:26:43.60
The God of the bright
and sunny days continues to
00:26:43.63\00:26:46.27
be God in the dark and
threatening nights of life.
00:26:46.30\00:26:49.57
Joseph's story is one of
the most eloquent biblical
00:26:49.60\00:26:53.41
testaments of divine providence,
of how God acts and reacts to
00:26:53.44\00:26:59.31
the situations that his children
go through here in this world.
00:26:59.35\00:27:02.82
Thrown in the pit by his
brothers--most of us know this
00:27:02.85\00:27:05.49
story by
heart--intended to murder him.
00:27:05.52\00:27:08.86
You'll find that
in Genesis chapter 37.
00:27:08.89\00:27:11.06
He is then
providentially saved by the
00:27:11.09\00:27:13.53
intervention of
Reuben, his older brother.
00:27:13.56\00:27:16.73
At 17 years of age, he is sold
to merchants that appear again
00:27:16.77\00:27:20.30
providentially at
exactly the right moment.
00:27:20.34\00:27:25.67
And here in the
company of complete
00:27:25.71\00:27:27.51
strangers, he is taken to Egypt.
00:27:27.54\00:27:33.85
The sad truth of the story
is that he observes for the last
00:27:33.88\00:27:36.62
time the hills of his childhood
life that begin to disappear
00:27:36.65\00:27:41.52
beyond the horizon, farther
and farther away from everything
00:27:41.56\00:27:45.63
that he knew,
farther away from home.
00:27:45.66\00:27:49.86
But friends, the
story has not ended.
00:27:49.90\00:27:53.03
From a human perspective,
that was the end of Joseph.
00:27:53.07\00:27:56.24
That was it, to be sent
to one of the most brutal
00:27:56.27\00:28:00.98
countries of the world,
one of the most brutal nations
00:28:01.01\00:28:02.94
of the world,
especially for slaves.
00:28:02.98\00:28:06.95
The life expectancy wasn't long.
00:28:06.98\00:28:08.92
This, to all purposes, to
all effects, humanly speaking,
00:28:08.95\00:28:13.52
was the last of
Joseph, the end of Joseph.
00:28:13.56\00:28:16.96
But we know
that that's not true.
00:28:16.99\00:28:18.29
We know that this is just the
beginning of the story, because
00:28:18.33\00:28:20.33
any story that has God
in its core and its center,
00:28:20.36\00:28:24.70
that story is a
story that will end well.
00:28:24.73\00:28:27.90
All stories that have God at the
core will end well, if not on
00:28:27.94\00:28:32.31
this side of
eternity, on the other.
00:28:32.34\00:28:36.38
Tuesday's lesson, it's a very
interesting lesson, because it's
00:28:36.41\00:28:39.28
a small interlude in
the broader story of Joseph.
00:28:39.31\00:28:43.12
Here we have a little pause.
00:28:43.15\00:28:44.72
Now, while it's chronologically
accurate, the story of Tamar
00:28:44.75\00:28:48.02
that's found in Genesis chapter
38, it appears out of place in
00:28:48.06\00:28:52.03
the narrative of Joseph,
almost like a non sequitur.
00:28:52.06\00:28:54.86
In the place where it's found,
it doesn't make much sense why.
00:28:54.93\00:28:57.70
Here you have this whole
story of Joseph happening,
00:28:57.73\00:29:00.30
and then this short
little description of what
00:29:00.34\00:29:02.87
happens here with
Judah and with Tamar.
00:29:02.90\00:29:06.78
But even so, here we find the
same theme of a malignant act
00:29:06.81\00:29:11.98
that--a malignant act of
injustice that develops into a
00:29:12.01\00:29:15.98
positive event, connected
to the lineage of salvation.
00:29:16.02\00:29:20.56
The details of this story are
peppered with cultural nuances.
00:29:20.59\00:29:24.69
So, the story basically goes
to secure her genealogy, Tamar,
00:29:24.73\00:29:29.23
she poses as a
prostitute, because she had
00:29:29.26\00:29:31.70
been married to
Judah's firstborn son.
00:29:31.73\00:29:34.87
He died, then she was married to
the second son to preserve the
00:29:34.90\00:29:39.21
lineage, and
then he passed away.
00:29:39.24\00:29:41.14
And at this point,
Judah doesn't want to give his
00:29:41.18\00:29:44.35
third son to Tamar,
which was her right.
00:29:44.38\00:29:49.38
And so here because he's
denying the right that should
00:29:49.42\00:29:52.55
be hers to
preserve the lineage of
00:29:52.59\00:29:54.66
her family, she
poses as a prostitute.
00:29:54.69\00:29:58.36
Finally, she
confronts Judah, and the
00:29:58.39\00:29:59.93
story here,
friends, it's incredible.
00:29:59.96\00:30:01.76
Go back to the biblical
narrative in Genesis chapter 38.
00:30:01.80\00:30:04.50
Go read the story, and
you'll see how incredible,
00:30:04.53\00:30:06.90
how smart, how
savvy this woman was.
00:30:06.94\00:30:11.77
When she confronts Judah,
who had already played a quite
00:30:11.81\00:30:14.68
sordid role in Joseph's story,
he was a key part of that, here
00:30:14.71\00:30:19.21
we see that the fundamental
element of the narrative of
00:30:19.25\00:30:22.38
Tamar versus Judah, it finds
itself in the child that she
00:30:22.42\00:30:27.96
bears, Perez, one of
King David's ancestors
00:30:27.99\00:30:32.59
and ultimately one
of the ancestors of
00:30:32.63\00:30:34.10
the Messiah, of
Jesus Christ himself.
00:30:34.13\00:30:37.43
Tamar appears as one
of the most improbable
00:30:37.47\00:30:39.70
women mentioned in
the genealogy of Jesus.
00:30:39.73\00:30:43.37
And the lesson here seems clear.
00:30:43.41\00:30:45.07
Just as God has the ability of
transforming the somber details
00:30:45.11\00:30:48.98
of life, of in this case Tamar's
life and her story into a
00:30:49.01\00:30:53.92
blessing by including her in
the lineage of the Savior of the
00:30:53.95\00:30:57.75
world, the lives
converge with Joseph's story,
00:30:57.79\00:31:01.22
who, by
miraculous providence, brings
00:31:01.26\00:31:03.69
salvation to Jacob
and to his lineage.
00:31:03.73\00:31:06.56
Friends, the whole story of the
Bible is the story of how God
00:31:06.59\00:31:11.63
changes and transforms
and uses the most absurd
00:31:11.67\00:31:14.57
events and even
the most unqualified,
00:31:14.60\00:31:18.11
apparently unqualified
people in his divine providence.
00:31:18.14\00:31:23.58
God is that powerful.
00:31:23.61\00:31:25.61
I really believe that sometimes
the devil, in one situation
00:31:25.65\00:31:28.35
or another, he
thinks that he's ahead, he
00:31:28.38\00:31:30.62
thinks that he's
winning, he thinks that
00:31:30.65\00:31:32.25
he's won the skirmish,
that little battle over there.
00:31:32.29\00:31:36.79
But in one crazy way, in one way
that surprises even the enemy,
00:31:36.83\00:31:41.50
God is able to transform
that moment of weakness, that
00:31:41.53\00:31:45.97
failure, that apparent
failure, God has the power of
00:31:46.00\00:31:48.67
transforming that into a
victory, into a blessing.
00:31:48.70\00:31:51.97
And we see that countless
times through scripture.
00:31:52.01\00:31:54.54
We see that here in the story
of Tamar, and we see that in the
00:31:54.58\00:31:56.75
story of Abraham, of
Isaac, and of Jacob, and
00:31:56.78\00:31:59.48
here in the story
of Joseph, as well.
00:31:59.51\00:32:02.18
Wednesday's lesson finds
Joseph as a slave in Egypt.
00:32:02.22\00:32:06.39
Here, the narrative
shifts back to Joseph,
00:32:06.42\00:32:09.49
and he's
portrayed as this slave.
00:32:09.52\00:32:12.69
The future could not
seem darker, more uncertain.
00:32:12.73\00:32:16.70
He found himself in a distant
land with no hopes, no options,
00:32:16.73\00:32:20.40
no alternatives, no foreseeable
possibility of escape, but
00:32:20.44\00:32:24.81
Joseph is providentially sold
to a man called Potiphar--and
00:32:24.84\00:32:28.28
you'll find that in Genesis
39, verse 1--who is, again
00:32:28.31\00:32:31.45
providentially a
ranking official of Pharaoh.
00:32:31.48\00:32:34.72
He is immediately seen
as a man of excellence.
00:32:34.75\00:32:38.15
Everything that he
touches succeeds, turns out.
00:32:38.19\00:32:43.63
He's seen as a man in whom the
Spirit of God dwelt, so much so
00:32:43.66\00:32:48.80
that his master entrusted
to Joseph his entire household.
00:32:48.83\00:32:53.20
But let's not lose sight
that Joseph's success was
00:32:53.23\00:32:57.91
a result of the
action of God in his life.
00:32:57.94\00:33:00.21
Look at what
Genesis 39, verse 2 says.
00:33:00.24\00:33:02.38
It says, "The
Lord was with Joseph."
00:33:02.41\00:33:04.68
Friends, do not forget the
story is not about these people.
00:33:04.71\00:33:08.35
The story, the main
character here, it's not Joseph.
00:33:08.38\00:33:11.92
The main character is God.
00:33:11.95\00:33:13.52
Don't lose sight of that,
because sometimes it's easy for
00:33:13.56\00:33:17.89
us to go reading these
stories of the Bible and saying,
00:33:17.93\00:33:19.93
well, you know, here you have
Abraham, here we have Jacob,
00:33:19.96\00:33:21.80
here we have
Daniel, here we have David.
00:33:21.83\00:33:23.67
And then, you
know, all these stories.
00:33:23.70\00:33:25.00
Yes, the story
describes the events
00:33:25.03\00:33:27.07
of these people's
lives, of their lives.
00:33:27.10\00:33:28.97
But let me tell you something.
00:33:29.00\00:33:30.31
With God removed
from their stories, these
00:33:30.34\00:33:32.27
would be just
regular, random people.
00:33:32.31\00:33:36.08
God is the catalyst that makes--
the Lord of Israel, the God of
00:33:36.11\00:33:40.48
Israel is the catalyst
that makes Israel relevant,
00:33:40.52\00:33:43.62
otherwise, do you
remember all the fathers
00:33:43.65\00:33:46.59
of nations from four,
five thousand years ago?
00:33:46.62\00:33:51.06
This story is about God.
00:33:51.09\00:33:54.13
The Bible
couldn't make it clearer.
00:33:54.20\00:33:56.16
The Lord was with Joseph,
and so because the Lord was with
00:33:56.20\00:33:59.50
Joseph, verse 4 tells us, "So
Joseph found favor in his sight
00:33:59.53\00:34:03.71
and served him,"
speaking of Potiphar.
00:34:03.74\00:34:06.11
"Then he made him
overseer of his house, and all
00:34:06.14\00:34:09.01
that he had he put
under his authority."
00:34:09.04\00:34:12.45
But although things were going
well for him, Joseph was not
00:34:12.48\00:34:16.32
corrupted by his
new circumstances.
00:34:16.35\00:34:18.99
Friends, our fidelity to
God is tested in two ways, two
00:34:19.02\00:34:22.32
different ways, and I mentioned
this in a previous lesson.
00:34:22.36\00:34:25.39
First, the test of adversity;
00:34:25.43\00:34:28.06
and secondly,
the test of success.
00:34:28.10\00:34:31.07
Most people fall short.
00:34:31.10\00:34:33.10
Most people fall
short on one or the other of
00:34:33.13\00:34:35.47
these lessons, one or
the other of these tests.
00:34:35.50\00:34:38.87
Adversity or success
ends up failing most humans.
00:34:38.91\00:34:44.48
To many, when they find
themselves in a successful
00:34:44.51\00:34:47.22
situation, where they are seen
as successful, they're seen as
00:34:47.25\00:34:50.55
blessed, they're seen as, you
know, nothing could go wrong, as
00:34:50.59\00:34:54.89
intelligent, as smart, as
rich--sometimes they think this
00:34:54.92\00:34:59.59
is coming from
themselves, from their effort.
00:34:59.63\00:35:03.57
Again, friend, never forget, two
tests, adversity and success.
00:35:03.60\00:35:13.51
As these tests go, not only when
people face success, but when
00:35:13.54\00:35:19.88
the adversities come, when the
trials come, when the fires of
00:35:19.91\00:35:22.32
life come, it's easy to grow
discouraged, to fall away, to
00:35:22.35\00:35:26.62
think that either have
been abandoned or forsaken.
00:35:26.65\00:35:31.53
Joseph is an exception here,
because initially and later on
00:35:31.56\00:35:35.53
during his prison
time, he's an example of
00:35:35.56\00:35:38.33
faithfulness in
success and in adversity.
00:35:38.37\00:35:41.50
In this moment of
brief success, he bears
00:35:41.54\00:35:43.84
witness to the
stuff that he was made of.
00:35:43.87\00:35:46.44
Because when Potiphar's wife
attempts to seduce him, Joseph
00:35:46.47\00:35:50.11
reveals that his
relationship with God, the God
00:35:50.15\00:35:52.78
of heaven, is
greater than anything else.
00:35:52.81\00:35:55.85
Genesis 39, verse 9
says, "How then can I do
00:35:55.88\00:35:58.95
this great
wickedness and sin against God?"
00:35:58.99\00:36:01.96
You see that what he's worried
00:36:01.99\00:36:03.29
about is his
relationship with God.
00:36:03.32\00:36:05.93
Of course, he's worried about
the immediate consequences.
00:36:05.96\00:36:08.40
He's worried about his
master, what he would think.
00:36:08.43\00:36:10.57
He knows that this is
wrong, that this is immoral, but
00:36:10.60\00:36:13.47
ultimately what is going on in
his mind is "How could I hurt my
00:36:13.50\00:36:17.17
God this way, that has
taken such good care of me?
00:36:17.21\00:36:20.41
How could I violate this
relationship in such a way?"
00:36:20.44\00:36:24.55
And here we see that the
reaction, and here we see that
00:36:24.58\00:36:28.55
sometimes faithfulness and
fidelity, they don't always
00:36:28.58\00:36:34.12
provoke the best of reactions
or the best of results.
00:36:34.16\00:36:39.93
In this situation, Potiphar's
wife, humiliated and enraged by
00:36:39.96\00:36:44.97
the rejection of a slave,
didn't hesitate to accuse him
00:36:45.00\00:36:49.74
and to turn him
over to her husband.
00:36:49.77\00:36:51.61
And once again, the colors of
the horizon that at this point
00:36:51.64\00:36:54.88
had been glowing for
Joseph--he was being recognized,
00:36:54.91\00:36:57.75
he was successful, he was
doing well in Potiphar's house.
00:36:57.78\00:37:00.38
But here, the horizon, the
colors of the sky become gray.
00:37:00.42\00:37:04.55
Once again, Joseph sees
his world crumble around him.
00:37:04.59\00:37:08.32
And at this point, as could
have happened with so many other
00:37:08.36\00:37:11.66
people, with so many of
us, he could've easily been
00:37:11.69\00:37:15.33
tempted to
blaspheme against God.
00:37:15.36\00:37:18.30
His new miseries
are a direct result
00:37:18.33\00:37:20.77
of his fidelity,
of his faithfulness.
00:37:20.80\00:37:23.77
Where is God?
00:37:23.81\00:37:25.47
That would be
the natural question.
00:37:25.51\00:37:27.11
"Why me? I'm doing my best.
00:37:27.14\00:37:29.04
I'm trying hard to be faithful
in these hard circumstances.
00:37:29.08\00:37:32.05
I'm already a slave.
I've already lost my family.
00:37:32.08\00:37:34.38
I'm already in a far away land.
00:37:34.42\00:37:37.65
Why is this happening?"
00:37:37.69\00:37:39.72
I imagine the feel--I
could imagine the feeling of
00:37:39.75\00:37:43.02
abandonment, of loneliness,
being almost insurmountable, but
00:37:43.06\00:37:49.36
that's not the case that
we find here in this story.
00:37:49.40\00:37:52.73
We discover that even in
prison, the Lord continued
00:37:52.77\00:37:55.94
to bless him, and he
prospered even there.
00:37:55.97\00:37:58.47
Look at what Genesis 39:23 says.
00:37:58.51\00:38:00.84
It says, "But the Lord was with
Joseph and showed him mercy, and
00:38:00.88\00:38:03.91
He gave him favor in the sight
of the keeper of the prison, and
00:38:03.95\00:38:06.98
the keeper of the
prison committed to Joseph--to
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.98
Joseph's hand, all the prisoners
who were in the prison."
00:38:10.02\00:38:13.09
Whatever they did
there, it was His doing.
00:38:13.12\00:38:15.46
The keeper of the prison did
not look into anything that was
00:38:15.49\00:38:18.33
under Joseph's authority,
because the Lord was with him.
00:38:18.36\00:38:21.73
And whatever he did,
the Lord made it prosper.
00:38:21.76\00:38:25.73
The Lord made it prosper so much
so that his witness, Joseph's
00:38:25.77\00:38:30.14
witness in that prison was
a witness, was a testimony of
00:38:30.17\00:38:34.48
faithfulness in adversity,
as a servant of the Most High.
00:38:34.51\00:38:38.75
And that deeply
impressed those who shared
00:38:38.78\00:38:40.92
the same lot as
he in the prison.
00:38:40.95\00:38:43.49
You see this constantly.
00:38:43.52\00:38:45.52
Joseph, in Potiphar's house,
was faithful, in the trial of
00:38:45.55\00:38:51.46
Potiphar's wife, was
faithful, and even in prison,
00:38:51.49\00:38:54.93
apparently abandoned
by God and the world,
00:38:54.93\00:38:57.43
in that pit, once
again, is faithful.
00:38:57.47\00:39:02.04
Friends, we can't control
the things that happen to
00:39:02.07\00:39:04.84
us in our life, but
we can control how we'll
00:39:04.87\00:39:06.68
react, and that's a
hard lesson for all of us.
00:39:06.71\00:39:10.51
It's a hard lesson.
00:39:10.55\00:39:12.78
Here we see Joseph, despite
the situation, he chooses an
00:39:12.81\00:39:17.59
attitude of gratitude, an
attitude of praise, and that's
00:39:17.62\00:39:21.46
the differentiating factor
here in this young man's life.
00:39:21.49\00:39:26.56
Now, Thursday's
lesson, which has the title,
00:39:26.59\00:39:30.40
"The Dreams of
Pharaoh," revolves around
00:39:30.43\00:39:32.60
the events found in
Genesis chapter 40 and 41.
00:39:32.63\00:39:35.94
Here we see that God's
providence continues to be a
00:39:35.97\00:39:39.77
major element in this
story, because, otherwise,
00:39:39.81\00:39:42.04
this story would
just be incredible.
00:39:42.08\00:39:44.41
It would be
literally incredible,
00:39:44.45\00:39:46.68
unable to be believed.
00:39:46.72\00:39:48.35
All right, this
is such an incredible
00:39:48.38\00:39:49.75
turn of events
that happens here.
00:39:49.78\00:39:52.09
We see that God's
providence is still in
00:39:52.12\00:39:54.06
control,
imperceptible to human senses.
00:39:54.09\00:39:58.19
Silently,
gradually, Joseph is led to the
00:39:58.23\00:40:02.16
realization of his
calling, of his vocation.
00:40:02.20\00:40:06.07
God gave him an
ability of interpreting dreams.
00:40:06.10\00:40:10.71
And here we see that he uses
that ability to interpret the
00:40:10.74\00:40:14.41
dreams of the cupbearer
and the baker in this story,
00:40:14.44\00:40:19.28
these two prisoners
that served Pharaoh.
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.98
To all effects,
this event, humanly
00:40:22.02\00:40:24.35
speaking, it just
didn't make much sense.
00:40:24.39\00:40:25.85
Why is this happening?
00:40:25.89\00:40:27.19
Why does God care
so much to give Joseph
00:40:27.22\00:40:31.13
the ability to
reveal the dreams to these
00:40:31.16\00:40:33.29
two just men lost
in history, otherwise?
00:40:33.33\00:40:39.80
But this is where we
see this perspective of God.
00:40:39.83\00:40:43.81
We read in the Bible
that the Lord God Himself
00:40:43.84\00:40:46.44
says, "My thoughts
are way above yours.
00:40:46.47\00:40:49.68
You can't think
on the same level
00:40:49.71\00:40:52.78
as I can," says
the Lord, basically.
00:40:52.81\00:40:57.22
And here we see that God, He
has that broader vision, that
00:40:57.25\00:40:59.89
perspective that
we just don't have.
00:40:59.92\00:41:02.32
Here He sees the importance
of this moment, of this event.
00:41:02.36\00:41:05.53
When we analyze the
interpreted dream in the
00:41:05.56\00:41:07.86
broader context of God's plans,
lines that seem to be just
00:41:07.86\00:41:11.87
loose ends begin to make
sense, and a radical change
00:41:11.90\00:41:16.07
in the course of
things takes place.
00:41:16.10\00:41:18.11
Because two years
later--yeah, two years--
00:41:18.14\00:41:20.88
it didn't happen overnight.
00:41:20.91\00:41:22.21
It wasn't a week
later, or a month later,
00:41:22.24\00:41:23.78
or even a year later.
00:41:23.81\00:41:25.11
Two years later in
Genesis chapter 41, verse 1,
00:41:25.15\00:41:27.75
Pharaoh, the most
powerful monarch of
00:41:27.78\00:41:30.32
the time, had a
dream that alarmed him.
00:41:30.35\00:41:34.52
And we know the story of those
dreams--the fat cows and the
00:41:34.56\00:41:37.23
skinny cows, the plump and the
blighted wheat--and in a series
00:41:37.26\00:41:42.20
of incredible events, and
here we have to jump over a big
00:41:42.23\00:41:45.20
portion of the story, a lot of
the details--and I invite you to
00:41:45.23\00:41:48.60
go back to Genesis 39, 40, 41,
and read the events here, paying
00:41:48.64\00:41:53.81
attention to the
smallest details, because those
00:41:53.84\00:41:56.48
are the ones that
make the difference.
00:41:56.51\00:41:58.31
In a series of incredible
events, Joseph is brought to the
00:41:58.35\00:42:01.58
presence of this powerful
monarch, of this powerful king,
00:42:01.62\00:42:05.05
to give him the meaning of his
dreams, and that only happens
00:42:05.09\00:42:08.02
because the cupbearer remembers
that 2 years before in prison,
00:42:08.06\00:42:12.99
someone had been able
to interpret his dream.
00:42:13.03\00:42:17.07
Interestingly, Joseph, Joseph is
incredible here, because Joseph
00:42:17.10\00:42:24.11
could've seen this as
an opportunity of escape.
00:42:24.14\00:42:28.81
He could've played the
narrative, even if he hadn't
00:42:28.84\00:42:32.58
been given this
gift, this opportunity had
00:42:32.61\00:42:35.12
been given, he could've
used this to, in one way
00:42:35.15\00:42:38.15
or another, see this
as his chance of escape.
00:42:38.19\00:42:41.36
But here that's not even,
that's not on Joseph's mind.
00:42:41.39\00:42:44.49
That's not even on the
same wavelength of what
00:42:44.53\00:42:47.76
he's thinking of,
because the story tells us that
00:42:47.83\00:42:50.13
he points away from
himself, and he points to
00:42:50.17\00:42:52.83
God, who is the
true source of wisdom.
00:42:52.87\00:42:57.47
Any one of us would
be dreaming of freedom
00:42:57.51\00:43:00.81
and the possibilities
that an interview with
00:43:00.84\00:43:03.18
the king could
provide, but Joseph points away.
00:43:03.21\00:43:09.45
He points to He who is the
true interpreter of dreams.
00:43:09.48\00:43:16.52
Just like Daniel centuries
later, who also, in the presence
00:43:16.56\00:43:20.46
of the monarch, under similar
circumstances, in Daniel chapter
00:43:20.50\00:43:24.43
2, verse 28 said there is a God
in heaven who reveals secrets.
00:43:24.47\00:43:30.47
Now Joseph, in the
presence of Pharaoh,
00:43:30.51\00:43:32.41
answers with a
similar-- in a similar way.
00:43:32.44\00:43:35.94
Genesis 41:16
says, "It is not in me.
00:43:35.98\00:43:39.75
God will give
Pharaoh an answer of peace."
00:43:39.78\00:43:43.52
You know, friends,
Ellen White observes that the
00:43:43.55\00:43:45.15
spirit of self is
the spirit of the devil.
00:43:45.19\00:43:49.29
Here we see that Joseph
casts the attention off himself,
00:43:49.32\00:43:52.49
onto the true main
character of the story.
00:43:52.53\00:43:56.77
The world is full of the spirit
of megalomania, of arrogance.
00:43:56.80\00:44:01.20
But what is truly astounding and
saddening is when we see that in
00:44:01.24\00:44:04.54
the church, in the body
of Christ, where we wouldn't
00:44:04.57\00:44:08.91
believe that it would happen, or
we wouldn't want it to happen.
00:44:08.94\00:44:11.88
The saddest thing is when we see
this truly happening among those
00:44:11.91\00:44:14.72
who profess following Christ,
poor creatures that pathetically
00:44:14.75\00:44:19.39
attempt to take the
place of the Most High and to
00:44:19.42\00:44:23.43
take the glory that
belongs only to Him.
00:44:23.46\00:44:26.46
Not so with Joseph.
00:44:26.49\00:44:28.60
He points away from himself.
00:44:28.63\00:44:30.87
The true source of
revelation is another.
00:44:30.90\00:44:34.44
And it also becomes clear that
Pharaoh understood the message,
00:44:34.47\00:44:37.71
because when he decides to
choose Joseph to be the new
00:44:37.74\00:44:40.68
Prime Minister of Egypt,
his reason is--and this is in
00:44:40.71\00:44:43.75
Genesis 41:39-41--he says, "In
as much as God has shown you all
00:44:43.78\00:44:49.12
this, there is no one as
discerning and wise as you.
00:44:49.15\00:44:52.62
You shall be over my
house, and all my people
00:44:52.65\00:44:54.96
shall be ruled
according to your word.
00:44:54.99\00:44:56.79
Only in regard to the throne
will I be greater than you."
00:44:56.83\00:45:01.80
And Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "See, I have
00:45:01.83\00:45:04.13
set you over all
the land of Egypt."
00:45:04.17\00:45:07.90
The ascension of
Joseph is surprising.
00:45:07.94\00:45:10.84
He goes beyond even
Potiphar's household.
00:45:10.87\00:45:13.44
He goes--he's taken
above the station of his old
00:45:13.48\00:45:16.95
master to govern
the whole of Egypt.
00:45:16.98\00:45:19.68
And here's
another incredible detail.
00:45:19.71\00:45:21.35
Because anyone that was
wronged, like Joseph was,
00:45:21.38\00:45:25.72
probably
would've sought vengeance.
00:45:25.75\00:45:28.49
But the Bible doesn't describe
any such feeling, trying to seek
00:45:28.52\00:45:32.86
vengeance on
Potiphar or on his wife.
00:45:32.89\00:45:36.93
This was a man that had given
himself, that had turned himself
00:45:36.97\00:45:39.30
over to God, to his God, and he
allowed Him to be his vengeance.
00:45:39.33\00:45:44.87
What a powerful story of how
even surrounded by disasters and
00:45:44.91\00:45:49.11
by chaos, the divine providence
of God always prevails, and His
00:45:49.14\00:45:54.98
purposes are never
frustrated, are never twisted,
00:45:55.02\00:46:00.06
even by jealousy, by
hatred, by malice, by
00:46:00.09\00:46:03.99
the ruthlessness of
human maliciousness.
00:46:04.03\00:46:08.06
The last word is always His,
00:46:08.10\00:46:10.50
because His
decrees are trustworthy.
00:46:10.53\00:46:12.87
He is infallible.
00:46:12.90\00:46:14.50
Nothing, no one, anywhere,
at any time, is capable of
00:46:14.54\00:46:18.94
frustrating the
designs of the God of heaven.
00:46:18.97\00:46:22.41
My dear friend, again, you know,
we go through these lessons, and
00:46:22.44\00:46:27.15
while we do look at the stories
from a biblical perspective,
00:46:27.18\00:46:30.89
seeing what's happening in the
stories of these people, it's
00:46:30.92\00:46:33.25
important to apply
these lessons in our life.
00:46:33.29\00:46:36.06
I'll tell you, we live in hard
times, in times where the chaos,
00:46:36.09\00:46:40.80
the storms of
life continue raging.
00:46:40.83\00:46:46.30
This is something
that isn't unique to
00:46:46.33\00:46:48.14
a certain period
of time in history.
00:46:48.17\00:46:50.34
It's always been hard.
00:46:50.37\00:46:51.81
There have always been hardships
and difficulties in chaos.
00:46:51.84\00:46:54.44
Sometimes we're
tempted to think that we have
00:46:54.48\00:46:56.11
it worse than other
people in other moments.
00:46:56.14\00:46:58.71
Friends, the truth of
the matter is that wherever
00:46:58.75\00:47:00.98
there is sin,
there is difficulty.
00:47:01.02\00:47:03.69
Wherever there is
sin, there is chaos.
00:47:03.72\00:47:05.59
Wherever sin is,
there is a storm.
00:47:05.62\00:47:08.72
Our small planet has been
submerged into this storm, but
00:47:08.76\00:47:12.93
the reality continues to be that
the God of Abraham, of Isaac,
00:47:12.96\00:47:18.00
and of Jacob continues to
be the God of truth, the God of
00:47:18.03\00:47:23.17
strength, the God of
power, the Alpha and the Omega.
00:47:23.20\00:47:27.34
God is never taken by surprise.
00:47:27.38\00:47:29.21
He has the hands that never
shake, which is why just as
00:47:29.24\00:47:33.35
these men here in the Bible, we
have to learn to put our lives
00:47:33.38\00:47:36.82
in His hands, because that's
the best place to be, always.
00:47:36.85\00:47:41.19
The best place to be is
always within God's will.
00:47:41.22\00:47:45.26
That's my
invitation for you here today.
00:47:45.29\00:47:48.23
Please accept that
prayer for you, that we,
00:47:48.26\00:47:53.67
all of us must put
our lives in God's hands.
00:47:53.70\00:47:56.87
I would like to invite you, one
last time, to take advantage of
00:47:56.91\00:47:59.51
our free offer, "The
Power of a Positive No."
00:47:59.54\00:48:02.98
Here you'll see, just as Joseph
was capable of saying no in a
00:48:03.01\00:48:08.52
moment of temptation,
no in a moment of trial,
00:48:08.55\00:48:11.82
we see that that is
an important lesson,
00:48:11.85\00:48:13.59
an important virtue
for all of us to learn.
00:48:13.62\00:48:15.59
So, don't forget to take
advantage of that free offer.
00:48:15.62\00:48:18.46
You could call the
number 866-788-3966
00:48:18.49\00:48:23.20
and ask for offer number 159.
00:48:23.23\00:48:25.60
If you're in
continental North America,
00:48:25.63\00:48:27.27
you can text SH084
to the number 40544.
00:48:27.30\00:48:32.41
If you're outside of
continental North America,
00:48:32.44\00:48:34.51
you can go to the
website study.aftv.org/SH084,
00:48:34.54\00:48:40.85
and you could get
a digital download.
00:48:40.88\00:48:42.48
I invite you to take advantage
of this, and I invite you, more
00:48:42.52\00:48:45.95
than anything else, to
invite Christ into your heart.
00:48:45.99\00:48:48.42
Allow Him to be
your tether in a moment
00:48:48.46\00:48:51.76
of storm, your
rock, your anchor.
00:48:51.79\00:48:53.80
And I'm sure that just
like Joseph, you'll be able to
00:48:53.83\00:48:57.23
prosper not only
through the trials of adversity,
00:48:57.27\00:49:00.77
but also in the
trials of success.
00:49:00.80\00:49:02.87
May God bless you.
00:49:02.90\00:49:04.21
I'd like to finish
with a word of prayer.
00:49:04.24\00:49:06.07
Please bow your head.
00:49:06.11\00:49:07.41
"Dear Lord, thank You so much
for the stories of the Bible
00:49:07.44\00:49:09.61
that teach us so many important
and incredible lessons.
00:49:09.64\00:49:12.75
Lord, here we see a
young man that was just
00:49:12.78\00:49:15.02
cast into this
terrible storm of chaos.
00:49:15.05\00:49:19.22
And Lord, we want to live a life
similar to Joseph, similar to
00:49:19.25\00:49:22.76
these Bible heroes:
Joseph, Daniel, so many
00:49:22.79\00:49:25.46
others that in
moments of crisis were able
00:49:25.49\00:49:27.86
to maintain their
hopes and their faith in You.
00:49:27.93\00:49:32.90
Lord, at the same
time, we are small.
00:49:32.93\00:49:34.90
We're extremely fallible
beings, and we mess up and make
00:49:34.94\00:49:39.11
mistakes, which is why,
Lord, I claim the promise
00:49:39.14\00:49:41.64
of Micah 7, verse
8, where the prophet,
00:49:41.68\00:49:45.18
he tells the enemy,
'Do not laugh over me.
00:49:45.21\00:49:48.55
Do not laugh over
me, O my enemy, because
00:49:48.58\00:49:51.25
even when I fall,
the Lord will lift me up.
00:49:51.29\00:49:54.32
When my dwelling
is in the darkness,
00:49:54.36\00:49:56.49
the Lord will be my light.'"
00:49:56.52\00:49:58.13
Lord, I claim that
promise not only for myself, but
00:49:58.16\00:50:00.53
for everyone that is listening,
that is watching right now.
00:50:00.56\00:50:03.80
And Father, we sometimes,
we do fall, and we abide in the
00:50:03.83\00:50:08.27
darkness in moments of
life, but You are our light.
00:50:08.30\00:50:12.61
Lord, we know that
victory is only in You.
00:50:12.64\00:50:14.71
This story is only about You.
00:50:14.74\00:50:16.38
You are the God that
fulfills the promises, Lord.
00:50:16.41\00:50:18.68
We're, again, we're fallible.
00:50:18.71\00:50:20.72
We break promises, many times.
00:50:20.75\00:50:23.52
But, Lord, that's why
I ask for forgiveness.
00:50:23.55\00:50:25.12
I ask for transformation.
I ask to be more like Christ.
00:50:25.15\00:50:28.06
And I ask that not only
for myself, but for all who are
00:50:28.09\00:50:30.63
watching and
listening right now.
00:50:30.66\00:50:32.43
I ask You these
things, and I praise Your name.
00:50:32.46\00:50:34.83
I bless Your name, Lord,
for these beautiful truths that
00:50:34.86\00:50:37.70
we've learned today,
and I ask these things
00:50:37.73\00:50:40.30
in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen, amen.
00:50:40.34\00:50:43.97
male announcer:
Don't forget to request
00:50:47.08\00:50:48.38
today's
life-changing free resource.
00:50:48.41\00:50:50.51
Not only can you receive
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00:50:50.55\00:50:52.78
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00:50:52.81\00:50:54.45
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00:50:54.48\00:50:56.75
To get your digital copy of
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00:50:56.79\00:51:00.12
the keyword on your screen to
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00:51:00.16\00:51:04.99
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00:51:05.03\00:51:07.86
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00:51:07.93\00:51:10.07
It's now easier than ever
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most important, to
share it with others.
00:51:16.57\00:51:19.47
announcer: "Amazing
Facts, Changed Lives."
00:51:24.68\00:51:27.58
¤¤¤
00:51:27.62\00:51:32.39
Darius Ziegler: My
name is Darius Ziegler.
00:51:32.42\00:51:34.09
I was born and
raised in Elmore, Alabama.
00:51:34.12\00:51:38.59
I grew up and I
was raised Christian.
00:51:38.63\00:51:41.56
We had to do exactly what
my parents wanted, as far as
00:51:41.60\00:51:45.87
Christian living, whether it be
our friends, what we watched on
00:51:45.90\00:51:49.00
television, even down
to the things that we ate.
00:51:49.04\00:51:52.17
male: You know, I used to
wonder and sometimes question my
00:51:52.21\00:51:54.48
mom about certain things, but,
you know, she explained why, you
00:51:54.51\00:51:58.48
know, like it's better for us,
you know, it's the reasons, the
00:51:58.51\00:52:01.65
way that God actually
wants us to live and He--
00:52:01.68\00:52:04.09
Darius: And I'm
starting to think in my mind,
00:52:04.12\00:52:05.42
you know, this can't
be right, this isn't fair.
00:52:05.45\00:52:08.76
So, when college came after high
school, and I was on my own, and
00:52:08.79\00:52:14.56
I had no rules, I
busted it wide open.
00:52:14.56\00:52:21.34
After I had my--well, at
least what I thought--my fill of
00:52:21.37\00:52:25.34
partying, I started
to realize that it wasn't
00:52:25.37\00:52:30.05
all that it was
cracked up to be.
00:52:30.08\00:52:33.88
As time was going on, I was
finishing up my freshman year of
00:52:33.92\00:52:37.12
college, I still,
I was very miserable.
00:52:37.15\00:52:40.69
I wasn't happy with anything,
00:52:40.72\00:52:43.36
and I still
wanted to just get away.
00:52:43.39\00:52:45.33
And I was looking through
the phone book, you know, I was
00:52:45.36\00:52:47.83
looking in the back, you know,
in the Yellow Pages, and I seen,
00:52:47.86\00:52:51.37
like, the recruiting
advertisement for the Air Force.
00:52:51.40\00:52:55.37
So, I did exactly
like the number said.
00:52:55.40\00:52:58.97
I called them.
00:52:59.01\00:53:02.88
I'm off to the military.
00:53:02.91\00:53:04.31
I get there, and I made
friends. Everybody loved me.
00:53:04.35\00:53:08.22
At this time, I
was just like, "Yeah,
00:53:08.25\00:53:09.98
this is what I've been missing."
00:53:10.02\00:53:12.69
And all these guys
doing all this together,
00:53:12.72\00:53:16.09
it was awesome, or so I thought.
00:53:16.12\00:53:21.20
They tell us that
we're getting deployed.
00:53:21.23\00:53:23.13
And of all places we're going to
the Middle East, and I'm going
00:53:23.16\00:53:27.50
to a place where
they don't want us there.
00:53:27.54\00:53:30.61
Basically, every day your life
00:53:30.64\00:53:32.11
was on the line,
and I'm terrified.
00:53:32.14\00:53:35.98
But thankfully, after the months
go by and we do our tour in the
00:53:36.01\00:53:41.15
desert, they send us
back home, and I'm excited.
00:53:41.18\00:53:44.89
I get to go back
and be with my friends.
00:53:44.92\00:53:46.82
And I get back there, I
get back to my dorm thinking
00:53:46.86\00:53:49.42
everything is fine,
everything is going to be cool.
00:53:49.46\00:53:52.33
Something's changed.
00:53:52.36\00:53:54.96
I'm the only
person that's alone.
00:53:55.00\00:53:57.97
All my friends,
they have girlfriends,
00:53:58.00\00:53:59.80
or they're married,
and I'm the odd man out.
00:53:59.83\00:54:04.04
So, I tried to follow suit, and
I went out, and I met a young
00:54:04.07\00:54:10.38
lady, and as time went on,
we ended up getting married.
00:54:10.41\00:54:14.78
Everything at first
was great, at first.
00:54:14.82\00:54:18.72
male: Well, I didn't know
100% of what they were going
00:54:18.75\00:54:21.36
through, but it did seem like
I got an impression that, you
00:54:21.39\00:54:25.33
know, she was kind of
trying to isolate him.
00:54:25.36\00:54:29.33
Darius: My wife
doesn't want me having any
00:54:29.36\00:54:32.83
type of contact with
my family or friends.
00:54:32.87\00:54:36.07
You know, the
same thing that I was
00:54:36.10\00:54:37.61
running from,
now I'm living with.
00:54:37.64\00:54:41.34
And I remember
one night we ended
00:54:41.38\00:54:43.04
up getting into a huge argument.
00:54:43.08\00:54:45.88
And the next thing I know, the
cops are there, and now I'm in
00:54:45.91\00:54:50.65
jail, and my mind is just
running 1,000 miles an hour.
00:54:50.69\00:54:55.62
You know, I'm
scared, I'm frantic,
00:54:55.66\00:54:56.96
I don't know what to do.
00:54:56.99\00:54:59.59
After I was released from jail,
I remember one day my sister
00:54:59.63\00:55:04.30
invited us over for dinner,
and they put on this movie.
00:55:04.33\00:55:08.00
It was called,
"The Final Events of
00:55:08.04\00:55:12.07
Bible Prophecy,"
by Amazing Facts.
00:55:12.11\00:55:15.14
And I remember it got to
the end of the film, and it
00:55:15.18\00:55:18.45
was showing the part
where the New Jerusalem
00:55:18.48\00:55:21.35
comes down, and the
Lord descended out of heaven.
00:55:21.38\00:55:25.12
It had all the lost standing
around the city, as numerous as
00:55:25.15\00:55:28.29
the sands of the sea when
judgment was given, and fire
00:55:28.32\00:55:32.46
rained down from God in heaven,
and it destroyed them all.
00:55:32.49\00:55:36.63
And at that moment, I
heard a voice as clear as day.
00:55:36.67\00:55:42.47
I'll never forget it.
00:55:42.50\00:55:43.91
It said, "Everything that
you saw on this video is true.
00:55:43.94\00:55:48.88
And if you do not change from
the things that you have been
00:55:48.91\00:55:53.52
doing, the lake of
fire will be your end."
00:55:53.55\00:56:01.56
I was more scared at that point
than at any time in my life.
00:56:01.59\00:56:09.16
After that
happened, I said, "Lord,
00:56:15.74\00:56:19.51
I'm tired of breaking your laws.
00:56:19.54\00:56:21.88
I want to go get rebaptized
and rededicate my life to God."
00:56:21.91\00:56:27.62
I said I realize now that
everything that I had been
00:56:27.65\00:56:30.69
doing, all the
running that I had been doing,
00:56:30.72\00:56:34.42
God was doing
nothing but chasing me.
00:56:34.46\00:56:37.59
Now I'm back home.
00:56:37.63\00:56:39.06
It's just funny,
when I think about it.
00:56:39.09\00:56:41.33
The entire time, all I
did was run in a circle.
00:56:41.36\00:56:43.77
It actually took running in that
full circle to make me realize
00:56:43.80\00:56:49.00
that this was
where I needed to be.
00:56:49.04\00:56:51.51
You know, I ended
up getting remarried.
00:56:51.54\00:56:53.94
Mrs. Ziegler: Being
married to Darius is amazing.
00:56:53.98\00:56:57.45
I cannot have asked
for a much better husband.
00:56:57.48\00:57:00.62
male: It's like
we're kids all over again,
00:57:00.65\00:57:02.88
you know, growing up together.
00:57:02.92\00:57:04.35
And, you know, it
makes, you know, an inspiration
00:57:04.39\00:57:07.76
in my life, you know,
to keep my head up and
00:57:07.79\00:57:09.79
things, doing right
and everything, too.
00:57:09.82\00:57:12.76
Darius: I look at this story
in the Bible of the prodigal
00:57:12.79\00:57:15.83
son, and that's a story that I
could relate to, because I feel
00:57:15.86\00:57:20.24
like I was actually the living
prodigal, that the entire time
00:57:20.27\00:57:24.41
God was blessing me, but
I couldn't see it because I
00:57:24.44\00:57:28.71
thought that what the world had
to offer was ten times greater.
00:57:28.74\00:57:34.35
And when I came back,
and he welcomed me back
00:57:34.38\00:57:36.45
in with open arms,
and my life is 100 times
00:57:36.48\00:57:41.32
better than I could've
possibly even imagined.
00:57:41.36\00:57:44.16
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00:57:46.80\00:57:56.74
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00:57:56.77\00:57:58.27
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00:58:00.58\00:58:10.55
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00:58:10.59\00:58:20.56
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00:58:20.60\00:58:27.60