The Story 2024

Fruitful in The Land of Your Suffering
January 21, 2024
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Genesis 39:2-5 (NIV)
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned… . the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.

Genesis 45:1-8 (The Story, p. 39)
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”

So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

“And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

“For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

“But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

Genesis 50:15-17 (The Story p. 41)
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”

So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’

Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Genesis 50:18-21 (The Story p. 42)
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:20 (The Story p. 42)
… but God intended … .

Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
God saw all that he had made and it was very good.

Genesis 50:20 (The Story p. 42)
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good … .

Four Takeaways From The Life of Joseph

• When God is with us, it makes no difference who is against us. We can still bloom for His purposes.

Genesis 41:52 (NIV)
“… God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Nehemiah 13:2b (NIV)
(Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)

• It’s possible to believe God’s intentions for good override what’s intended for harm, yet still grieve the pain.

• Have integrity even in adversity, and use your gifts even in obscurity.

Genesis 39:9b (NIV)
“How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

• Our blessings and our adversities aren’t just about God and us, but God through us for others.