A Grudge Against God
LAST WEEK: GOD’S PRESENCE MEANS A LIFE WITH POWER, NOT A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN
WHAT DOES GOD’S PRESENCE, POWER, AND PURPOSE LOOK LIKE IN JOSEPH’S TEMPORARY LIFE?
Joseph suffers family rivalry created by his father’s sin & folly (Genesis 37:1–4)
Joseph is hated and sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:25-28)
Joseph’s success while in slavery brings unwanted sexual attention (Genesis 39:1-12)
Joseph is brought down by false charges of sexual assault from the adulteress he rejects (Genesis 39:13–20)
Joseph accurately predicts the future by interpreting dreams of fellow prisoners, but he’s still forgotten though he’s innocent (Genesis 40)
14 “Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”… 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. —Genesis 40:14–15, 23
After 2 YEARS, Pharaoh had dreams no magician or wise man could interpret, and the cupbearer finally remembers Joseph (Genesis 41:1-13)
By God’s power, Joseph accurately interprets Pharaoh’s dreams predicting 7 years of extreme plenty followed by seven years of extreme famine (Genesis 41:14-32)
By God’s wisdom, Joseph advises Pharaoh on how to manage food stores to save many people from death by starvation. (Genesis 41:33-37)
Pharoah elevates Joseph to 2nd highest in all Egypt and gives him the authority & resources to execute the “plan of salvation”. (Genesis 41:38-57)
56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. —Genesis 41:56–57
JOSEPH’S TRIALS LAND HIM IN THE PERFECT POSITION TO SAVE MANY WHO WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE PERISHED… INCLUDING HIS TREACHEROUS BROTHERS
…God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. —Genesis 45:5b–8a
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW WHEN TEMPTED TO HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST GOD?
- GOD IS WAGING A WAR OF SALVATION THAT IS UNIVERSAL IN SCALE AND ETERNAL IN SPAN.
- YOUR PART OF HIS PLAN WILL INCLUDE AWFUL CIRCUMSTANCES.
- GOD WILL DIGNIFY YOU WITH THE OUTCOME OF YOUR REAL CHOICE:
PRIDEFUL GRUDGE?
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. —Romans 2:5
OR HUMBLE TRUST?
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. —2 Corinthians 4:16–18
One Missoula Church gives back to God through sacraficial giving that we use to help others discover and strengthen a relationship with Jesus Christ. We’ve removed every barrier and inconvenience to make this sacrificial act as accessible and simple as possible. At present, here are the avenues avialable to us:
- Sunday Morning - offering boxes on the communion tables at theback
- Snail Mail - postage-paid envelope included in the handout
- Text “1MSO” to 888-364-4483
- Online at https://onemissoulachurch.com/give
- Via the One Missoula App under the “Giving” tab
