Welcome to Connect with Skip Heitzig. We're glad you've joined us for today's program. Connect with Skip Heitzig exists to connect you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times through verse-by-verse teaching of His Word. That's why we make messages like this one today available to you and others on air and online. Before we kick off today's teaching, we want to let you know that you can stay in the know about what's happening at Connect with Skip Heitzig when you sign up for email updates.
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Now, let's get into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Last time we were together, we noted That Joseph occupies some prominent real estate in the book of Genesis. I want you to just Think for a moment. That The Holy Spirit allotted One fourth of the book of Genesis. to the subject of one man named Joseph.
One Fourth, twenty four. 25% of the book is dedicated to Joseph. Compare that. With the ten words. That God allotted In explaining The first statement about creation, in the beginning, God's beginning.
God created the heavens and the earth. Ten words. Followed by two chapters of a very Undetailed account of the creation of the universe. It seems like you'd want to reverse that because it would seem that most people would really be interested in origins, where we came from, how did it all happen? And yet were arrested that the Holy Spirit has a different priority and emphasis than we might.
We might want to make it all about origins. The Holy Spirit wants to make it all about people. Especially a very unique person of whom nothing bad is said. There's only two people in the Bible. It has nothing bad to say about, and that is Joseph.
And the other is Daniel. It doesn't mean they were sinless, it just means that it's not recorded. There's a lot in contrast. to what is recorded about Joseph's brothers, for example. But nothing evil is said of Joseph.
And as we mentioned last time when we had communion, it's because Joseph looks a lot like Jesus. And that is, Joseph is a unique type of Jesus Christ.
So When you put the big picture together, it doesn't really surprise us that the Lord would spend. That much time and that much focus on. One person. The story of Joseph is a classic story. It's a rags.
To Rich's Story. An obscure kid introduced here at the age of seventeen. becomes the second most powerful person in the world, the Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. But more than that, In line with that, but more than that, it's a story of providence.
Now, some of you know what that is. Others of you have only heard that word, but you're a little bit unsure as to what that means. I want you to be sure. I want you to understand the meaning of. Providence in the Bible.
The idea of God's providence means that God takes ordinary events and arranges them. That's Providence in a nutshell.
Sovereign God superintending or arranging natural events. for a predetermined outcome. It's different. Than the miraculous. When we talk about providence, it doesn't necessarily mean the miraculous.
Let me explain. A miracle is when God intervenes in natural law. or contravenes natural law. Providence is where God utilizes natural law. Whereas a miracle is God acting.
Supernaturally Unnaturally Providence is where God is working supernaturally, naturally. Natural events. Normal events. The stuff that every day is made out of, but when you look back and you see the Providence of God, God's hand overruling, leading people through events. You realize this isn't circumstantial, it's providential.
We all have examples of Providence. I look back on my life. It just so happened that one night I was invited by. a previous girlfriend to a potluck, where I noticed a young girl across the room. Asked her name, her name was Lenya.
It wasn't circumstantial, it was providential. That was the Lord. It just so happened that I was good friends with a guy years ago. who said to me one night, I'm thinking of moving to Albuquerque. That started a chain of events in my own heart.
As I look back on it, that wasn't circumstantial, that was providential. It just so happened that the landlord at our previous building. And wanted to charge more rent, we weren't willing to pay it. He was gonna kick us out of that building. And it just so happened at the same time.
this place was up for sale and vacant. It wasn't. Circumstantial, however, it was providential. God's hand was in it. And so too with Joseph.
Here's a young man, as you'll see, despised by his brothers. And bad things happen to him. But God is going to weave all things together for good. To this one who loves God and is called according to his purpose. It's a beautiful testimony of that scripture, Romans chapter 8.
Verse 28. Joseph will go down to Egypt.
Now, I'm telling you something in advance before we get into it because I want you to see a big picture. Joseph is going to be down in Egypt and come to a place of great. prominence and power. Why? Because God needs to fulfill a promise.
that he made back in chapter 15 that is still left dangling.
So, since you have your Bibles with you, just go back a couple chapters to chapter 15. And notice something. Genesis fifteen, verse thirteen. Then he, the Lord, said to Abram that's Abram That's his name before he was changed to Abraham. No, certainly.
That your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs. and will serve them. And they will afflict them for four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge afterward they shall come out. with great possessions.
But as for you, you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here. For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. Did you get that?
There's Abraham in the land God promised him. He says, actually, your descendants are going to leave this land. And be in another place for a period of time, and then I'm going to bring them back here. Which begs the question Why bother? I mean, once they're there to begin with, why not keep them there?
Why do you have to take them out to a different place?
Well, number one, to teach him a very important lesson, which I'll show you why before we end tonight. But number two, because God is a merciful God. You see, the inhabitants of Canaan, the Canaanites, called in verse sixteen the Amorites. Chapter 15, verse 16. The Amorites was the chief tribe of the Canaanites.
God would give the Canaanites an opportunity. to change, to repent. You see, God's going to judge them. And he's going to Usurp their authority and position in the land by bringing the Israelites to take over. But he's not just going to do that without warning.
He's going to give them 400 years.
So they're going to have Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and you're going to have that testimony. To the Canaanites of the monotheistic God who loves people and wants to change their world. Yeah. That message will be able to resonate in Canaan for 400 years. But then When the The iniquity or the sin of the Amorites reaches the level at which God says, Now I have to act, then God will act in judgment.
So, do you understand that God is patient? Four hundred years, I would say, is a long time to wait for somebody to change. I think after 400 years ago, no, I don't think it's going to happen. How about judgment time?
Well, that's what happens. 400 years later, God will kick the Canaanites out. And the Israelites will take over, and God gives to them the land of Canaan. God is a very patient and merciful God.
So that's a prediction. They have to leave the land, and so to prepare for them leaving the land so that it's favorable, at least at first. Joseph will go down to Egypt and providentially become the second in command, to get it all ready so that the children of Jacob Can go down there, be given the land of Goshen, prosper. Increase in population until they become slaves in Exodus chapter one and two, and then they. We'll take the Exodus in Exodus 10 and 11 and 12 and get back into the land.
So Now back to chapter 37 where we are trying to begin. Verse 1.
Now, Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. His father Isaac was indeed a stranger in Canaan, much more so than his son Jacob was a stranger. It would seem that if you were to look at Jacob's life, He resembled in his value system the people of Canaan more than Isaac his father. I Isaac wasn't perfect. But Jacob was far removed from even the righteous standard of his father.
Do you know the Bible says that we too are strangers in our land? That's how Peter writes his first epistle. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout. Cappadocia, Galatia, Bithynia, etc. Same book, chapter two.
Peter says I beseech you. As strangers and pilgrims, Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. We live in this world, we're in this land, but we're called to be strangers. I get worried. That sometimes my life Isn't Strange enough, but I become.
at home in this place that I'm to be a stranger in. We're to be different. We're to be separate. You're listening to Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we return to Skip's teaching, in his powerful book, Beyond the Summer of Love, Pastor Skip Heitzig helps you understand God's plan and his rules for relationships that flourish and reflect his own love.
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Now, let's get back to Skip for more of today's teaching. And Jacob, as we have already seen and will be reminded of even here, he and his family. Their lifestyles are resembling more and more the people of Canaan rather than being a stranger like his father. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock when his brothers.
With his brothers, and the lad. Was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and Joseph. Brought a bad report to his father. That is about them.
Now, Israel, that is Jacob with his new name, loved Joseph more. than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. And he also made him a tunic of many colours. You would think That with Jacob's experience. With favoritism.
That is, his father. Showing favoritism. And he, the son, experiencing that, that he wouldn't enter into this. You know, just think back several chapters. When Jacob was younger, and still at home.
And he would have remembered how his father Isaac favored. his oldest brother Esau over him. And he saw the effects that that kind of favoritism could have in a family. When one sibling realizes My dad loves my older brother way more than me. He experienced that.
And you would think, there's no way he's going to make the same mistake. Newsflash. He makes the same mistake. It is true, oftentimes the sins of parents are passed on to their children, not wittingly but unwittingly. It's an interesting fact that People that come from abused situations when they're younger, they've been abused by their parents, often become the ones who abuse.
as time goes on. They replicate that. It's what they're used to seeing, it's what's been modeled to them. And so Jacob Loved Joseph More and all of his older brothers Could see it. Think back a few chapters, but not as far.
Think back when Jacob met Esau after he comes back from Padanoram. And he finds out that Esau wants to meet with him and he's all paranoid. Remember that?
So remember how Jacob lines up the people who are going to meet him first? The the infantry The front lines Will be the livestock and his slaves because they're the most expendable. Then There will be The sons of Leah, the sons of Bilhah, the sons of Zilpah, and that whole family thing. Finally, at the very end, will be his most loved Rachel. and his loved son Joseph, way in the back to protect him.
Favored status. And that causes a division in the family.
So Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age. And Rachel was the only woman he loved. We know that. from previous scripture. Also we made him a tunic, of many colours.
A tunic of many colors or a multicolored robe, a robe of royalty. One commentator said it would it had sleeves. and it went down to his ankles. A multicolored robe that showed favored status, like a prince from a king would wear.
Now, It's pretty obvious if you're wearing something like that, you can't do much manual labor. Yeah. Because the work outfit a few thousand years ago was a sleeveless, shortened tunic, so your legs and arms could move and you could do some work. But this is like going to work with a tuxedo. Obviously, the statement his father is wanting to make is Joseph.
You don't have to do hard work like your brothers. You can just sort of supervise them. I know you're the youngest, but just. Tell me how you think they're doing. Verse 2, he brought back a bad report.
It's going to get worse really quick. goes from bad to worse really quick. When his brothers saw, verse 4, that their father loved him more than all of his brothers. They hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him. They couldn't even say shalom.
That's the idea. They couldn't extend shalom, greetings to him. Can you remember back when you grew up? Was there somebody in your neighborhood or in your class or at your school who was Pampered. maybe from a very wealthy family, got everything they wanted and They were the the talk around school.
Was there anybody like that in your neighborhood? I think back to a girl just down the block from where I lived, and she was 15 years of age. Her dad was a wealthy attorney in town in California. And when she was fifteen and she just got her learner's permit, Her dad bought her a brand new red Porsche.
Now that's stupid. But in that kind of treatment, that kind of. favoring toward her, He set her up for misery. She had a miserable existence. People around her didn't like her.
Nobody liked her.
Sort of like Joseph.
So back again, they couldn't speak peaceably to him. Remember, back in verse two. Joseph was out there in his nice coat. Watching him work and brought back a bad report. Dad, they're not doing a very good job.
Now Joseph had a dream. And he told it to his brothers. And they hated him even more. You see why when you hear the dreams.
So he said to him. He said to them, Please hear my dream, which I have dreamed. There we were binding sheaves in the field. And then behold, my sheep arose and stood upright, and And indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheep. There's some things that If you know.
You just keep quiet about. I'm not Joseph, so I really can't speak for him, but if this were me and I had a dream like this. I think I'd have probably just kept it inside and Just really see if it was the Lord, or if you know, maybe I had a. Dream because of locks and bagels and onions the night before. I want to make sure before I announce it that it's really the Lord because this is going to get them into trouble.
They wouldn't receive this. Listen, Joseph was young. He's seventeen. Excited about life. as most seventeen year olds are.
And Naive.
So he has this dream, he's all excited. Hey, guess what, you guys? You guys like all bowed down to me. Isn't that cool? Yeah.
Now, I'm going to give away my age, but I remember back, maybe some of you do if you're the ancient of days like I am. Do you remember Leave It to Beaver? Any of you here, remember, leave it to beaver? Hands up. Really?
That many of you do.
Okay, so. Joseph was like the beef. Remember the beef, how innocent he was? Hey woo-like WALL-I You know, just so innocent about life. And, you know, it wasn't until Eddie Haskell and Lumpy beat him up a few times that he just sort of wised up.
Took him a while. This is the beeb of the Old Testament. And his brothers said to him, Here's the reaction: Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us, so they hated him even more. For his dreams and for his Words.
Joseph the dreamer of dreams. It's pretty interesting that Joseph's own dreams Get him into trouble. And keep this in mind. Thirteen years later, someone else's dreams will get him out of trouble. Because God will give him the ability to unlock the secret meaning of other people's dreams.
and it will be accurate as from the Lord. Verse 9. Then he dreamed still another dream. Oh boy. And told it to his brothers.
See what I mean by naïve? And he said, look, I've dreamed another dream. And this time the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me. The first dream, if his dad would have heard about it, maybe he thought, well, he's just a kid. You guys, come on, brush it off, give him a break, get over it.
He's just 17 years old. He's a kid. But now He's got his attention.
Now he's troubled over this. This is getting personal.
So he told it to his father and his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said to him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I And your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth? Before you? What's the answer to that? Will they?
Yes. Yes, yes. Everything he is dreaming will happen. They will bow down to him as he occupies that notable position in Egypt.
Now watch this. And his brothers envied him, that's to be expected. But his father kept the matter in mind. Hmm. Maybe this isn't from a Late-night locks and bagel episode the night before.
Maybe, really, this dream is from God. After all, if somebody would know about God speaking through dreams. It would be Jacob. Yeah. Chapter 28.
He had his own dream of the angels of God descending and ascending. From earth to heaven. And the LORD spoke to him. The covenant God made a promise to him. And he woke up the next day and called it Bethel, the house of God, the place where God is.
God is in this place. And I knew it not.
So he's thinking Okay, maybe this is from the Lord, and indeed it was. We're glad you joined us today. Before you go, remember that when you give $25 or more to help reach more people with the gospel through Connect with Skiff Heitzig, we'll send you Beyond the Summer of Love, Relationships in the Real World by Pastor Skiff Heitzig, to help you build biblically healthy relationships or repair ones that have been damaged by sin. To request your copy of Beyond the Summer of Love, call 800-922-1888. That's 800-922-1888.
Or visit connectwithskiff.com slash donate. For more from Skip, be sure to check out the many resources available at connectwithskip.com slash store. Come back next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzigs It. Make a connection Make a connection, never fall. Of the crossing Cast your burdens on his wood Make a connection.
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