Joseph

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0:00 Okay, today we're talking about Joseph from the book of Genesis, and I'm in chapter 41 starting at verse 39. Then Pharaoh said, Joseph, since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne I will be greater than you.

0:30 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, see I have set you over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot, and they called out before him bow the knee. Thus, he set him over all the land of Egypt. I've got with me here, Ms. Carol Forris and Mr. Brian Carlson. Maybe you heard of him. I asked him to be here because I like the way they think about scripture and the questions

1:04 they ask of it. So guys, what does this story of Joseph, like coming through his brother's element of slavery, the false accusations, the time of jail, then the interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, and then all of a sudden he's like running Egypt. What does that make you think of? It makes me think of a lot of things. One, the beauty of using your gifts to find a role in the world, like his gift of interpreting

1:38 the dreams elevated him to a really great status in the eyes of people who like a good job and status. And to the fact that his family sold him into slavery makes me think about your family of origin doesn't always see the gifts that you have or the role that you can play in

2:09 life. And I feel like Joseph has a good story of seeing his brothers again. What could they have done with him? Yeah. But that's not his story. His story is terrible and then it gets better. Well, I hadn't put it together or thought of it that way before, but the thing that gets him in trouble with his brothers is the dream about how they'll all be buying and powing down to him. And the thing that gets him out of trouble in the end is interpreting dreams of Pharaoh.

2:42 I think that's interesting. There's probably a lot more there. But then I also like how this is a story. I mean, in the end, a whole section of the world is saved because of the work of Joseph. But you're right. He's not proclaiming the gospel or something. He's just using his gifts and he's got a really cool job at the end of it. That got him in trouble as a kid. Yeah, that's right. Put him in charge of the whole country. Yeah. Yeah. I was thinking.

3:12 I didn't realize until I summarized it in my head that how closely it mirrors how God sees us. He just has nothing in jail. Everybody's like kind of asking, oh, can you interpret my dream? And he's like, yeah, sure. And then all of a sudden it gets to the king. And the king's like, here's everything. You can run it. You can do it. The only thing you're under. The only thing I'm overused on the throne. Otherwise, you're going to do great.

3:44 You're awesome. And that's who we are to God. Just crazy. Yeah. Yeah, like you mean in the sense that like we were talking earlier about being the image bears of God in the world given authority to rule and subdue the earth. Yeah. But also it's just fascinating. The quickness with which Pharaoh does this for him doesn't say I don't think it was multiple

4:15 dreams. It's like one dream. He's like, all right, here's everything. Like you want my ring and you know, hop in the limo. Let's go. Yeah. That's how God sees us too. I don't. There's no pause. Yeah. Just like now. No, that's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. I like the idea that I hadn't thought of it as a parallel to God's kind of generosity towards us. Pharaoh's generosity towards Joseph mirrors God's generosity towards us.

4:47 But I think that holds like definitely we know God freely gives us everything that we need. And maybe we don't always interpret that as an opportunity to do something in the world. But it definitely goes along with that. Not only does he give you spirit and forgiveness, but he gives you capacity and skill that can be leveraged for the world. Yeah. Yeah. And we don't have to do anything for it. And we don't have to do anything for it.

5:18 Like Joseph did something. He was himself. He was himself. He didn't earn it necessarily. Yeah. And he didn't do it on his, I mean, that was a God given gift, right? We can all say that. And he gives credit to God when he operates in the gift. And it's definitely not commensurate. Like you said, interpreting the dreams and ruling Egypt is like disproportionate response. Yeah. And he's like, this is how I roll. I just interpret dreams. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

5:48 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.