Wednesday night Bible discussion on the life of Joseph at Harvest Hills Community Church in Clinton. We are going to fill in some blank spaces on the notes tonight! All are welcome!

Joseph, a man who had faith in God!
Review, through Genesis 41

Let’s consider the following examples of faith in the life of Joseph:

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him have _____________ over the envy and hatred of his own brothers to him. Genesis 37.4,
Genesis 37.11;

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him remain _____________ to God despite being thrown into a pit by his brothers. Genesis 37,24.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him ___________________ the misfortune of being forced out of his house.  Genesis 37.28.

It was Joseph's faith that helped him with the traumatic change from being a dear son of his father’s to being a slave in a _____________ land, Genesis 37.36.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him _______________the temptations when Potiphar's wife wanted to seduce him.  Genesis 39.7-8.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him overcome the ________ accusations of being thrown into prison for a crime he did _________ commit. Genesis 39.20-21.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him interpret the __________ of the butler and baker when Joseph was in prison. Genesis 40.8.

It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him cope with being ________________ by the butler, after the butler regained his freedom. Genesis 40.23.
It was Joseph's faith in God that helped him________________ the dreams of Pharaoh. Genesis 41.16.

It was Joseph's faith in God that allowed him to not become ________________when him became prosperous. Genesis 41.41.

Chuck Smith commentary: Now isn't it interesting how clear is our hindsight? As we look back on the trials of our lives and those hard places that we came through, when we were crying out to God and saying, "Oh God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from the cry of my roaring? God, I prayed day and night and You don't hear. Lord, where are You?" And we thought that surely God had forsaken us and God wasn't concerned with us. And surely we were going to perish in the wilderness. But now as we look back, we see how God was just working out His perfect plan all the way along.

Paul, looking back in his life could see the purposes of God for each situation. Why he was born in Tarsus. Why he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. Why he had a Greek background and a Hebrew background both. And he could see then how God was preparing him for the special ministry and special mission.

And Joseph now in the position of ruler over Egypt, he could see now the total plan of God and the picture now begins to come into focus and make sense. All of that was to get me to this place. If I'd never been thrown in the prison I would have never met the butler. I'd never have been able to interpret his dream. I'd never have been called to interpret the Pharaoh's dream. The prison experience is necessary. If I hadn't been sold by my brothers as a slave, I'd never come to Egypt, you see. And so you start looking back and all of a sudden, click click click, oh-ho-ho, I see God's hand. God's been working. His hand is on my life.