“Joseph”

Series: A Journey through the Old Testament [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

June 6, 2021

Introductory Comments:

This week we are learning about Joseph. [on screen] Joseph is one of my favorite characters in all of the Bible. Also, there are so many similarities between Joseph and Jesus. As you listen to the story of Joseph, have your Gospel radar on and listen for flashes of Jesus in the story. 

Before we go any further, let’s pray together and ask God to speak us. 

(prayer)

Imagine with me that you are the favorite child of your family. Then imagine that you are betrayed by your family. Imagine that you are taken captive by a strange and foreign people. Imagine then that everything changes and you are given great power in that strange land. Then, imagine that after many years pass, you have an opportunity to get back at those who betrayed you. Well, this is the story of Joseph. We’ll see how Joseph handled the situation. 

By the way, you may have heard of Mary and Joseph (the earthly father of Jesus). This is not the same Joseph. This is a Joseph who lived many years before Jesus was born on the earth. 

As we study this story, let us first discover . . .  

I. Major elements[on screen]

First, Joseph was a favorite among Jacob’s sons. (Genesis 37:1-3) [on screen]

Read Genesis 37:1-3. (read in paper Bible)

Remember, the Patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Well, Jacob had 12 sons and Joseph was the favorite. 

Jacob signified that Joseph was his favorite by giving him a special coat. 

This coat could have been a coat with many colors, or the interpretation could have been that the coat had long sleeves, which would be difficult to work in (indicating that Joseph probably wouldn’t do a lot of work because he was the favorite). 

Second, we learn that Joseph’s brothers hated him. (Genesis 37:4) [on screen]

Read Genesis 37:4. (read in paper Bible)

One can imagine that Joseph’s brothers would be jealous of their father’s favoritism of him, but they were beyond jealous; they hated Joseph. 

Third, Joseph had dreams that he would rule over his family. (Genesis 37:5-11) [on screen]

In case it wasn’t bad enough for the brothers that Joseph was the favorite, Joseph actually shared with them dreams that he had, which indicated that he would actually have a place of power over his family. 

There were two dreams, one involving sheaves of grain and the other involving the sun, moon, and stars. These dreams involved his family actually bowing down to him.

His brothers didn’t like this very much. 

By the way, remember both the fact that Joseph has a special connection with dreams and remember the fact that these two dreams involve Joseph’s family bowing down to him. We’ll come back to both of these pieces of information later. 

Next, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. (Genesis 37:12-36) [on screen]

At first, his brothers intend to kill him, but later they decide to sell him into slavery. 

They trick their father into believing that Joseph was attacked and killed by a wild animal. 

In reality, Joseph is purchased by the Midianites and is sold to Potiphar, a captain of the guard in Egypt. 

By God’s grace, Joseph excelled in Potiphar’s household. (Genesis 39:1-6a) [on screen]

Everything Joseph does excels so Joseph is then put in charge of everything in Potiphar’s house.

Then, Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and he was put in prison. (Genesis 39:6b-20) [on screen]

Remember, Potiphar is Joseph’s boss. Potiphar’s wife continued to try and get Joseph to sin with her but he refused. 

Finally, Potiphar’s wife grabbed him and Joseph ran away without his garment. 

Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and he was punished for her crime. 

We see that Joseph excelled in prison. (Genesis 39:21-23) [on screen]

Everything that Joseph was given charge over excelled because God was with J