This sermon covers Genesis 47:13-48:22. At the open of the text, the Egyptians have given all that they have, including their land and themselves, in order to by grain from Joseph. In this way, Joseph has saved the people from starvation and has increased Pharaoh's wealth. After this, we begin to see some of the last movements of Jacob's life. In that, we see his priorities and his trust in the faithfulness of the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. Jacob trusted God would do as He promised, and  bring his descendants up out of Egypt and into the promise land. It is important for us to reflect what will be on our minds, and our priorities when we are on our deathbed. Will we trust in the faithfulness of God, and care about eternal things that will demonstrate that we follow the one true God? If so, are we living now in such a way that shows that we trust in the faithfulness of God, and that we are His followers? 

When we struggle to extend forgiveness to those who have hurt us, we can look to Joseph as an example of what it look like to truly forgive and see, at least one aspect of how we do that. Though Joseph was in a position, the second most powerful man in Egypt, to enact retribution on his brothers who sold him into slavery, instead he forgave them. Followers of the one true God must be marked with forgiveness. We follow the God who forgives all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, and we follow the God who has preordained all that happens to us for His GOOD purposes. Remembering these things can help us to forgive. 

In this sermon we see Joseph, as governor of Egypt, and still unrecognized by his brothers, continues to put his brothers to the test to see if they have changed, or if they are the same men who sold him as a slave. As the story unfolds that change in Joseph's brothers is put on display through Judah and his offering himself to save Benjamin. There must be repentance if there is going to be true reconciliation. That being the case, what really is true repentance? 

In Genesis chapter 42 we see Joseph's brothers arrive in Egypt looking to by grain to take back to Canaan for their family, due to the famine. There, they encounter their brother Joseph, rule over Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. But they do not recognize him as their brother, though he recognizes them. This chapter begins a series of tests that Joseph puts his brothers through. Some may ask, "why be so seemingly harsh?" But Joseph is testing his brothers to see if their has been any change in their, if there is any repentance, so that he may extend forgiveness and truly be reconciled to them. Without true repentance there cannot be true reconciliation. Warren Wiersbe said, "Shallow repentance leads to an experience that isn't reconciliation at all. It's only a fragile truce." 

We all struggle, at least from time to time, with feeling out of control. The truth is, even when we do feel in control it is really just a delusion. We are never really in control, but as we see in Joseph’s life, God is in control. He is in control of every event, every choice, every circumstance right down to the smallest detail. That includes the timing of everything. Rarely do things unfold on our time line, but there is nothing that happens apart from God’s timing, for His purpose, for His glory.

We read in chapter 39 that the LORD was with Joseph, and therefore Joseph was successful in all he did. Therefore, his master, Potiphar, promoted him to be manager over everything that belonged to Potiphar, only excluding Potiphar's privet matters. Than, as Joseph is tempted by Potiphar's wife, Joseph does the right thing. Joseph resists he advantages. But feeling rejected, she brings an accusation against Joseph, that ends with Joseph being thrown in jail. How can God let that happen? Joseph did the right thing! We may feel that way in our lives. We may feel we've been trying to  do  the right thing, and then are dissatisfied with how God allowed our circumstances to turn out. But can we not trust God, who is sovereign and good? Can we trusted that God has purposed in everything, and everything he has purposed is good. Can we trust that if we have the LORD we have everything. 

This sermon takes a look at the apparent interruption in the Joseph narrative, where the focus shifts to Joseph's brother, Judah. Here we see how no choice or sin can thwart God's plan, instead God is sovereign over all, and will use even the sinful choices of His people to bring about His good purposes for His glory. 

This sermon continues the story of Joseph by looking at the sovereignty of God guiding every situation and every action, including  Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery. Here we see God working for His purposes in Joseph's life, bringing everything together for His glory. Romans 8:28-29 describes God's providential workings, in everything, for those whom God has saved. Therefore, if you have repented of your sin and are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, you can trust God is working all things for your good and His glory. 

This sermon discusses an overview of the book of Genesis in order to set up the background to the narrative of the life of Joseph, which demonstrates the sovereignty of God over every circumstance, demonstrating the significance of God's sovereignty and mankind's responsibility to our lives.