At the End of Your Rope: Part III

Genesis 37:23-27; 41:40 (Ref.:50:20-21)

From the Pit to the Palace

 

Introduction:  Are you at the end of your rope? Feeling helpless? Hopeless? Need help for suicidal thoughts? Are you feeling destitute-meaning everything is falling in on you, and there is nothing left to hold on to?  There are times in life that we feel like we are at the end of our rope.  If you have come to the end of your rope, it can actually be a good place to be. How?  If you are willing to DETACH yourself from trying to make things work for yourself and then are willing to DEPEND upon God, you will come to experience the KINGDOM of heaven in your life.  The purpose of the sermon today is to look at a person who was at the end of his rope, but in the end we will see that God was working it out for God’s glory and his good. 

 

The story really starts out with a potentially deadly act of sibling rivalry.  Jacob had 12 sons and some of the sons were jealous of one of the other one—particularly Joseph.  This sibling rivalry was due to the favoritism shown toward Joseph by his dad, Jacob.  Note one important fact, these were adult men.  His dad made him a coat of many colors (Gen. 37:3-4).  As a result his brothers hated him, and when they saw him they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.

 

In verses 23-27, we see how they stripped him of his coat; sabotaged him and threw him in a pit; and sold him into slavery.  Now that was mean.

 

You plotted evil against me, but God turned it into good, in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened. (v.20)

You have nothing to fear. I will take care of you and your children." So he reassured them with kind words that touched their hearts. (v.21) (Gen. 50:20-21, Good News Translation)

 

I.                  The Plot (20a) – Their Plot

·        They wanted to get rid of him.

·        Everybody does not mean you well.

·        Be careful who you allow in your space.

·        Eph. 6:11, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

·        Compare I Pet. 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”

 

II.               The Purpose (20b) – God’s Purpose

·        God has a purpose and plan for your life.  You are not just here by happenstance, chance nor coincidence, but by divine providence.  God doesn’t allow you to go through things for no reason.  He has a purpose and plan for your life—it’s for God’s glory and your good.

·        Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things…”

 

III.           The Provisions (21) – God’s Provisions

·        Forgiveness; lack of fear; future.  We have the same in Christ!