joseph

"Stay tuned for the mini-series of the millennium----Tom Cruise stars as Joseph --- It's a no holds barred roller coaster ride of international intrigue! See how Michelle Pfeifer as Tamar masquerades as a prostitute to trick her father-in-law into seducing her. There's more hatred, jealousy, deception, and back-biting family dysfunction than a year's worth of Knots Landing reruns. See Tom Cruise as Joseph, the teenager who was sold into slavery---- dig and claw his way back to become the most powerful man in all of Egypt! -----right after Bay Watch!"

Everything I just said is true of the story of Joseph, which is perhaps why I like this story so much. I don't know about you, but I've always had these preconceived notions that the Old Testament was hard to understand----or that it doesn't make much sense----or that it doesn't have much relevance to me today-

---But when I read Joseph for the first time, all those preconceived ideas fell away--- so that is my prayer today,--- that you'll indulge me to tell this loooong story of Joseph and perhaps we'll all find out how "Old School" we really are.

And if that's not enough to put with, he gives him a "coat of many colors""a richly ornamented robe" And we have to understand that in this time in history, clothing had everything to do with social status-----(pause) (with sarcasm) Make that Just like today clothing has everything to do with social status

So here's Joseph in his shiny Tommy Hilfiger Robe!---- Now understand we're talking about a family of shepherds---hard working, blue collar, dirt under their finger nails kind of guys. Now imagine you are one of these hard working brothersnot unlike some of the hardworking plant jobs we have here in Kokomo.

Now imagine your dad giving your little brother a custom tailored 100% pure silk $2800 Armani suit, with alligator shoes, a monogrammed silk shirt and a silk Brooks Brothers tie.

And #2 , now how do you feel in your plain pocket jeans, plaid shirt fresh off the rack at Target and your brand new no-name leather-like tennis shoes?

The text says, "When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, "they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him."

I want to invite you into this story right now.Who wears the robe in your family? Of your brothers and sisterswho wears the robe? In almost every family since Jacob's, someone is the favorite. If you're a parent, which of your kids wears the robe? Not sure? Ask them. They know. --- Because I guarantee, it may not be as extreme as this story, but in all families the Robe syndrome comes into play---If there's favoritism in your familyyou're old school.

Now, if it weren't enough that Jacob openly and blatantly favored Joseph in front of his 11 brothers, Joseph had a dream and decided to share it with the family. "And when he told the dream to his brothers they hated him all the more. He said to them, 'Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.'

His brother said to him, 'Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?' And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

And are you picking up the dysfunction in the family of Jacob? There's a thick slice of obvious favoritism fueling sibling rivalry to the point of hatred, so much so that his brothers could not speak a kind word to him.

Here's a great example of how dysfunction worksJacob is driving it with his favoritism, but Joseph is paying the price for it by his brothers.. Let me invite you once again into the story.anybody here have the slightest hint of dysfunction in your family? Please no hands! Friends, we are more old school than we know.

Later, the brothers, without Joseph, were grazing Jacobs flocks near Schechem. And Jacob tells Joseph to go and check on his brothersto see if everything is okay, and bring back a report.

So Joseph finally catches up to them at Dothan. "But when they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him."

Now before anyone checks out on me here, thinking this is too far fetched, unrealistic, or that the Old Testament times were nothing like todayI would simply like to remind us of the Menendez boys, a couple of white collar brothers who not too long ago used a shotgun on their parents and also who can forget a certain white bronco and a pair of gloves that if "they do not fit, you must acquit." Enough said. Apparently, domestic atrocities are old school too.

The brothers said, "Here comes that dreamer! Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns (or pits) and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams."

Now, his brother Rueben hears this and says, "Let's not take his life. Don't shed any blood. Instead, let's throw him into this pit here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." ----See, Rueben was actually planning to come back later and rescue Joseph.

So when Joseph finally makes his way up to where his brothers are "They stripped him of his robethe richly ornamented robe he was wearing---and they took him and threw him into the pit."

And this next sentence I love---- Right after they throw him into the pit, it says,---"As they sat down to eat their meal."------These guys were really torn up----Hmmmmm, let's throw Mr. Shiny Robe in the pitwhew! Now I've worked up an appetite, Let's eat!

The oldest brother, "Judah, said to his brothers, 'What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?'" Finally a level headed thought from the brothers.(not quite), Judah says, "Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites!" "And not lay OUR hands on him; after all, he is our brotherour own flesh and blood." The warmth and consideration kind of makes you a little misty doesn't it???

Remember Rueben? His plan to rescue Joseph didn't exactly pan out. When he came back, Joseph was gone and it says that he "tore his clothes" which is a phrase you will see all through the Old Testament which means "a sign of mourning" or grief.

Next "They got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, 'We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe.'"

Notice they said "YOUR SON'S robe---not to be confused with their brother's robe. Also notice how well this bunch lies----They didn't really SAY what happened to Joseph---Jacob just did all of the deductive reasoning on his own.-----And bought the whole story.

So at this point, perhaps the brothers may have thought their plan was successfulthat now they would receive more attention and they wouldn't always have to be reminded of Joseph.

"And all of Jacob's sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. 'No,' he said, 'In mourning I will go down to the grave to my son.'"

So they did NOT get what they wanted----Jacob loved Joseph so much he would spend the rest of his living years mourning over him---They hadn't changed anything. They had removed Joseph, but now instead of seeing the robe reminding them of Jacob's favoritism, they would now see Jacob mourning, STILL reminding them.

Isn't it the classic dysfunctional family---right back where they started. Same as it ever was. Dysfunction---it's as new as the Old Testament.

Well, back to Joseph. "Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharoah's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites.

The text says, "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.

Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted everything he owned to Joseph the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate."

So the bad news is: Joseph was sold into slavery. The good news is: For a slave he had it pretty good. He's basically running the entire household for one of Pharoah's officials.

It tells us that "Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!'"

"But he refused. 'With me in charge,' he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my careMy master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? And though she spoke to Joseph DAY AFTER DAY, he refused to go to bed with her or even BE with her."

You've got to hand it to Joseph----His brothers threw him in a hole, sold him into slaverylife's not been the greatest ---he's a buff single guy---I can't imagine the wife of the Captain of the Guard is homely exactly----AND she's relentless---"DAY AFTER DAY" she's coming-on to him and talking to him. But Joseph does the right thing. Given the situationHats off to Joseph!

Well, "One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and NONE OF THE HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS WERE INSIDE. She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

When she saw that he had left his cloak in her handshe called her household servants. 'Look,this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house. "

"But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."

While he was in prison, he meets Pharoah's Cupbearer who was a trusted man who tasted the food & drink of Pharoah's food to make sure it was O.K. He was there because Pharoah was mad at him for some reason. The cupbearer had a dream he didn't understand.

Well, for Joseph, dreams are kind of a specialty so he interprets the dream---and it's an interpretation that means the Cupbearer is going to get out of jail in three days.

Two years later, Pharoah had a dream that 7 healthy well fed cows came up out of the Nile followed by 7 unhealthy ugly thin cows. And the ugly thin cows ate up the healthy looking cows.

Well, Pharoah couldn't find any of his magicians or wise men to interpret the dreamTHAT'S when the cupbearer says, "Oh Yeaaaaaah!" and is reminded of Joseph and that the dreams he interpreted came true exactly as he said.

Pharoah says, "I have heard it said that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." Joseph says, "I cannot do it, ---but God will give Pharoah the answers he desires."

So Joseph goes on to tell Pharoah that the 7 healthy cows represent 7 years of great abundance and that the 7 thin cows represents 7 harsh years of famine. And that the famine will be so bad it will wipe out the effects of the 7 good years.

What's more, Joseph goes on to tell Pharoah to look for a discerning and wise man to implement a very specific plan that he lays out to Pharoah, on how to survive the famine.

To which Pharoah responds, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."

So once again, Joseph rises to the top---he becomes the most important man in Egypt other than Pharoah. He wears robes of fine linen, gold chains, rides around in a chariot and to top it off, Pharoah gives him Asenath the daughter of the priest as his wife.

Well, later, just as Joseph said it would, the famine came. But they had built up store houses of food during the 7 good years. And it says that they stored up so much food they "stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure."

Now comes the good part---Jacob, Joseph's father, tells his sons to go to Egypt to buy grain so they don't die. So 10 brothers go off to Egypt while the youngest brother, Benjamin, stays with Jacob.

The text says, "Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, THEY BOWED DOWN TO HIM WITH THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND. (Remember his dream?) Joseph saw his brothers, ------and recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger."

Flash-back for a minute----- when they sold him into slavery, his brothers were already men, so they hadn't changed that much---where as Joseph was a teenager when they last saw him and now he's about 30 years old. Also, Joseph was now clean-shaven, like the Egyptians-- where the Hebrews were not. He was wearing Egyptian clothes and even speaking through an interpreter.

"But Joseph pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them and said, 'You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.'

Joseph said to them, 'It is just as I told you: You are spies! And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharoah lives, you will not leave this place unless your younger brother comes here.And he put them all in jail for three days.

"On the third day of imprisonment, Joseph said to them, 'Do this and you will live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die."

You can see Joseph's definitely playin' with them---he really wants to see his younger brother, Benjamin---Because Benjamin and Joseph had the same mother, Rachel, which was different than the rest of their brothers. This was a time in history when men often had multiple wivesat the same time---, so they basically had what we would call half-brothers, or the same father and different mothers.

Hmmmmmdifferent mothers but the same father---can't see a parallel in the year 2000, with blended families can you? We're more "Old School" than we think

So then, while still in Joseph's presence they start talking in front of him---thinking he can't understand them because he had an interpreter.

"They said to each other, 'Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us.'

Rueben replied (remember Ruebenhe wanted to save Joseph by coming back later to get him out of the pit?) He says, 'Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood."

And then it says, very poignantly, Joseph "turned away from them and began to weep----but, then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes."

When I first read this story this is where the human-ness of Joseph hit me---where this man who lived thousands of years ago became very real---It undid him to see the state of his family---seeing his brothers trembling from what they'd done to him and seeing how blown apart this family really was---"He began to weep"-----but then he snapped quickly back into character, perhaps realizing all he'd been through.

To me that was a connection point---sometimes in my family I grew up with, ---I can get frustrated to my wits endI can become very angry sometimes and be glad the visits over. And then other times I can almost cry because we aren't as close as we could be, or should be---just like Joseph. I can have contemptthen I can have compassionlike Joseph--often very close together.

Well as the brothers rode back to Canaan with their grain, when they stopped for the night one of them opened up his sack of grain to feed his donkey--- and he found his silver on top of the grain that he had paid for it! And so did all the brothersthey all found their silver returned to them----To which they were now mighty scaredthey said "What is this that God has done to us?"

So when they got home and told Jacob what had happened he was undone---he couldn't believe he had lost Joseph and now he'd lost Simeon. And he refused to allow the brothers to return---because if they returned they had to take Benjamin, which was Jacobs other son of Rachel---his second favorite son, if you will. So he just wrote Simeon off to keep Benjamin.

Well, like Joseph said it would be ---- it was a serious famine, so eventually, Jacob had to send them back to Egypt or they would die without food.

So they spoke to Joseph's steward to explain about the silver, that someone else must have put it there. And he responded, "It's all right. Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver."

When Joseph arrived, HIS BROTHERS BOWED DOWN to him. And when Joseph saw his little brother Benjaminit says he went out to look for a place to cry. And after he had cleaned his face, they had dinner. And at dinner Benjamin's portion was 5 times as much as anyone else's --- Showing us that everything gets passed down to the next generation---Joseph was treating Benjamin like Jacob treated him.

When they left, Joseph played one more trick. He had his own personal silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack with his grain. After they had gone on their way, Joseph had his steward ride out to the brothers and accuse them of stealing the cup. Of course they totally denied that they had, because as far as they knew, they didn't have it!

So they all go back to Joseph's house with Benjamin---Judah, the oldest, starts begging Joseph to NOT take Benjamin because he knows that it will kill his father to lose both of his favorite sons. Judah goes on and on with Joseph about how much this will hurt his father and to please take him instead, because he won't be able to look Jacob in the eye and tell him Benjamin wouldn't be returning.

Well, that's it----Joseph cannot take the charade any longer, " Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, 'Have everyone leave my presence!' So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him.

Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph! Is my father still living?' But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified.

"Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them."

Now to me, this is THE surprise ending coming up-----Joseph has set them up---he has about every right to let his brothers have it ---to give them what they deserved----------

But this is what Joseph says, "And now, don't be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here (repeat), because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of youGod sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So, then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."

But I would like to leave us today on what may be new to some---which is God's Sovereignty---Which is best described in Romans 8:28"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (repeatwith me?)

To me the story of Joseph brings this crucial truth about God to lifeAnd we cannot become fully devoted followers without accepting this truth about God

We see Joseph first, possibly a little overconfident, but definitely not deserving of how he was treated---- thrown into a pit or sold into slavery. Next we see him under the pressure to succumb to Potipher's wife---and in a tough situation, Joseph makes the God-honoring tough callonly to be framed by Potipher's wife and subsequently thrown into jail.

We see his character shine again while in prison and he interprets the Cupbearer's dream only to be forgotten for 2 years! For all of his adult life we see Joseph dealt cards that he seemingly did not deserve----

But so often with God's sovereignty, we can't see it until the end----God knew that this was how Joseph would save his family. This was God's sovereign plan.

It seems God knew that Joseph's responsibilities in Potipher's house and in the prison would prepare Joseph for the responsibilities he would eventually have under Pharoah---as the second most important man in Egypt. It's not necessarily how WE would expect it to play out---It's what God does in His sovereign way.

Joseph has a dream as a teenager of his greatness somewhere down the roadbut then it's followed by a decade and a half of slavery and incarceration!

Did Joseph know WHY all this was happening? Did he know HOW all of this fit together?---- I don't think he did until his heart melted at the end when he realized that he was used to save his family.

Some would argue that God's sovereignty is only fully understood in hindsight. At the end of this story, Joseph could look back and only then, could he put all of the puzzle pieces together in his life.

Now he understands being hauled away to Egypt---Now he understands the lessons he learned in Potipher's household---and in running the prison----in the end, God's plan can be fully viewed.

But there's more to this story that we must understand. Joseph showed us his character throughout this story, by holding on to his faith in God. When you read this story for yourselfin each situation you will see the phrase, "The Lord was with Joseph"---in Potipher's housein prison---as Pharoah's second in command. "The Lord was with Joseph."

How tempting do you think Potiphar's wife was? And then being thrown into prison after doing the right thingHow hard do you think was to have faith in God while you're in prison for two years with no hope of getting out?

At any point along the way, Joseph could have said, "Huh uh, God! If this is what it means to follow you, then you can have it!! This is NOT what I signed up for!!"

We all should step up and take a big bite of perspective here----Do you realize how often my faith gets shaky in the course of living in my heated and air conditioned homewith two good cars in the driveway---a gorgeous wifeand 4 healthy kids---and the most fulfilling career I've ever had? Compared to Joseph's path---my life has been a cakewalkand I can still struggle with trusting God with everything I should.

With my job, I oversee a handful of ministries here at the church. And although it's usually very rewarding and a lot of fun----it can be uncomfortable.

Sometimes in ministry, people can get slotted in positions that ultimately are not a good fit. And sometimes, the person is not aware that it isn't a good fit. I had a situation like this----and the person is a good friend of mine. I remember having a conversation where I had to say, "I really appreciate what you're doing----however, for such-n-such reasons, I have to ask you to step down

Have you ever said something to someone and as soon as you said it, you could tell it penetrated their heart, in a less than positive way?Their spirittheir demeanor-- sank a little at the sound of your voice? ---- Welcome to our conversation.

A day or two later we were talking in my office---and I could see it all over himthat he was hurting---I finally asked if he was O.K. and how he was doing with it. Basically, he said something to the effect of, "I believe in a sovereign God."

At first I was taken back by that---mostly because no one had ever responded to me with that phrase before----I've heard a lot of other thingsbut not, "I believe in a sovereign God." I couldn't stop thinking about that for the next few days.

I have seen more people than I want to remember, leave the church, and / or turn away from God, because what happened to them in church or in their lives wasn't what they expectedor it made them feel uncomfortableand they took the easy out.

So many times behind a "no" or a "not that way" God has something differentsomething we didn't envision for ussomething that's for His purpose. When my friend responded, I got kind of teary-eyed----first, because I knew he was hurting---and also I knew that despite his pain, he was going to hold on to his faith in God, which moved me---- I have seldom seen someone display that kind of character in the midst of that kind of pain---

I was watching him say an uncomfortable "yes" to God---where I had seen others just turn away. He showed me a maturity that I hope I could display if the tables were reversed.

I'd like to take a minute and revisit the first message I ever gave here at OakBrook and give you a cliff-notes version of it---that perhaps to me was my biggest brush with what God's sovereignty means to me.

A few years ago, I accidentally learned that my dad was almost definitely, not my biological father----I'd learned that my mother had had a laison in 1964 and that I was the result of it. I also learned that my brothers and sister knew about it----I was the only one who didn't. Perhaps this is where the story of Joseph's dysfunctional family struck a chord with me-----Anyway, in the months that followed me finding out about this, to say I was undone emotionally would be polite----it sent me into a time of emotions like I had never felt beforeor since-----I felt upside down---I felt inside out----well, before I could come to terms with this chapter of my life, my father passed away.

The "long story short" version is that somehow God persuaded me to do my dad's eulogy, which was quite a feat since like I said, I wasn't sure what to make, out of all of my "happy news" of late. But after we had made my father's funeral plans the next day, I carved out time to be with God to see what it was he would have me say at my father's funeral. What I ended up saying was not half as incredible as what God led me to realize that afternoon on my mom's porch----

God clearly let me know that had it not happened the way it did---I indeed would not be who I am---I am the son of Hubert & Sue Youngof our collective experiences----had the laison not happened, quite frankly, I would not have happened.

I would not be here this morning---I would not be in ministry---four children whom I dearly love would not exist-----not to mention that my wife, Sandra could only be trading down with a husband compared to me.

I spent years in jobs being unfulfilled, whining to Sandra that there's got to be something more than this---Only to find that those jobs that drove me crazy prepared me so well for what I do here.---From this vantage point, I can see how all the puzzle pieces fit together. It would not have been the way I would have planned it---but it is how my sovereign God brought me to be who I am---and I wouldn't trade this life for anything---

I want to leave you with one last story. There's a guy in my small group that went on the Fire Wire ski trip. He hasn't been around here that long, but he loves what's going on and he's moving slowly in the direction of becoming a fully devoted follower. Well, when the trip started, he noticed a student that seemed a little on the fringe from the rest of the kids. Something about him caught my friend's eye, and he made sure he made a connection with him.

On Saturday night of the trip, Justin gave a message that talked about "Fakin' It" and "playing the game"---how in school students are so good at playing the social games, and often hiding the real issues from their classmates. He segued into how sometimes when they get to Fire Wire, their fakin' it there too---they're playing the spiritual "game." And he really challenged them to quit playing the game, to really be honest with Godto really be authentic.

Well afterward, my friend comes by Trisha who tells my friend that there's a boy in the van that's very emotional and she thinks it would be better if a man would talk to him. My friend's eyes get about "THIS BIG"----he's thinking that he's not the spiritual leader for this kid---WHERE'S THE PROFESSIONALWHERE'S JD? But he's not there yet (I heard some rumor that he and Kerry were roughing it at a Dunkin' Donuts!)

So my friend gets into the van with this student----and this kid is just sobbing----and it turns out that during Justin's message, God showed up in this kids life in a big and unexpected way---the student is super emotional and he's been rocked by JD's message and he's tellin' my friend that "He's tired of playin' the game---He's tired of putting up a front----but he doesn't know what to do---This kid doesn't know it, but Christ is tapping on his soul, and he asking to come in----My friend does a great job talking and connecting with this kid----and the student really wants my friend to be there with him----eventually this student gets led to Christ in that van---and my friend and JD helped him do it----

What you need to know about my friend is that growing up he had more than the usual number of step-fathers---quite a bit more. It was not what you would call a "normal" childhood. My friend now, has a real passion for just the type of student that he recognized early on in the ski trip.

I don't want to get into psychoanalysis,---but do think my friend can naturally relate with teens that feel a little out of the ordinary?---Somehow different from the rest of the kids? --Do you think he may, more than most of us, understand what it "feels" like to be a little different than the rest of the kids? Do you think it's possible that through all the experiences my friend had as a kid himself, coupled with what he's experienced in God's church, that God knew what he was doing when my friend was the only one around in this kid's hour of need?

God took this friend of mine---who comes from a blended, blended, and then blended some more family----and used those seemingly less than great experiences and turned them into a guy with a heart bigger than most of the people I know----and is using him to ministerto relate to kids that need the kind of love and understanding that only he can give, because he really understands where they are.

This student was led to Christ through the help of my friendhis place in heaven is secured---and my prayer is that this kid's life will never be the same again. (pause)

God's sovereignty is easy to see in hindsight----or when great things are going on in our lives. When we feel God is really being good to us, it is so easy to believe that God causes all things to work for our good. It's easy when you're Pharoah's second in command.

But at some point in our lives,---and truth be told,-- many points in our lives---we've been in the pitwe've felt sold into slavery through no fault of our own. How many times have we said, "What have I done to deserve this?"

And I'm sure there are some here this morning that feel like they are in the pit right now---circumstances are against you---you're in a sincerely tough situationAnd I don't want to belittle your situation----but sometimes much like the first friend I told you about, we've got to hold on to God's sovereignty---we've got to hold onto our faith.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him---but he doesn't always tell us HOW----and he doesn't always tell us WHY----But His book is one big case for sovereignty----The story of Joseph is an integral piece of the puzzle that eventually leads to Christ dying on the cross for our sins. (pause)

One day a father may tell his son about Christ and he may tell him that his father came to Christ in the back of a van in Michigan. I hope and pray that every one of my kids shares Christ with their childrenand I don't give one rip that I had to come into the world the way I did to make that happenBecause it's God's sovereign plan

Friends, God's words for us this morning are words of faith for us to put a white knuckle grip on---He tells us no matter where you are this morning---in a pit---in a rough marriage----struggling to come to Christ----looking for a job---struggling with your family----struggling with self esteem----struggling with depression---Fill in the blank in your life this morning-----------wherever you are---

There is Godworking in all things for your good, according to His plan. Take this verse off of the screen---and put it in your heartand put a white knuckle grip on it.

One final note----one of God's greatest Old School inventions is His church----So if you're in a pit and your struggling to hold on to God's sovereignty---tell someone---before you leave today or before the sun sets todaycall someonetell someone and give them an SOS.