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God Sent Me Before You to Preserve Life

Text: Genesis 45; Psalm 105:16-24
3 June 2018

UNDERSTANDING THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

1. Some are straightforward and obvious

2. Some are deep and profound

THE DEEP PLANS OF GOD’s BLESSINGS

1. A brief outline of the life of Joseph

a) His life in Canaan
i) He was not the firstborn
ii) He was the 11th son of Jacob   (Genesis 30:24)
iii) His mother Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin   (Genesis 35:16-29)
iv) He was the favourite son of Jacob
v) But hated by his older siblings   (Genesis 37)
vi) He was sold by his brothers to Midianite traders   (Genesis 37)
b) His life in Egypt
i) A slave in the home of Potiphar   (Genesis 39)
ii) Imprisoned on false charges   (Genesis 39)
How could all these things fit into God’s Plan of Blessing?

2. An important Commentary

Psalm 105:16-24
a) A famine planned by God Psalm 105:16
b) He sent a man before them- Joseph   (Psalm 105:17)
c) Suffering of Joseph   (Psalm 105:18)
i) Sold as a slave
ii) His feet hurt by fetters; laid in irons
d) Testing of Joseph   (Psalm 105:19)
e) God’s Word came to pass   (Psalm 105:19)
f) The Pharaoh and Joseph   (Psalm 105:20-24)
i) Released him
ii) Made him lord of his house
iii) Ruler of all his possessions
iv) He had authority even to bind princes
v) Joseph was able to provide for his entire family

3. Joseph’s Personal Testimony

Genesis 45:5-8

Seeing God’s Sovereign Hand at work

a) God sent me before you to preserve life   (Genesis 45:5)
b) God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth
(Genesis 45:6a)
c) And to save lives by a great deliverance   (Genesis 45:6b)
d) So it was not you who sent me here but God   (Genesis 45:8a)
e) And He has made me a father to Pharaoh   (Genesis 45:8b)
f) And lord of his house   (Genesis 45:8c)
g) And a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt   (Genesis 45:8d)