Josephs Journey:

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Josephs Journey The Road Most Traveled Genesis
371 - 11
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God uses painful, difficult and trying situations
in our lives as a means of preparing us for his
greater purposes to be fulfilled in our lives.
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In this you rejoice, though now for a little
while, if necessary, you have been grieved by
various trials,  so that the tested genuineness
of your faithmore precious than gold that
perishes though it is tested by firemay be found
to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
- I Peter 16-7
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Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial
when it comes upon you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings,
that you may also rejoice and be glad when his
glory is revealed Therefore let those who suffer
according to God's will entrust their souls to a
faithful Creator while doing good.
- I Peter 412,13,19
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And after you have suffered a little while, the
God of all grace, who has called you to his
eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
- I Peter 510
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Background
Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but
Rebekah loved Jacob.
- Genesis 2528
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Background
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened
her womb, but Rachel was barren.
- Genesis 2931
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Background
God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her
and opened her womb.  She conceived and bore a
son and said, God has taken away my
reproach. And she called his name
Joseph, saying, May the Lord add to me another
son.
- Genesis 3022 - 24
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Tattle-tale or truth-teller?
We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate
among us anyone who does."
10
Tattle-tale or truth-teller?
I have been honest and have not observed any
dishonesty.
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Daddys Boy
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of
his sons, because he was the son of his old age.
And he made him a robe of many colors.
- Genesis 373
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Daddys Boy
God show no partiality.

• Acts 1034
• Romans 211
• Galatians 26
• Ephesians 69

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Dreamer
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to
his brothers they hated him even more.  He said
to them, Hear this dream that I have dreamed
Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and
behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And
behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed
down to my sheaf.  His brothers said to him,
Are you indeed to reign over us?...
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Dreamer
Or are you indeed to rule over us? So they
hated him even more for his dreams and for his
words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it
to his brothers and said, Behold, I have dreamed
another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and
eleven stars were bowing down to me. But when he
told it to his father and to his brothers, his
father rebuked him and said to him,
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Dreamer
What is this dream that you have dreamed?
Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed
come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his
father kept the saying in mind.
- Genesis 375 - 11
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Dreamer
We know that amidst lifes complexities the
creative power of God is at work to do us good.
This is true when we are ill, when we have
troubles with our children or grandchildren, when
processional problems engulf us.

• Kent Hughes, Genesis Beginning and
  Blessing, page 441

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Application
1.) Whatever is going on in your life, dont
forget that God knows about it. He may have
initiated it. He does have a purpose for it
ultimately, his glory and our good. He is more
than likely using the experience to prepare us
for a part of his greater plan and purpose. 2.)
Whatever is going on in your life, view it as an
opportunity for spiritual growth. What does God
want to teach me through this experience? What
changes need to take place in my life? How can I
glorify him through my trials?