Lost and Recovered
Unexpected Week #3
Lost and Recovered
Genesis 41-42
Joseph got it all back, and then some
3 Things Joseph lost and recovered:
1. Joseph lost his position. But he got it back, and then some!
When we lose our position, we put ourselves in the prison of self-pity
Self-pity always leads to self-doubt, and self-doubt always leads to negative self-talk
“Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 34 Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 35 Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36 That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” Genesis 41:33-36
Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:37-41
2. Joseph lost his covering. But he got it back, and then some!
So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Genesis 37:23
Guilt says that’s what you did, Shame says that’s who you are
Your past may be what you did, it may be what happened to you, but in Christ, it’s not who you are
Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck Genesis 41:42
Joseph lost his robe but he got back robes!
3. Joseph lost his dreams. But he got it back, and then some!
Never let somebody who’s not pursuing their dream, talk you out of the dream that God put in your heart
One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” 8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” Genesis 37:5-9
The dream that God has placed in your heart will always bless and benefit other people
Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.” 8 Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. 9 And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.” Genesis 42:6-9
The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost” Joel 2:25