Joseph Saw God's Deliverance
Living by Faith: Lessons from Joseph's Unwavering Trust in God
Joseph's story is one of the most powerful examples of faith in the Bible. Despite facing betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment, Joseph never wavered in his trust in God's plan. His life demonstrates how faith produces supernatural results when we remain focused on God rather than our circumstances.
What Does Real Faith Look Like?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It's the key to accessing God's supernatural power in our lives. True faith isn't passive—it produces action in the life of the believer for God's glory.
As we examine Joseph's life, we see that nothing worthwhile or everlasting comes from our own efforts. Only the Creator can truly produce lasting results through our faith. The "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 doesn't glorify these individuals for their own accomplishments but for their trust in God as He worked through them.
Joseph's Journey: From Pit to Palace
Joseph's story begins with dreams that angered his brothers. They hated him so much they "couldn't speak anything but evil towards him." Their jealousy led them to:
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Though he served faithfully, he was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison. Even there, God was with Joseph, giving him favor with the prison keeper.
How Did Joseph Respond to Injustice?
Not once do we see Joseph complaining, grumbling, or losing his faith. From the pit to Potiphar's house to prison to the palace, Joseph maintained his trust in God's vision. He knew God had shown him that his brothers would bow before him, and he held onto that promise through years of hardship.
Eventually, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams about the coming famine, and Pharaoh made him second-in-command over all Egypt. When his brothers came seeking food during the famine, they bowed before him, just as God had shown Joseph years earlier.
What Makes Joseph's Faith Remarkable?
Hebrews 11:22 highlights just one aspect of Joseph's faith: "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones."
Despite all his accomplishments in Egypt, what the Bible emphasizes is that Joseph never forgot his true home. Even after becoming a prince in Egypt, he knew that wasn't where he belonged. He made his family promise to carry his bones back to the Promised Land when God delivered them.
Faith That Looks Beyond Present Circumstances
Joseph's faith allowed him to see beyond his current situation. He knew Egypt was not his home, regardless of his position there. This world-transcending perspective is what made his faith so powerful.
Joseph never got comfortable in his surroundings. Even when he had power and prestige, he remained focused on God's bigger plan for his people. He lived by faith day after day, regardless of his circumstances.
How Can We Apply Joseph's Faith to Our Lives?
Too often, we get comfortable in our routines:
When Comfort Becomes Our Enemy
Comfort often leads to apathy. When we become too settled in this world, we lose sight of our true purpose. Sometimes God allows discomfort in our lives not because He's angry with us, but because He wants to refocus our attention on what truly matters.
The early church experienced this when persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem. This wasn't punishment, it was God's way of spreading the gospel beyond their comfort zone.
Life Application
Joseph's life challenges us to examine where our focus lies. Are we building our lives around temporary comforts, or are we living with eternity in view?
This week, consider these questions:
Challenge yourself to make one decision this week that demonstrates your faith in God's promises rather than your desire for comfort. Like Joseph, decide in advance that you will follow God regardless of circumstances. Remember Jesus' words: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Our purpose on earth is singular: to bring glory and honor to our Savior. Everything else is secondary. When we live with this perspective, like Joseph, our faith will produce supernatural results for God's glory.
Joseph's story is one of the most powerful examples of faith in the Bible. Despite facing betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment, Joseph never wavered in his trust in God's plan. His life demonstrates how faith produces supernatural results when we remain focused on God rather than our circumstances.
What Does Real Faith Look Like?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It's the key to accessing God's supernatural power in our lives. True faith isn't passive—it produces action in the life of the believer for God's glory.
As we examine Joseph's life, we see that nothing worthwhile or everlasting comes from our own efforts. Only the Creator can truly produce lasting results through our faith. The "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 doesn't glorify these individuals for their own accomplishments but for their trust in God as He worked through them.
Joseph's Journey: From Pit to Palace
Joseph's story begins with dreams that angered his brothers. They hated him so much they "couldn't speak anything but evil towards him." Their jealousy led them to:
- Strip him of his coat of many colors
- Throw him into an empty pit
- Sell him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Though he served faithfully, he was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison. Even there, God was with Joseph, giving him favor with the prison keeper.
How Did Joseph Respond to Injustice?
Not once do we see Joseph complaining, grumbling, or losing his faith. From the pit to Potiphar's house to prison to the palace, Joseph maintained his trust in God's vision. He knew God had shown him that his brothers would bow before him, and he held onto that promise through years of hardship.
Eventually, Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams about the coming famine, and Pharaoh made him second-in-command over all Egypt. When his brothers came seeking food during the famine, they bowed before him, just as God had shown Joseph years earlier.
What Makes Joseph's Faith Remarkable?
Hebrews 11:22 highlights just one aspect of Joseph's faith: "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones."
Despite all his accomplishments in Egypt, what the Bible emphasizes is that Joseph never forgot his true home. Even after becoming a prince in Egypt, he knew that wasn't where he belonged. He made his family promise to carry his bones back to the Promised Land when God delivered them.
Faith That Looks Beyond Present Circumstances
Joseph's faith allowed him to see beyond his current situation. He knew Egypt was not his home, regardless of his position there. This world-transcending perspective is what made his faith so powerful.
Joseph never got comfortable in his surroundings. Even when he had power and prestige, he remained focused on God's bigger plan for his people. He lived by faith day after day, regardless of his circumstances.
How Can We Apply Joseph's Faith to Our Lives?
Too often, we get comfortable in our routines:
- Working in our offices
- Enjoying our families
- Binge-watching shows
- Living a complacent life
When Comfort Becomes Our Enemy
Comfort often leads to apathy. When we become too settled in this world, we lose sight of our true purpose. Sometimes God allows discomfort in our lives not because He's angry with us, but because He wants to refocus our attention on what truly matters.
The early church experienced this when persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem. This wasn't punishment, it was God's way of spreading the gospel beyond their comfort zone.
Life Application
Joseph's life challenges us to examine where our focus lies. Are we building our lives around temporary comforts, or are we living with eternity in view?
This week, consider these questions:
- What areas of my life have become too comfortable, leading to spiritual apathy?
- How am I responding to difficult circumstances—with complaint or with faith?
- If I truly believed this world was not my home, how would my priorities change?
- What "bones" am I leaving behind as a testimony of my faith in God's promises?
Challenge yourself to make one decision this week that demonstrates your faith in God's promises rather than your desire for comfort. Like Joseph, decide in advance that you will follow God regardless of circumstances. Remember Jesus' words: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Our purpose on earth is singular: to bring glory and honor to our Savior. Everything else is secondary. When we live with this perspective, like Joseph, our faith will produce supernatural results for God's glory.
Posted in Sunday Sermons
Recent
Archive
2025
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
2024
September
December
No Comments