Joseph’s Big But – Part 2 is a continuation from the week before and the second message of our BIG BUTS OF THE BIBLE series (click here to listen). I thought I would share a couple of thoughts here. Let me remind you of two big buts from the end of Genesis.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
If you’ve read Genesis chapters 37-50 then you know Joseph had a difficult journey in life. As a teenager he discovered God’s dream for his life, BUT that dream would take Joseph through a pit and a prison before arriving at a palace. BUT he held on to the dream. As a result his family was spared from famine and Joseph was able to save many lives.
Last week I talked about the first destructive tool to God given dreams: DESERTION. This week I want to mention two additional tools of the enemy that destroy dreams: DISTRACTION & DISCOURAGEMENT. Joseph was faced with both in Genesis 39-40.
He is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up serving Potipher, captain of the guard in Egypt. He finds favor with Potipher and is placed in charge of the estate. Then Joseph is faced with a potential distraction when Potipher’s wife asked him to have sex with her. After all, it could be their little secret, right? WRONG!
The enemy always tries to convince us that our sinful distractions can be “our little secrets.” What the enemy fails to tell us is that a temporary distraction can turn into the permanent destruction of our God-birthed dreams. If Joseph gives in the story could have ended in Genesis 39. BUT he didn’t.
Joseph ends up falsely accused by Potipher’s wife and lands in prison anyway. It seems like he is paying the price for making the right choice. Then Joseph has a ray of hope. God gives him favor in prison and uses Joseph to interpret a couple of dreams. He tells Pharaoh’s cup-bearer that he will be restored to the palace. He then asked the cup-bearer to remember him…BUT the cup-bearer forgets.
Two years pass. I can’t imagine how Joseph must have felt by this time. He’s been abandoned by his family, wrongfully accused of a crime, and completely forgotten by someone he helped out while in prison. I think it is fair to say Joseph was faced with DISCOURAGEMENT.
At this point, he probably wrestled with the thought of letting his dream finally die. After all, prison seemed permanent. BUT God had a plan. After two years of freedom the cup-bearer mentions Joseph to Pharaoh. You can read the full account here from Genesis 41. Joseph is released from prison and put second in command in all of Egypt. He went from the pit to the prison to the palace.
His DREAM led to his DESTINY…the saving of many lives. BUT first Joseph had to overcome DESERTION, DISTRACTION and DISCOURAGEMENT. Your dream is no different. The destination of your dream is ahead, BUT so are the destructive tools of the enemy. The path to fulfilling your dream will be filled with dream destroyers so…
don’t desert your dream…
don’t become distracted…
don’t get discouraged…
just keep the dream…
no if’s, and’s or BUT’S about it!
