“The truth is you don't know what is

going to happen tomorrow.

Life is a crazy ride”

Eminem

Series

‘Life on a rollercoaster with Joseph’

Today

‘Life in the pit’

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the

Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope

Rom 15:4

Joseph’s biography (Gen 37-50)

1. Birth to 17 yrs (30:24 – 37:2)

2. 17 to 30 yrs (37:2 – 41:46)

3. 30 yrs to death (41:46 – 50:26)

Gossip breeds discord

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his

father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them

Gen 37:2

Gossip breeds discord

… a gossip separates close friends

Proverbs 16:28

What dainty morsels rumours are, but they sink deep into one’s heart

Proverbs 18:8 NLT

They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,

(whisperer, secret slanderer)

Rom 15:4

Favouritism breeds resentment

Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,

because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate

robe for him

Gen 37:3

Favouritism breeds resentment

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of

them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him

Gen 37:4

Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. ‘Listen to

this dream I had: we were binding sheaves of corn out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered round

mine and bowed down to it.’

Gen 37:5-7

Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger

His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us?

Will you actually rule us?’

Gen 37:8a

Insensitivity intensifies jealousy and anger

And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said

Gen 37:8b

Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan

So he (Jacob) said to him, ‘Go and see if all is well with your brothers

and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.’ Then he sent him off

from the Valley of Hebron

Gen 37:14

Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan

But they saw him in the distance … they plotted to kill him. ‘Here comes that dreamer!’ they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw

him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see

what comes of his dreams.’

Gen 37:18-20

Sometimes the pit is part of God’s plan

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe – the ornate robe he

was wearing and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty;

there was no water in it

Gen 37:23-24

Reflect on the past

Realise God hasn’t abandoned us And the Lord was with (him) Joseph

Recognise that God is in control And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose Rom 8:28