Promises Week 3:
Genesis 45-Exodus 15
…delighting in Him and His Word…Psalm 37:4
Week Two continued…Genesis 39:23 says that the prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper. The Lord offers us many things that we never enjoy because we do not activate our faith to receive what He has provided. This made us question how do we activate our faith? Our conclusion was faith requires action. Such as seek, ask, knock. Also obedience and attitude are ingredients in activating our faith.
We then looked further at “favor”. Favor is actually a part of grace. The word grace and favor are both translated from the same Greek word charis. So the grace of God is the favor of God and the favor of God is the grace of God-that which causes things to happen in our lives through the “channel” of our faith. An interesting aside is charisma is our individual grace from God. Each one of us has a different grace from God, a unique charisma.
Believe God for favor, have a faith attitude (like Joseph did) expect God’s favor and keep your attitude of faith in every situation you face.
Genesis 45:7 & 8 Joseph’s Reflection. Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and comforts them that it was part of God’s divine plan that he was sent to Egypt.
46:1-4, 48:4 & 16, Exodus 3:17 The Land of Promise. The Land of Promise was given to Abraham as confirmed through Isaac and Jacob. The Lord confirms His promise that He will make Israel a “community of people”.
49:24 Jehovah-Ra-ah – the Promise of the Shepherd. Christ is truly the Good Shepherd – through His love He gave Himself to redeem us.
50:24 and Exodus 13:19 – The Lord will Visit Us.
Exodus - Exodus teaches us how God brings us out of situations that keep us in bondage in order to take us into something better. As we read Exodus reflect on the ways God is leading you out of any area of bondage or oppression in your life. We are determined to follow Him faithfully.
Exodus 1:12. A Promise Fulfilled. The Israelites had multiplied greatly. Verse 2:24 states that God remembered His covenant…and took compassion on the His people.
Aside. Name Study. Exodus 2:1 prompted a study of the names of Moses’ parents
-Amram (Moses father was a Levite)
Am=people
Ram=to raise, to rise high, to offer up, extol
-Jochebel (Moses mother)
Jochebel=Jehovah gloried
-Moses=drawing out of the water (the Word!), rescued, lawgiver
People to raise high to offer up to the glory of God
Exodus 3:12 The Presence of the Lord. As Christians our days begin with confidence knowing “with certainty” that our Heavenly Father has promised He will be with us. We see this promise repeated throughout both the Old and New Testament. In Exodus 3:12 the Lord promises Moses that He will be with him. Although Moses does not feel worthy to bring the Lord’s message to Pharaoh or the Israelites, he learns to trust the Lord. As Christians we are never alone. Hebrews 13:15 provides that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Exodus 8:1 Let my people go (so that they may serve Me)
Exodus 12:5 and 13:13 A Sacrifice without Blemish. The Passover sacrifice had to be without any imperfection. Only Christ is without blemish. Because He had no sin He was able to bare our sins and redeem us
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.
Exodus 15:26 The Healer. The Lord heals us.
Aside Joseph – A reflection. While we wait on the Lord, let’s reflect on a key contrast in the stories and decisions of Rebekah and Joseph. In Genesis 25:23 Rebekah asks the Lord the meaning of the babies jostling in her womb. The Lord answered with a promise – that she would have two sons, each would represent a separate nation, and that the older brother would serve the younger. When it came time for Isaac to pass on his family blessing, Rebekah failed to wait on the Lord and instructed Jacob to trick his father into giving him the promised blessing. Although Jacob did receive the blessing, in fear of Jacob’s safety Rebekah sent him away and would not see him for twenty years. The Lord similarly reveals a promise to Joseph in Genesis 37 through a dream indicating that his family would bow to him. The next five chapters in Genesis reveal not only adversity but the character of Joseph. He ultimately earns a position of greatest influence and power in Egypt. His wisdom and planning saved lives of people from not only Egypt but many other nations. There is little doubt; Joseph could have arranged to contact his family directly. Nonetheless, he waited on the Lord and watched in faith as the Lord brought his family to him and his dream to fulfilment. He depended on God’s timing and was richly rewarded bringing his Heavenly Father glory. This study in contrast illustrates the value of waiting on Him.
Staying Positive: From the pit to the palace … to get where He wants to take us, and enjoy the fulfillment of His promises in our lives:
1. Refuse to be bitter.
2. Be confident in Him (bold, plain, open, straightforward).
3. Trust God (Joseph refused to have a slave mentality. Think of disappointment, illness, loss, debt, and pain and how easy it is to become identified with, or slaves of, such circumstances. Genesis 39:2 states that the Lord was with Joseph and he was prosperous – as a slave. Prosperity is in knowing God’s plan for our life – not affected by circumstances.
4. Believe in the dream God’s given you.
5. Refuse to give up. God given purpose will provide the requisite strength.
6. Decide to do something great for God. (No matter where you started you can have a great finish)
7. Forgive. Leave all the people that have mistreated you, including you, in God’s hands.
8. Know your purpose. In Genesis 37:6-7 & 9 Joseph’s dream reveals God’s purpose and plans for his life. If we are determined to know God’s plan for our life He will be true and real it to us Ephesians 5:17. This vision will keep us on track Proverbs 29:18.
9. Decide to leave YOUR mark on the world…give God the glory Genesis 40:8
Do not waste your pain by holding onto “it”, give it to God to transform into victory. He promised to give us beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3) but we have to give Him the ashes. We would be wise to learn to have a good attitude as Joseph did and let go of the bitterness, resentment, rejection, shame and failure to forgive. God is our Vindicator and He will bring good out of what the enemy meant for harm. Hallelujah.
Week Four: Exodus 16-36