Faith

Good Morning,
Last night in bible study we talked about hope, vision, and faith. They all tie in together so I am going to focus on faith. The easiest example of faith for me in Joseph. We are introduced to Joseph in Genesis 30:24 and as you continue to read the chapter you find that he lacked nothing. Now as you moved forward to Genesis 37 that's where Josephs story as we know it begins. Verse 3 says "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colors." Lets take a look at Luke 12:48 for a second "But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." So we do realize that at this point Israel gave his son much. Keep you eye on the tunic we will come back to that. Verses 5-9 talk about a dream Gods vision for Joseph. Now I believe at one point or another God gives us His dream for us, if He hasn't given you your dream yet start to pray for that. As we look at Genesis 37:23 it reads "And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat of [many] colors that [was] on him;" Joseph was stripped of his tunic.

Some of you may ask, "OK, so where does faith come into play?" Well faith starts in the pit. The bible doesn't go into much depth about what happened in the pit, but we do see the aftermath. After being sold into slavery by his own brothers he went to Potiphar's house. Here Joseph was successful and was made overseer of the house. We see this in Genesis 39:4. So we know that Potipher's wife came on to Joseph but I want to focus on verse 12 it reads "And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." Again we see Joseph's garment taken away. Joseph then gets put into prison for a crime he did not commit. Do we see the pattern here, Joseph is elevated, then stripped of his authority, then persecuted. Well how does he show his faith? Even in the mist of all this turmoil he continues to serve God this is evident because he continues to do his best which therefore continues to place him in a place of authority. Even in prison he goes on to interpret the dreams of the butler and the baker and then went on to interrupt that of Pharaoh. His dream was realized in Genesis 42:8-29. So I pose these questions what is the dream God has given to you? Can your faith endure the pit, and the prison to receive it? Do you realize that you may be elevated then removed from authority for that dream to be achieved? How do you feel about that?

Scriptures to read
Genesis 37, 39, 40 and 41
Hebrews 11

Thought of the day Hebrews 11:39-40 "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Joseph and other hero's of the old testament showed great faith and they did not have the example of Christ only the promise of Him. Now having Him how much more faith should we show.