Joseph Part 3

Q: What does the Bible say about Christ as our provider?

The Bible presents Christ as the ultimate provider of grace and mercy, as seen through the story of Joseph in Genesis 41. In Genesis 41, the story of Joseph serves as a powerful illustration of how Christ provides for His people. Joseph was exalted from prison to the throne, symbolizing how Christ willingly humbled Himself to deliver His people from sin and death. Just as Joseph gathered an abundance of provisions during the years of plenty to sustain Egypt through famine, Christ offers a fullness of grace and mercy to all who come to Him. John 6:37 affirms that everyone the Father gives to Christ will come and He will not cast them out, highlighting the abundance of provision available in Him.

Q: How do we know that God has the authority to save?

God's authority in salvation is affirmed by scripture, particularly in the way He entrusted all authority to Christ. Scripture clearly establishes God's authority over salvation, illustrated by the authority given to Christ. In John 3:35, we read that the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. This underscores that Christ has the authority to grant eternal life to those the Father has given Him, as seen in John 17:2. Additionally, Colossians 1:17 states that by Christ all things consist, further emphasizing His sovereign authority over creation and salvation. Thus, believers can trust that God's will is executed perfectly through Christ.

Q: Why is understanding God's mercy important for Christians?

Understanding God's mercy is crucial as it reveals the depth of His grace and the abundant provisions available through Christ. The understanding of God’s mercy is vital for Christians because it illuminates the vastness and richness of what Christ offers. Joseph's story shows that he gathered provisions that were so plentiful they could not be numbered (Genesis 41:49), paralleling the abundant grace of God. Psalm 86:5 declares that the Lord is plenteous in mercy, indicating that His mercy is not limited but exceeds our deepest needs. Recognizing our need for mercy leads us to Christ, who invites all to come to Him for rest and fullness (Matthew 11:28). Thus, grasping God’s mercy encourages believers to rely wholly on His grace for salvation and sustenance.

Turn with me, if you would, to Genesis 41. Genesis chapter 41. We're going through some of these Old Testament stories. And just a moment ago in our Bible study, we saw that by way of his all-wise accomplishment, Joseph was exalted from the prison to the throne.

And we saw what that was a picture of. That's Christ. That's our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The wording here said that the Lord was with him and prospered him and caused everything to be placed in his hands. Everything. He is a picture of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.

Because our Lord Jesus Christ willingly humbled himself. I just asked our brother to read that particular scripture on purpose. Philippians 2. Because our Lord Jesus Christ willingly humbled himself. How amazing is it that he would do that? I mean, we're talking about God Almighty. Because he willingly humbled himself and made himself obedient even unto the prison cell of sin and death for his people. Because he endured every bit of that to deliver his sinful people from it. God the Father has highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name. And I'm so glad about that. I love hearing that. I love knowing that. At the hearing of His name, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Now look with me here at Genesis 41 verse 39. Genesis 41. Verse 39, it says, And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. And they cried before him, bow the knee. And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." He said, no one is going to do anything without you. No one. Without you, nothing will be done. If it's going to be done, you're going to be the doer of it.

And Pharaoh said, Joseph, what you have decreed, what you have ordered, what you have purposed, what you have declared to be the only way, Joseph told Pharaoh, famine is coming, dearth is coming. And you only have one hope, there's only one deliverance. And he said, what you have declared to be the only way, That's what I want you to do. That work is laid on you. Now let's look at what Joseph declared was the only way, all right? The only way of deliverance, the only way of life. Look right here at verse 28, Genesis 41, verse 28. It says, Joseph said, this is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh, What God is about to do, he shall with unto Pharaoh. God is gonna do this.

Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine. And all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt. And the famine shall consume the land. and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of the famine following, for it shall be very grievous.

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt, Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt that the land perish not through the famine.

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, can we find such and one as this is? A man in whom the spirit of God is. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, for as much as God hath showed thee all this, There is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Now look at verse 46.

And Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And our Lord was 30 years old when he began his earthly ministry of provision for his people. Our Lord walked this earth for three and a half years. providing for his people, providing for his people, giving his people what they, earning for his people what they needed, laying up in store for his people what they needed. Verse 46 goes on to say, and Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years, the earth brought forth by handfuls, handfuls of purpose. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities, the food of the field, which was round about every city laid he up in the same.

Now watch this. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much until he left numbering, for it was without number. He just stopped counting. It was without number. These provisions that Joseph laid up, they were not just enough. They were not just, oh, I hope this will get us through the seven bad years. They were not just enough. They were not provisions that were barely enough. Joseph's provisions were more than could be contained.

And I'm going to tell you, that's the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 49 says, Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea very much until he left numbering for it was without number. Now, who did it? Who gathered it? Joseph gathered it. Who got the credit and the glory for doing that? Joseph got it. If any man or woman was to glory, who were they to glory in? They were to glory in Joseph. Look back up at verse 46. It says, Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

And in the seven plenteous years, the earth brought forth by handfuls And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. The food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the sand. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much until he left numbering, for it was without number."

Now look with me at verse 53. And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come according as Joseph had said. And the dearth was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. There was nothing but dearth everywhere. There was nothing but famine. There was nothing but hunger. There was nothing but emptiness. There was nothing but ruin everywhere.

But Joseph had bread. Joseph had fullness. Joseph had life. Verse 55, And when all the land of Egypt was famished, The people cried to Pharaoh for bread and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, go to Joseph. Go to Joseph. That's what the father says.

No man or woman can come to Christ except the father draw a sinner to Christ. I hope everyone is aware of that. No man, we talk about come to Christ, go to Christ. No man or woman can come to Christ. John 6, 44. He said, no man or woman can come to me except the father which has sent me.

Draw that man or woman to Christ. So that's what the father says in his draw. Go to Christ. That's what the father says. Go to Christ. That's what the spirit says. When God's Spirit speaks to one of His own, He speaks of nothing but Christ. That's His only subject matter. He will guide you into all things concerning Christ. Go to Christ. That's what the Father says. That's what the Spirit says. Go to Christ.

That's what the Law says. That's what the law says. The law is our schoolmaster that points us to Christ. Was this law given to show us what we needed to do in order to earn heaven? No. This law was given to show us what we could not do to earn heaven.

Only one man could fulfill this. Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Get to Christ. Go to Christ. The law tells us, it proves to us, your only hope is Christ. Your only hope of deliverance, your only hope of life is Christ. Look at verse 55. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph, what he saith to you do. What does Christ say to us when we come to him?

Rest. Isn't that what he said? Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden. I'll give you rest. Verse 56, and the famine was over all the face of the earth. And Joseph opened all the storehouses. I love that. All of them. But don't you want to, don't you want to ration this? Don't you want to just, just let's, let's calculate what is it going to take to be just, just barely above death, just bare minimum survival. How many, like what's the fewest calories we can live on?

Joseph opened all the storehouses wide open and sold unto the Egyptians. And the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt, and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn, because that the famine was so sore in the land." Not only did he have enough for the Egyptians, he had enough for everybody, all countries. All countries came to Joseph.

Now, based on what we just read, Here are some truths concerning Joseph and this provision that will most definitely declare the truth concerning Christ to us. All right? What we just read that will most definitely declare the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ to us. Number one, all authority over this provision, And over this deliverance of life was placed solely in the hands of Joseph. All authority.

Look at verse 41. It says, And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And that's a spiritual picture of the fact that John 3 verse 35 says, the father loveth the son and hath given all things into his hand. Everything is in his hand. Everything.

John 17 verse 2 says, the father has given the son power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as the father has given him. Colossians 1 verse 17 says, Christ is before all things and by him all things consist. By this picture of Joseph, number one, we see that Christ had all the authority in the delivering of his people. Okay, that's number one. Number two, in this story, we see that Joseph had all ability in delivering his people. all ability, all ability. Look again at verse 49. I could read this verse a hundred, a hundred thousand more times. This is so glorious to me.

Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea very much until he left numbering or it was without number and concerning the provision of grace and mercy that's in Christ, David said, my cup runneth over. Paul said, where sin abounded, where did sin abound? Right here. You know where my biggest problem with sin is? Right here.

Where sin abounded, thank God, his grace much more abounded, much more abounded. Peter said, we were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious, the infinitely valuable blood of the Lamb of God. Psalm 86 5 says, the Lord is plenteous in mercy. He's plenteous in mercy. He doesn't have just enough. He has plenty for everybody who needs it, everybody who needs it.

You think that could possibly include me? If you need mercy, you've been made to need mercy. If you need mercy, you've already been given, you've already been shown mercy. You've been shown that you need mercy, you've already received mercy. Psalm 130 verse 7 says, the Lord is plenteous in redemption, plenteous in redemption. The hymn writer wrote plenteous grace with thee is found grace to cover all my sin. Paul said, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able. Exceeding abundantly above able.

To keep that which I've committed unto him. So number one, all authority in deliverance was in his hand. Number two, all ability in deliverance was in his hand. And number three, this is the last one, number three, from this story of Joseph, we can see that all desire and willingness was in his hands.

Look at verse 56, Genesis 41, verse 56. And the famine was over all the face of the earth, And Joseph opened all the storehouses. All the storehouses, he opened up all of them wide open and he sold to the Egyptians. Verse 57 says, and all countries. Egyptian and non-Egyptian, Gentile and Jew.

All who came to Joseph were received. all who came to Joseph. And John 6, 37 says, all that the Father has given to Christ, every soul God the Father elected, selected, chose to redeem, every soul that the Father gave to Christ, it says, shall come to Christ. And him or her that cometh to Christ shall in no wise be cast out. Isaiah 55 verse 1 says, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. He that has no money, come on and buy. Romans 10, 13 says, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Now, let me make this very clear.

It takes the abundant mercy and grace of God to make a vile, wretched sinner call on the Lord. Life has to be given to a dead sinner before that sinner can call on the Lord and come to the Lord. But if the abundant mercy and grace of God causes a sinner to come to him and to call on him, then that sinner will find he delights. He delights to answer that cry. He delights to show mercy. He delights in receiving his own to himself, no matter how wretched that sinner may be.

Our Lord said, come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. I'll give you rest. I'll give you deliverance. I'll give you the fullness of righteousness, the fullness of satisfaction. He said, open your mouth wide and I'll fill it. And then I'll give you rest.

Verse 56, the famine was over all the face of the earth and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold them to the Egyptians and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn because that the famine was so sore in all the lands. And here's the message I want to leave us with.

If there is famine in your land, And this is a side note that I just want to say, I pray God would send famine to your land. I pray God would send great famine into your land, in my land. Famine of self, famine of ability, famine of this pride we're so drawn to, famine of self-righteousness. If there is a famine, if there is an emptiness, if there is a ruin because of sin, sin is what brings famine every time. There's a famine in all the land. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But if that famine has been made known to you, if there is a need in you for living bread and living water, go to Christ. Go to Christ, turn to Christ.

That emptiness has been placed in you by the Father. That realization of ruin has been made known to you by the Father. That is the Father drawing you to Christ. How does the Father draw a sinner to Christ? By showing that sinner his need, his emptiness, his ruin, his sinfulness. That is the Spirit pointing you to Christ.

The fullness, plenteous grace, plenteous redemption, plenteous mercy will be received. It will be received. Hebrews 7.25 says, He's able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him, our provider Our sustainer, our intercessor, Jesus Christ our Lord. He's our only hope. He's our only hope. To Him be all the credit. Amen.

Joseph Part 3

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Christ as our provider?

How do we know that God has the authority to save?

Why is understanding God's mercy important for Christians?

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Joseph Part 3

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about Christ as our provider?

How do we know that God has the authority to save?

Why is understanding God's mercy important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Gabe Stalnaker

Comments

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