Notes
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.
Galatians 5:1
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
God’s favor in our lives gives us freedom. His favor is available to those who respond to what He is offering.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.
Genesis 37:3-8
Joseph had an assignment from God, but his brothers didn’t like the assignment. Because Joseph shared his dream, he spent the next 17 years experiencing a lot of pain. Maybe in trying to fulfill your own assignment, you’ve hit some roadblocks. Remember that God’s gifts are irrevocable; if He puts His favor on your life, it won’t be taken away. Despite the challenges, you still have an assignment. There is freedom in walking in God’s favor.
So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it… Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!”
Genesis 37:23-24, 31-33
The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
Genesis 39:2
Joseph’s brothers decided to sell him to travelers, who sold him to an official to the pharaoh in Egypt. Though he had been stripped of the robe his father had given him, and though he had been mistreated and sold into slavery, Joseph didn’t operate by his outside circumstances. He operated by the favor of God in his life. Just because things around you change, whether you caused them or not, or if you feel like no one is paying attention to you, don’t operate by what you see on the outside. God’s favor is on the inside; no matter what is happening on the outside, God’s gifts cannot be taken away.
She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house… Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.
Genesis 39:12, 19-21
Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, but despite what had been said about him, God’s favor remained with him. Joseph could have stopped doing anything for God; the accusations against him cost him years of his life spent in prison. But he still continually operated in God’s favor, even in prison for something he didn’t do.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:41
“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.” Joseph’s faithfulness led him to this position of power. The gift God had given him of interpreting dreams led Joseph to prepare in advance for a famine that hit the land. People were losing hope, but Joseph was ready.
Genesis 45:4-8
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”
Genesis 50:20-21
There will be times of famine, but God can use anything for good. Joseph shows us not only how to get through difficult moments, but that God is with us even when we can’t get away from the difficulties.
Group Questions
- How does understanding the freedom we have in Christ impact the way we live daily?
- What are some ways you can remind yourself to walk in the freedom and favor that God has given you?
- What can you do to maintain your faith and trust in God even when circumstances seem to be against you?
- How can we support each other in staying focused on God's favor and purpose, especially during difficult times?
Prayer
Thank you for the freedom and favor you have given to us through Jesus. Help us to walk in that freedom daily and to trust in your plan, even when challenges arise.