‘The Birmingham Six’
Series
‘Life on a rollercoaster with Joseph’
Today
‘The test of advancement’
Genesis 41
But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me
kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison
Gen 40:14
Allow God to do things in His way
The chief cupbearer … did not remember Joseph; he forgot him
Gen 40:23
Allow God to do things in His time
When two full years had passed …
Gen 41:1
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your
face from me?
Psalm 13:11
Allow God to do things in His time
I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even
here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon
Gen 40:15
Is God unfair?
Is God hidden?
Is God silent?
"Where is God? … When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him ... you will be, or
so it feels - welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on
the inside. After that, silence ... you may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the
silence becomes." C S Lewis
the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and
granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warder
Gen 39:21
Allow God to do things in His time
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when
people succeed in their ways
Psalm 37:7
Allow God to get the glory
In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the
magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him
Gen 41:8
Allow God to get the glory
‘I cannot do it … but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’
Gen 41:16
Allow God to get the glory
‘God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 7 years of great abundance are coming
throughout the land of Egypt, but 7 years of famine will follow them … The reason the dream
was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God
will do it soon’
Gen 41:28-32
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find
anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?’
Gen 41:37
‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and
wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to
your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’
Gen 41:39-40
‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his
signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain round his
neck. He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted
before him, ‘Make way!’
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh
king of Egypt
Gen 41:46a
But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God.
My times are in your hands …”
Psalm 31:14-15