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The Life You’ve Always Wanted 5: Becoming Better not Bitter Genesis 50.15-21
Mount Pisgah 2/4/07 Allen R. Hunt
I. Better not bitter – thought about that at 6:15 on Thursday morning
My girls had a vision from God – a brilliant dream, divinely inspired
Wed. evening, they shared that dream passionately - that in the night, a snowy fog would cover the earth, and thereby render school impossible on Thursday
That was the destination – simply needed cooperation of the Almighty in providing for the required precipitation
So at 6:16 I leapt from the bed and headed downstairs to check the computer – wsbtv.com for the latest update on school closings
And what to my wondering eyes should appear but no closings in Fulton County
And God entrusted to me the task of trekking back upstairs to share with my dreaming daughters that their dreams had been dashed
A flurry of insults and epithets was hurled in my direction at the news
And we went to school on Thursday morning bitter – most assuredly not better

Sometimes, God’s dream for our lives, our focus this series, may get sidelined or it may even seem derailed altogether
And at that moment we have two choices – bitter or better

II. Why we begin with Joseph today
Devout dreamer – tender age of 17 had been assured by God through dreams he would one day be a ruler and his older brothers would be subject to him – God’s dream clear
Foolish enough to share that with his brothers – hated him for it
And resented him further because he was their father, Jacob’s, favorite

One day out in the fields, they decided to kill him – but oldest brother, Reuben, prevented the murder and they sold him instead to a camel caravan of traders heading toward Egypt
Imagine yourself as Joseph – hands tied behind you, transported as hostage to uncaring strangers toward a foreign land, status has plunged from favorite son and future ruler to slave worth 20 shekels – less than a camel’s value
Where is God in this dream? More like a nightmare

But Joseph knew two of the best words in the Bible
1) “But God” – occur at least 42 times together
(Gen. 31.7; 48.21; 50.20, 24; Ex. 13.18; Judg. 15.19; 1 Sam. 23.14; Ps. 49.15; Acts 7.9; Rom. 5.8; Eph. 2.4)
Words that mean God is about to do something
Things going one way and God about to intervene

David in the wilderness – Saul in hot dispute, searching
BUT GOD did not give David into his hands (1Sam 23.14)
Israelites fleeing Egyptian army and Pharaoh, not knowing how to escape
BUT GOD led the people around by the desert road through the Red Sea (Ex 13.18)
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph. 2.4)
BUT GOD – reminders that God protects, delivers and saves

So no surprise then that Joseph, knowing full well dream God has in store for his life
When he encounters opposition, hostility, even downright failure – two words to lean on – BUT GOD
Acts 7.9 – The patriarchs were jealous of Joseph and sold him as a slave into Egypt, BUT GOD was with him
Situation worsens – yet Joseph at the end of his life is able to look at his brothers and say
You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Gen. 50.20)

Because Joseph grasps this essential truth
2) When there appear to be dead-ends, look for God’s detour signs. (Course corrections)
If the dream for your life is truly God’s dream
If He has given the destination, helped release anchor weight of past, provided the rudder of self-control, given tools for sailing, He will make the necessary course corrections
There are no dead ends – nothing is impossible with God (rich man, Mary)

Down in Egypt, God helps with first detour
Joseph was sold to a good man, Potiphar – who put him in management over household
Joseph - two major gifts – management and ability to discern God’s purposes through dreams
Potiphar’s wife sexually harassed Joseph, and when he would not agree to affair, she falsely accused him of assault
He went to jail – another dead end
Bu in jail God found another good detour – jailer put Joseph in charge of prison
Interpreted dreams of 2 inmates who had worked in Pharaoh’s household
One of them, cup bearer, was released and returned to Pharaoh’s employment
He promised to remember Joseph and help him – but he forgot – dead end again

But two years later, Pharaoh had a dream and desperately wanted someone to interpret
Cupbearer remembered Joseph – filled with God’s wisdom, he interpreted dream
Also advised Pharaoh on policies for government and became second in command
God transformed a dead end to a good detour

Learn truth from Joseph – when your dream encounters a dead-end, look for detour by
A) Faith/Trust (Gen. 39.9; 40.8; 41.16, 25, 32, 38-39, 52; 42.18; 45.5-9;50.24)
Joseph had dream – jealous brothers sold him to slavery
“But God was with him”
Accused by Potiphar’s wife and jailed – but God was with him
Forgotten by cupbearer – but God was with him
Took 23 years for dream to become a reality for Joseph – lot of twists and turns
False accusations, ungrateful friends – Joseph could have invented country music
“If the juke box took tear drops, I could dance all night long.”
But Joseph had patience and persistence to wait and trust God
Learn those two words – BUT GOD – work in every situation you are in
Alone, wandering, struggling, tired, accused, teetering? BUT GOD
Faith/Trust

And other way you will find God’s detour signs is through
B) Forgiveness (Gen. 41.51; 50.20-1)
Joseph meets back up with his brothers once he is in power
They have a famine and come to Egypt searching for food, having no idea Joseph runs it
Joseph has the perfect chance for revenge – get even with brothers who sold him into slavery and sent his God-given dream on a 23 year detour

Ann Landers tells about man who saw ad in paper for practically new Porsche for $50
Figured it was a typo, but even if it were $5000, what a bargain
Hurried to address, saw the car – lady who answered door assured him the price was $50
He drove the beauty of a convertible around the block
Came back, gave the lady $50 in cash – and she gave him the papers of ownership
Finally, he had to ask – why selling at ridiculous price
“My husband ran off with his secretary and left me a note to sell the car and send him the money.”

Joseph meets his brothers again – he has his chance – a How do you like me now moment
He does not excuse their behavior, dismiss it, or minimize it – addresses it head on
Instead he says these words
“You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen. 50.20-1)
You and I know full well what you did, but I am choosing to forgive and treat you with grace with which you failed to treat me
23 years of detour – prison, poverty, suffering – and Joseph has gotten better not bitter

Tonight on radio, we’ll interview Aimee Maxwell, lawyer from Innocence Project who helped gain release of Pete Williams after 22 year detour in prison for rape he did not commit – how that time in prison – wasted life? “No, made me better”

God has a dream for your life – will require your cooperation
And there will be challenges – everyone will not be excited about God’s dream
You will hit what appear to be dead ends
There will be times you want to give up
In those very moments, turn to God – where else will you go?
Do not give up – He will help turn what could be bitterness into better

And best way I know how to do this personally is through a forgotten behavior
3) One Method of Help = Fasting
(Ex. 34.28; Ps. 69.10; Isa. 58; Dan. 10.3; Mt. 6.16-18; Lk. 2.37; 4.1-2; 5.33; Acts 13.4; 14.23)
Fasting – spending time without eating for spiritual purposes
Be amazed at what you discover – not necessarily first time you do it, but make it a habit and will pay rich dividends
Will learn things that control you
Will help you focus on God in your prayer life more than ever before
And will release you from things that hold you back – strongholds to be broken
And when it comes to bitterness, inability to forgive, other strongholds, fasting is greatest tool God gives you

Early Christians fasted on Fridays
Wesley on Wednesdays and Fridays
Invite you and me to a day of fasting this Friday – church-wide fast
24 hours with only water – helpful instructions on back of sermon notes today
Can even make this a regular habit in your life – join other Methodists all over world at web site on notes
As a first experience, I ask you to pray for two things as you fast
1) That God will make you better – show you what is holding you back from being who He wants you to be
2) Our Church – for Mount Pisgah – may we be a Church that burns with a heart for the lost more than the found, for the broken more than the healthy
Join me on Friday – see what God does
Better not bitter