Study

Dropped In Hole

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

Genesis 37:23-24:

23 And it cometh to pass, when Joseph hath come unto his brethren, that they strip Joseph of his coat, the long coat which is upon him,

24 and take him and cast him into the pit, and the pit is empty, there is no water in it.

 

Theme:

Dropped In A Hole

 

Introduction:

  • The Book Of Genesis is the first book of the Bible, the first book of the Old Testament, the first book of the Biblical books of History, the first book of the Pentateuch, and the first book of the Torah.
    • Genesis literally means “in the beginning”
    • Genesis spans the lives and accomplishments of its five main characters
      • Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob
    • Genesis outlines the beginnings of God’s plan for:
      • The universe
      • His chosen people
      • Our lives
  • Our text focuses on a specific component of a much larger, popular story of Joseph, the Dreamer.
    • Joseph finds himself DROPPED IN A HOLE by his brothers
    • This colorful but viewed as trivial component of the story is critical in Joseph’s life.
      • The turning point of Joseph’s life is when he was DROPPED IN A HOLE!
      • Such is out theme!!

Body:

  • As the turning point it implies that there must have been a before and after this occurrence.
    • Before Joseph was DROPPED IN A HOLE….
      • Jacob was Joseph’s father..
      • He had many sons but Joseph was his favorite b/c he was born in his old age and of Rachel who was believed to be barren.
      • He made all of his sons coats but Joseph’s was of many colors or pieces
      • The other sons hated Joseph
        • 1)Cause he had a different Mama
        • 2)Cause Jacob favored Joseph
        • 3)Cause Joseph got a coat of many colors or pieces (manifesting Jacob’s favor on Joseph)
      • Joseph was a dreamer à He had a dream and told His brothers è They hated him even more!
        • Genesis 37:5, “And Joseph dreameth a dream, and declareth to his brethren, and they add still more to hate him.”
      • Out of their hatred, the brothers sought to destroy Joseph
        • Kill Him?? Reuben said NO…don’t kill him
          • Instead take his coat, kill an animal, and put the animal’s blood on it to make Jacob think that Joseph was killed.
          • While they are working their plan they thought to just drop Joseph in a hole until further notice
    • It is here that Joseph is DROPPED IN A HOLE!
      • Have you ever felt that you have been dropped in a hole??
        • When that relationship leaves you lonely and alone
        • When you have tried all and nothing gives answer
        • When you walk with pain, live with pain, and can’t seem to get any healing
        • When there are walls all around you and you can’t see your way out!!!!
      • But this can still “work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
        • Spiritual Maturity
        • Being Living Witness
        • Romans 5:4 tells us that “Experience worketh hope” and hope maketh not ashamed!!!
      • Sometimes God allows you to be “dropped in a hole” so that his perfecting will can be done
        • Joseph could have been killed
          • Reuben saved Joseph’s life by suggesting that he not be killed but deceitfully reported as dead.
        • The hole was actually a well that had dried up
          • The hole could have been full of water or other predators to put him in danger when dropped.
        • The best thing for Joseph was for him to be dropped in the hole
          • Often the enemy does not realize that the hole that he is putting you in is exactly where God wanted you to be to get where you need to go!!
            • The brothers wanted him dead so the hole was the SAFEST place for Joseph to be until he was picked up.
        • God meant for Joseph to be DROPPED IN THE HOLE
          • 1st, God allows it à Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
          • 2nd, God uses it à Hebrews 2:10, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
        • Sometimes God DROPS US IN A HOLE in our lives!
          • Who DROPPED you?
            • Boyfriend/girlfriend, friend, brother/sister, husband/wife, pastor, mother/father…
          • What is your “HOLE”?
            • Bad credit, debt, depression, anger, frustration, whoremongering…SIN
          • Now, have you been DROPPED IN A HOLE?
          • There is a reason why God ALLOWED you to be DROPPED IN A HOLE
            • Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us, every weight having put off, and the closely besetting sin, through endurance may we run the contest that is set before us,”
            • What we saw as a “hole” was God’s tool to make us better!!!
    • While in the hole, we must stay available, willing AND joyous
      • AVAILABLE à We must be like Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, be OBEDIENT and STEADFAST in the faith!!!!!
      • WILLING à It’s rough but we must hold on…as explained in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
      • JOYOUS à Matthew 5:12, “rejoice ye and be glad, because your reward is great in the heavens, for thus did they persecute the prophets who were before you.”

Conclusion:

  • The Latter proves to us that the former was for Joseph’s good! After Joseph had been DROPPED IN A HOLE…
    • The Midianite merchantmen took Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites
      • God uses “outsiders” to do an inside job!!! à Joseph is rescued from the pit!
    • Ishmaelites take Joseph to Egypt
      • Joseph catches a ride with strangers to get to where God wants Him to be!
    • Brothers came to the hole and found that Joseph was gone!
      • Enemies will come back to see that you are STILL in a Hole but….
      • God will move you before the enemy can do any more to you than God is allowing!
    • Joseph sold to Potiphar, “an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36)
      • Joseph went from a “hole” to the Captain’s house!!!
    • Joseph was elevated in Potiphar’s house!!
      • Genesis 39:3-4, “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”
    • Joseph ended up being the one whom his brothers came to for help!
      • The ones who sought to kill Joseph ended up seeking his help!!
  • In conclusion, when God allows you to be DROPPED IN A HOLE…
    • Keep looking up to God and not down to the “hole” à Psalms 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
    • God could be just keeping you still until His Work is done à Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
    • The “hole” could be protecting you from great danger
      • Psalms 31:20, “Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”
      • Psalms 27:5, “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”
    • Thank God for the “hole”!!!
      • Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
      • 2Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
  • That’s ALRIGHT…
    • I’ve been DROPPED IN A HOLE…but the “hole” doesn’t define me
    • I’ve been DROPPED IN A HOLE…but the “hole” doesn’t confine me
    • I’ve been DROPPED IN A HOLE…but the “hole” didn’t make me
    • I’ve been DROPPED IN A HOLE…but the “hole” sho’ can’t break me
    • When I think about it, I’m not alone in the “hole”…
      • I’ve got God
      • I’ve got His Salvation
      • I’ve got His Comfort
      • I’ve got His Peace
      • I’ve got His Spirit
  • So in His time I will come out of this “hole”
    • To my Deliverance
    • To my Sanctification
    • To my Restoration
    • To my Glorification

All because I was DROPPED IN A HOLE!!!!!!!

 

#397

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