RESENTMENT (GEN. 45:5)

The recent school shootings have left some people asking, “Who can we trust?”

Who can we trust to keep our children safe in American schools?

Security guards cannot be relied upon to stop the shootings.

Relying upon students to help stop the problem hasn’t worked.

Parents have not been able to keep their children from bringing guns to school.

WE LIVE IN A TIME AND A CULTURE WHEN OTHERS LET US DOWN. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DISAPPOINT US.

a) This isn’t new.

b) For the last 2-3 weeks we have examined some material from the life of Joseph.

c) As we look at this young man’s life we find that many people disappointed him.

d) Joseph was let down during times when he really needed support and help.

e) Let’s go back to Gen. 37.

f) Many children grow up thinking that their home life across the street is better than theirs.

g) The grass is always greener at someone else’s house.

h) At Joseph’s house the grass was not very green. His brothers hated him.

i) Gen. 37:4.

j) Joseph’s family let him down. They were a disappointment.

k) Towards the end of this chapter we find that Joseph’s brothers threw him into a pit.

l) They wanted to kill him but they eventually decided to sell him into slavery.

m) The next time we come across someone who disappoints us it we would do well to re-read Gen.37.

n) Joseph’s own flesh and blood turned their backs on him.

o) Joseph was eventually sold to Potiphar (Gen. 37:36) and he began to prosper (Gen. 39:2).

p) Joseph “found favor” in the sight of his master (Gen. 39:4).

q) This young man had been hurt, very badly in the past, but someone was now treating him well.

r) As this chapter continues we read about a false accusation that was made against this young man.

s) Potiphar was informed about the charge. What did he do?

t) Gen. 39:20.

u) Joseph was burned a second time.

v) He developed a good relationship with his boss but his master didn’t support him.

w) When a problem with his job arose he was sent away to prison.

x) While in prison Joseph met up with the king’s chief butler.

y) This butler had a dream (40:10-11).

z) Joseph explained the dream and asked for some help, 40:13-15.

aa) This chapter ends with another disappointment, 40:23.

bb) Joseph should have been able to rely upon his brothers but they disappointed him.

cc) He had some confidence in his employer but he was disappointed again.

dd) He now relies on a man who has access to the king but he is disappointed a third time.

ee) The book of Genesis shows that people will let us down.

ff) We are not perfect and we sometimes let others down. Others will do the same to us.

2) THE BAD EXPERIENCES THAT JOSEPH HAD, IF THEY WERE TO OCCUR TODAY, WOULD CAUSE SOME TO BECOME RESENTFUL. MANY WOULD THINK BACK TO THE WRONGS THEY SUFFERED AND CARRY A GRUDGE.

a) We find people, in and out of the church, who harbor bad feelings about bad experiences.

b) Who here has not spoken with someone who said, “They did _______to me __ years ago.

c) I have not forgotten.”

d) If anyone has come here tonight and is still carrying around a grudge from the past,

e) Or we get into a future situation where we are tempted to carry around ill feelings,

f) I want to send us home with a few verses that are very helpful.

g) To appreciate and use this information we must bear in mind what happened to Joseph.

h) He depended upon people during three important times in his life.

i) In each of these instances he was let down.

j) After several more events transpire in the book of Genesis he says this in 45:4-5.

i) Joseph said to his brothers, “I understand some things.”

ii) “I was mistreated by you and sold into slavery but these acts were part of a bigger plan.”

iii) “I lost my job in Pharaoh’s house but that too was part of a bigger plan.”

iv) “I went to prison but that was part of a bigger plan.”

v) “I was let down by the chief butler but that was part of a bigger plan.”

vi) “I understand the bigger plan and I am not holding a grudge.”

k) Joseph was able to see the bigger plan.

l) Notice verse 7 of Gen. 45.

m) We sometimes speak of how fortunate we are to live under the New Testament.

n) Because of the New Testament we understand some things that Old Testament figures didn’t know.

o) This is true, but in Gen. 45 Joseph had the upper hand.

p) He was able to see how his mistreatment fulfilled a plan.

q) Many now living die before they realize their experiences may be part of a greater plan.

i) If as Christians we can learn and apply a principle from Gen. 45 we will be blessed.

ii) When a situation arises where we are tempted to create and hold a judge we can say,

iii) “Wait a minute.”

iv) “Here is a bad situation that upsets me. I believe I am being mistreated.”

v) “This isn’t fair. I have been wronged.” All of these things may be true.

vi) When these thoughts invade the mind we must remember that God has a plan.

vii) There is a bigger picture.

viii) Perhaps at that moment we cannot see that plan.

ix) If the circumstances are very bad we may not even care about a plan.

x) God’s plan may not be clear for a week, months, or several years.

xi) Joseph lived for about 13 years before he understood God’s plan.

xii) What if Joseph had carried around resentment for 13 years?

xiii) What if he had harbored grudges against his family, Potiphar, and the butler?

xiv) This is how some live.

xv) There are people who form a grudge or harbor resentment for 50 or more years.

xvi) Some go to their graves with bitterness and unresolved anger in their hearts.

xvii) Christians have a solution for this type of bitterness.

xviii) Look at the experiences of life as part of an overall plan by God.

3) TO THIS SOME WOULD SURELY RESPOND, “IF I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY SITUATION YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT CANNOT BE PART OF ANY PLAN.”

a) This is what I thought in 1985 and 1986.

b) During this time I was a personal assistant to a Major in the Air Force.

c) This man did a lot of writing and part of my job was involved typing his letters.

d) I was a slow typist; on a good day I could peck out 30 words a minute.

e) This man re-wrote his letters so many times I finally learned to type over 100 WPM.

f) This man re-wrote his material up to 50 times.

g) He was such a frustrating man to work with or for that I remember another incident.

h) The Air Force had people in the recruiting department.

i) Those who were within 6 months of discharge would be approached by a recruiting representative.

j) These recruiters would give military members a speech on why they should reenlist.

k) The chief recruiting representative and I both worked for the major who liked to re-write letters.

l) This recruiter came and apologized. He said, “In 20 years I have never met anyone like this guy.”

m) “If I had your job for the last 2 years I would get out. I don’t have a speech for you.”

n) That was all right. Other plans had already been laid.

o) In the 1980’s the unpleasant experiences with the major were not understood.

p) I have come to learn that what happened over a 2 year period had a purpose.

q) As frail human beings we are too often shortsighted.

r) In looking at Joseph this man of God could have made several arguments.

s) He could have said, “My family has turned against me. God, how can that possibly be good?”

t) Joseph could have made this argument about his job.

u) “God, I finally got a good job but lost it. How can that be part of any plan?”

v) A real plan would mean that I get a good job and keep it.

w) An argument could have also been based on his time in jail.

x) “God, I had a chance to get out and it didn’t work.

y) A good plan would get me out of this place.”

z) “How can my staying in jail be part of any master plan?”

aa) We can ask these questions.

bb) We can in essence challenge God.

cc) “God, here is my circumstance and it is not good. How will this ever be helpful to me”?

dd) “God don’t you know that I would have been better off if things would have stayed the same?”

ee) Joseph could have made these arguments and he could have made them sound so good.

ff) If Joseph had made these arguments he would have needed to repent.

gg) God had a plan and it was a marvelous plan. It was a plan that Joseph finally understood, Gen. 45

hh) If we will view our circumstances in life as part of a master plan we will be immeasurably blessed.

i) Have we ever lost a job?

ii) Have we ever been directly or indirectly affected by a serious illness?

iii) Have we dealt with a death that seemed unfair?

iv) What about being let down or disappointed by a friend or church member?

v) Have we been charged with something we didn’t do?

4) If any of these apply the experience wasn’t pleasant. It may not have been fair or right.

5) What we went through may be thought of as being part of a plan.

a) We may wish that God’s plans are always pleasant and easy but that is faulty thinking.

b) God’s plans are not always trouble free and effortless.

c) Jesus had to leave heaven, face the devil, be beaten, be nailed to a cross, and die a horrible death.

d) Each of these incidents by itself may not make a lot of sense.

e) If we isolate these incidents from the plan they seem senseless and avoidable.

f) If we look at them in the context of a plan they all immediately make sense.

g) If we could step back and look at our life from beginning to end—

h) Many of our experiences that seem so bad would also make a lot of sense.

i) What we might view as a isolated and senseless incident can be link in a long chain.

6) I want God to have a plan for the events that happen in my life.

7) What about you?