Trusting God's Will: Dedication in Uncertainty
Summary
### Summary
Today, we continued our exploration of Joseph's life in Genesis 41, focusing on the theme of God's will and our response to it. I shared a personal story from a mission trip to the Philippines, where I experienced a moment of feeling out of control, much like Joseph must have felt throughout his journey. This led us to reflect on how we often struggle with not being in control and how that relates to understanding and following God's will.
We revisited the story of Rachel, Joseph's mother, who experienced deep emotional pain due to infertility. Her desperation led her to cry out to God, and eventually, God remembered her and blessed her with Joseph. Rachel's journey from desperation to dependence on God is a powerful example of how God wants us to rely on Him, especially when we feel out of control.
Joseph's life is a testament to the importance of dedication in following God's will. After receiving a divine revelation, Joseph spent years in dedication, preparing for the famine that was to come. His story teaches us that while revelation is a part of God's will, dedication is equally crucial. Joseph's unwavering commitment, even in the face of adversity and uncertainty, is a model for us to follow.
We also discussed the importance of addressing challenges diligently, focusing on a vision for the future, and consistently showing up to do the daily work. These principles are not just applicable to Joseph's story but are vital for our own spiritual journeys. Whether it's parenting, work, or personal struggles, dedication to God's will requires daily commitment and trust in His timing.
In closing, I shared a touching story about a young woman who, in a moment of despair, remembered a Bible verse she had heard as a child. This memory saved her life, illustrating the long-term impact of dedication and the importance of instilling God's word in our hearts and the hearts of those we influence.
### Key Takeaways
1. Dependence on God in Desperation: Rachel's story of infertility and her eventual blessing with Joseph teaches us the importance of turning our desperation into dependence on God. When we feel out of control, like Rachel, we must cry out to God and trust in His timing and provision. This dependence transforms our hearts and aligns us with God's will. [33:20]
2. Dedication Beyond Revelation: Joseph's life shows that receiving a divine revelation is only the beginning. The real challenge lies in the dedication required to see God's will come to fruition. Joseph's years of preparation for the famine, despite the hardships, highlight the necessity of daily commitment and trust in God's plan. [47:11]
3. Diligently Addressing Challenges: Dedication to God's will means addressing challenges head-on. Joseph didn't procrastinate; he immediately began preparing for the famine. This teaches us the importance of not delaying our responsibilities and being proactive in our spiritual and practical lives. [48:58]
4. Holding a Vision for the Future: Joseph had to maintain a vision for the future, even when others doubted or criticized him. This teaches us the importance of staying focused on God's promises and plans, even when immediate results are not visible. Holding onto God's vision helps us navigate through periods of doubt and discouragement. [52:34]
5. Consistency in Daily Work: The story of the young woman who remembered a Bible verse in her darkest moment underscores the importance of daily consistency in our spiritual practices. Just as Joseph showed up every day for seven years, we must consistently engage in our spiritual disciplines, trusting that God will use our efforts in His perfect timing. [54:20]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:08] - Mission Trip to the Philippines
[25:56] - Feeling Out of Control
[28:00] - Rachel's Desperation
[29:30] - Rachel's Dependence on God
[31:21] - Jacob's Anger and Rachel's Loneliness
[33:20] - God Remembered Rachel
[34:50] - Birth of Joseph
[36:58] - Joseph's Formative Years
[38:50] - Joseph in Prison
[40:39] - Pharaoh's Dreams
[42:19] - Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams
[44:06] - Seven Years of Plenty and Famine
[45:34] - Joseph's Rise to Power
[47:11] - Dedication to God's Will
[48:58] - Addressing Challenges Diligently
[50:41] - Vision for the Future
[52:34] - Consistency in Daily Work
[54:20] - Story of the Young Woman
[56:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 41:1-57
2. Genesis 30:1-2, 22-24
3. 1 Peter 5:7
### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams in Genesis 41? ([44:06])
2. How did Rachel's desperation and prayer lead to the birth of Joseph according to Genesis 30:22-24? ([33:20])
3. What was Joseph's immediate response after being appointed by Pharaoh to prepare for the famine? ([48:58])
4. How did the young woman in the pastor's story find hope in her moment of despair? ([54:20])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Joseph's dedication to God's will, despite his hardships, serve as a model for us today? ([47:11])
2. What does Rachel's transformation from desperation to dependence on God teach us about handling our own struggles? ([34:50])
3. How can the principle of diligently addressing challenges, as seen in Joseph's actions, be applied to our daily lives? ([48:58])
4. In what ways does holding a vision for the future help us navigate periods of doubt and discouragement? ([52:34])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt out of control. How did you respond, and how might you turn that desperation into dependence on God in the future? ([28:00])
2. Joseph showed unwavering dedication to God's will. What is one area in your life where you need to show more dedication and commitment? ([47:11])
3. Rachel's story highlights the importance of prayer and dependence on God. How can you incorporate more consistent prayer into your daily routine? ([33:20])
4. Joseph didn't procrastinate in addressing the challenges ahead of him. What is one challenge you are currently facing that you need to address more diligently? ([48:58])
5. Holding a vision for the future helped Joseph stay focused. What is a vision or goal you have for your spiritual journey, and how can you stay committed to it despite potential discouragement? ([52:34])
6. The young woman remembered a Bible verse in her darkest moment. What steps can you take to instill God's word in your heart and the hearts of those you influence? ([54:20])
7. Consistency in daily work was crucial for Joseph. What is one spiritual discipline you can commit to practicing daily, and how will you ensure you stay consistent? ([54:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Dependence on God in Desperation
When we face moments of desperation, it is easy to feel out of control and overwhelmed. Rachel's story of infertility and her eventual blessing with Joseph teaches us the importance of turning our desperation into dependence on God. Rachel's deep emotional pain led her to cry out to God, and in His perfect timing, He remembered her and blessed her with a son. This transformation from desperation to dependence is a powerful example of how God wants us to rely on Him, especially when we feel out of control. By trusting in God's timing and provision, our hearts are aligned with His will, and we can find peace even in the midst of our struggles. [33:20]
Genesis 30:22-23 (ESV): "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, 'God has taken away my reproach.'"
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt out of control and desperate. How can you turn that experience into a moment of dependence on God today?
Day 2: Dedication Beyond Revelation
Receiving a divine revelation is only the beginning of understanding God's will. Joseph's life shows that the real challenge lies in the dedication required to see God's will come to fruition. After interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph spent years preparing for the famine, demonstrating unwavering commitment despite the hardships he faced. This teaches us that dedication to God's will involves daily commitment and trust in His plan, even when the path is difficult and uncertain. Joseph's story encourages us to remain steadfast and dedicated, knowing that God's plan will unfold in His perfect timing. [47:11]
Genesis 41:46-49 (ESV): "Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to show more dedication to God's will? How can you commit to daily actions that align with His plan?
Day 3: Diligently Addressing Challenges
Dedication to God's will means addressing challenges head-on and not procrastinating. Joseph's immediate response to prepare for the famine after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams is a powerful example of this principle. He did not delay his responsibilities but took proactive steps to ensure the well-being of Egypt. This teaches us the importance of being diligent and proactive in our spiritual and practical lives. By facing our challenges with determination and trust in God, we can overcome obstacles and fulfill His purposes for us. [48:58]
Proverbs 6:6-8 (ESV): "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest."
Reflection: What challenge are you currently facing that you have been putting off? How can you take a proactive step today to address it with diligence and trust in God?
Day 4: Holding a Vision for the Future
Joseph had to maintain a vision for the future, even when others doubted or criticized him. This teaches us the importance of staying focused on God's promises and plans, even when immediate results are not visible. Holding onto God's vision helps us navigate through periods of doubt and discouragement. By keeping our eyes on the future and trusting in God's promises, we can remain steadfast and hopeful, knowing that His plans for us are good and will come to pass in His perfect timing. [52:34]
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
Reflection: What vision or promise from God are you holding onto? How can you stay focused on this vision, even when immediate results are not visible?
Day 5: Consistency in Daily Work
The story of the young woman who remembered a Bible verse in her darkest moment underscores the importance of daily consistency in our spiritual practices. Just as Joseph showed up every day for seven years to prepare for the famine, we must consistently engage in our spiritual disciplines, trusting that God will use our efforts in His perfect timing. Consistency in prayer, reading Scripture, and other spiritual practices builds a strong foundation of faith that can sustain us through difficult times and help us grow closer to God. [54:20]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: What daily spiritual practice can you commit to this week to build consistency in your walk with God? How can this practice help you grow closer to Him and prepare you for future challenges?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You ever feel out of control of a situation? And you're just not, like, it's a, it's a little bit like life can be sometimes, where you're just like, whoever's, I hope whoever's driving knows how to get where we're going. I hope that, you know, you, you, you kind of just, you don't feel like you're in control of the situation. Like, maybe you feel like you've lost control. Maybe you never felt like you had it to begin with. And, and we don't like that feeling of not being in control." (39 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Rachel was beautiful. And, and we know that she wants to be a mom. Probably her identity as a woman is somewhat wrapped up in that, in that culture, in that day, being a mom was everything. And if you were to go back and, and, and I'm not asking you to do that, but if you were to go back to Genesis chapter 30 and, and verse 1, it says that when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, give me children or I shall die. Can you hear her desperation?" (44 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So Rachel has been, Rachel's been crying out to God. Rachel's been on her knees. She's, she's communicated with this. She's been sad with God. It has forced her to become dependent on God for her strength, for her help. And you need to understand with this verse here, this word remembered, it's not like we remember, okay? So it wasn't like, oh, God got busy, and he forgot, and then he remembered. Like, no, that's not how God operates." (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So don't miss the change in this woman's heart. As chapter 30 begins with Rachel, she's saying to her husband, give me children or I'll die. And at the end of the chapter, she's saying, God will give. God will give. That's what God wants to develop in us. That is what God wants to do in us. As we pursue, as we go after his will in our lives, he wants to create a dependence on him. He wants us to depend on him and him alone, that while we're waiting, we come to realize that he's the one in whose strength I can trust." (50 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The hardest part of God's will oftentimes isn't the what, it's the when. When is it gonna happen? Why is it taking so long? That's where we struggle sometimes." (11 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Joseph's in this position of power, of authority now. It says in verse 47, then, during the seven plentiful years, the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt. He put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it couldn't be measured." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Revelation is only part of God's will. The other part is dedication. But we focus on the revelation part. Like, that's the part we obsess about. That's the part that we want to talk about all the time. And that's the part that is most of our focus. God, what do you want? God, show me, tell me, what is the revelation? And the revelation is definitely part of it. But the other part is dedication. And we see this in the life of Joseph. Joseph gets this amazing, supernatural revelation from God. But then it requires seven years of dedication to make it happen." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Dedication means that you diligently address the challenges. In verse 46, Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's said all of this about how powerful Joseph would be, what he wanted Joseph to do. He's clothed him. He's put the ring on him. And Joseph immediately went through all the land of Egypt then. Now, wouldn't it have been easy for Joseph to be like, finally out of prison? I'm in the palace now. I got these clothes and the ring and everything. We got seven years. We've got seven years to prepare for this. Like, I'm going to rest a little bit. No, no. He gets this amazing responsibility and the first thing he does is go about defining reality." (54 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Dedication means to consistently show up and do the daily work. For seven years, Joseph shows up. For seven years, Joseph prepares, knowing and trusting what's coming. And sometimes it's the daily, right? Sometimes it's the little things that we're like, I can rest on this." (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And then at just the right time, God will give. God gives. Are you dedicated to his will? Are you trusting and showing up in the day-to-day? Are you diligently preparing and trusting in the day-to-day?" (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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