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Dealing with Frustration
Genesis 40
Joseph is suffering from circumstances that are out of his control 40:15--source of frustration--we want to control everything
He was stolen away, out of his country
He has done nothing wrong where he is
He has been a slave or in jail now for something like 11 years
He has controlled or dealt with what he could
His attitude
Towards his condition
Even towards his master
His work ethic
His continued relationship with God
What is your main source of frustration?
You do not understand why this is happening to you
For the first time, you cannot control nor even predict what is going to happen as a result of your actions
You feel like you are being abused and manipulated
You feel like maybe God isn’t pleased with you and maybe punishing you
He has been blessed but still very limited as a slave or prisoner--we often lose sight of the blessings that we have
He became the main overseer in Potiphar’s house 39:5
He became the person in charge in the prison 39:22
He seems to have gained favor once again, at least to a degree, with Potiphar
The captain of the guard 37:36, 39:1, 40:3-4
Not just the keeper of the prison 39:21-23
He has been given the special job of taking care of the King’s servants 40:4
Have you lost sight of your blessings?
He has taken care of your daily bread Matthew 6:11
Your fears and worries are usually not about today Matthew 6:34
Maybe God has provided for you but it hasn’t been in the way you want or were accustomed to
III.He knows that he is still God’s man, so why is this happening to me
Do not interpretations belong to God 40:8
He interprets the dream of the butler 40:12-13
He interprets the dream of the baker 40:18-19
Maybe he remembers the dreams that he had 37:7, 9
Maybe he remembers what he had and lost 37:3
Maybe he remembers how hard he has worked and yet it seems to have produced nothing
He kept a good attitude as a slave
He even kept a good attitude after being put in prison after being falsely accused
You have been faithful to God all this time
You stay in your Bible and prayer
You are faithful to worship and honor God even with your ever diminishing goods and money
You feel like Job and would like to just have an opportunity to ask God why
You have good intentions and have been doing right even when others didn't
What Joseph did with his frustration--dealing with your frustration
He obviously kept his relationship with God
He kept doing what he knew to do where he was
He met the needs of others even when he didn't see that his needs were being met or worried about
He presented his case to the butler who would soon have the ear of the Pharaoh
He didn't accuse anyone
Not his brothers
Not Potiphar’s wife
He simply asks for a review of his case--taking the obvious means at hand to present his condition
By handling the things that God has placed in front of him he will eventually get deliverance
What if he had shown a bad attitude
What if he had served in a rebellious manner
He kept believing and waiting on God
That is obvious from the story--he was blessed by God
He still knows that God gives him the interpretation
This is the actual gift that God will use to finally promote him though he still has no idea of that
Trust God to know that He will only do what is best for you
Looking back everything that Joseph has been through is preparing him for the future God has for him
Interpreting the dreams will open the door for him so the investment in others will bring a return
Just do right and the best you can where you are
An opening or need is coming that you are being made to fill
Remember that God has a plan for your life that you can not see or understand
Know that God will work it all out for good Romans 8:28