Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors

We all know the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors and how his brothers sold him to slavery in Egypt out of jealousy.  There are many sermons written about this story found in Genesis 37 and 38-50.  Movies have been made; books written and even musicals have been performed about the young Joseph and his coat of many colors. 

As a small child, my mother bought me a book about Joseph and she read it over and over to me.  It was illustrated in bright colors and I was impressed with the coat his father made him.  I loved the part where his father loved him more than his other sons and although I wasn’t a son, I was sure my father loved me more than my brother and sister.  As a child, the story impressed me with gifts and favoritism along with mean siblings.

            I read the same story to my children when they were young and they were all impressed with the coat of many colors.  As time went on I heard about ‘Joseph’ many times; I think he was a favorite topic for many ministers and I understand why.  The attributes of Joseph were many: 

• He was a man of integrity
• He was faithful to God his whole life
• He put his whole heart into whatever task he did
• He was committed
• He was trusted by everyone
• He was used by God many times
• He was a born leader
• He was brilliant
• He wisely used the gift of a word of  knowledge and interpretation
• He was a diplomat to other nations
• He could read and write which was rare in those times
• He was a humble man, even though next to the Pharaoh, he ruled Egypt

We can go on and on about this man, Joseph and yet miss the greatest thing about him; he was a man of forgiveness!

Many people hold Unforgiveness in their hearts; Unforgiveness against parents, spouse, siblings, children, friends, co-workers, teachers, Pastors, and yes, even God.  They may even say they forgive the one who has done them wrong, but in their heart they may say, “I’ll forgive them – but, I’ll never forget it.” 

            Of course memories are hard to forget – we can’t be like God who takes our sins and casts them into the depth of the sea or as far as the east if from the west.  Every once in a while we like to take these things out, polish them up and look at them for a while.  Unforgiveness is a huge burden to carry and it weights us down throughout our life, if we don’t let it go.

I’m sure Joseph struggled with it for all the years he was in Egypt, but he was an exceptional man and still maintained his integrity.  How many times did he look back and wonder about his brothers who really wanted to kill him; they were so jealous.  How many times did he dream of his homeland and the father who loved him so much?  If there was any fault to be had, it would have had to belong to his father, Jacob.  Partiality in parenting is wrong and to treat one child better than the other is a sinful thing.  Jacobs’s grief and separation was his punishment for favoring one against others. 

When we come towards the part of the story in Genesis chapter 45:3-7, where Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt to buy grain and were brought before Joseph.  They did not recognize their brother after all those years and no doubt Joseph looked like a royal Egyptian, so they were probably very frightened as to what was to become of them.  Then Joseph began to weep and he said to his brothers,

            “I am Joseph!" he said to his brothers.”Is my father still alive?" But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. Come over here," he said. So they came closer. And he said again, "I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. These two years of famine will grow to seven, during which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation.”

His forgiveness was complete; it was not a horrible memory any longer, because Joseph saw God’s hand in it and therefore could forgive his brothers.  Forgiveness is the highlight of Joseph’s story, because without it the story would have ended.  He would have taken his brother’s lives and therefore the promise of God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would have ended

You may be thinking that God made Joseph forgive his brothers, but that can’t be right because God has made us free to make decisions on our own and he could not have made that decision for Joseph.  This story is an example of Jesus who forgives our sins and with joy welcomes us into His kingdom.  Oh, and the coat of many colors – that’s God’s promise to us.

            Perhaps there is someone in your life that you need to forgive and you haven’t been willing to do that.  Whoever it is that has sinned against you in some way may not know the pain or hurt they have caused you and so you are the one suffering – not them.  It’s time to give it over to God because he understands your pain and wants to take it from you.  Jesus suffered your sins and yet He forgave you and made a way to the Promised Land. You can do it and life a life free of the burden you’ve been carrying. Also remember this in Mark 11:26 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Knowing God's Presence

How would you like it if, while you were speaking with someone, they simply ignored you or carried on a conversation with someone else.  We often complain that we never hear from God, but do you think the God of all creation is going to speak when His Word is not respected enough to be listened to? Listen, if you can’t carry on a conversation with God, or treat what god calls holy as common; if you have irreverent attitude toward things of God, you need to repent.  I’m talking to myself as well.

How often do we in reverence stop to talk to God the Father?  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  Quit striving with God, wanting, wanting, wanting, but not giving, giving, giving.

Don’t we want to feel the rush of wind from the Holy Spirit to blow on us like the day of Pentecost?

“…there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,” Acts 2:2 Why did they feel it?  They were in prayer, in one accord.

I want to hear the roar of the wind and feel the whole atmosphere charged with holy reverence.  I think you do too, but we aren’t prepared for it.  Why?  We don’t have the ‘Fear of the Lord.’  All true worship is anchored in reverence for His presence.  God says, “you shall reverence My sanctuary; I am the Lord.”  Lev. 19:30

Psalm 89:6-7   “For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” I have come to the conclusion that those who don’t fear God and reverence Him are walking in sin and not in the Holy Spirit!  This is a shocking statement, but there are many scriptures to back this up as we will see.

We first need to realize the greatness of God – “Who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?”  We love to quote little sayings about the greatness of God like ‘He hung all the stars in place and named each one of them’.  “God can do anything”  “Mighty is the Lord”  “He is a God of miracles”.   All these things are true, but do we know them in our hearts with reverence?  We can also say, “McDonald’s makes the best iced coffee”.  Why, have I sampled it, or just heard people say it?   Going on a cruise is a wonderful experience, but do you know that if you haven’t tried it?  Have you felt the sea breeze on your face as you walked the deck and watched the twinkling stars in the great expanse of sky over the ocean?  If you haven’t, you really don’t know what its like.  This is true of knowing the greatness of God; the fear of the Lord and a reverence too wonderful to imagine.

Isaiah 29:13-16 “And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote. Because of this, I will do wonders among these hypocrites. I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding.” Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!" How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"? TLB

This is true picture of many Christians in America today.  People pay homage to leaders and dignitaries, movie stars, dirty-mouth comics and rock stars like they created the world, but there is no room for the one true God.  It sounds like the days of the Roman’s and Greeks and their many Gods.  God is worshipped by our own standards and not His!! 

I will be honest and candid; only maybe 3 times have I ever stood in the presence of the living God.  Let me relate one of these experiences to you.

            We had gone camping up on Hamlin Lake at Layman’s Landing.  We were all newly saved and experiencing the newfound joy of the Holy Spirit.  We met an evangelist couple who were staying in a cottage there, Pete and Joyce Host.  We became good friends and still are today.  They didn’t have hardly any money to live on and the people that owned the campground let them stay in this run-down cottage that was falling apart.  The roof leaked; mice ran freely in and out; it was damp and mildewy and not really a fit place for a person to live.

            Pete played guitar and sang new songs unto the Lord and also in the Holy Spirit, which were all new experiences to us former Catholics.  Pete was way ahead of his time; a Don Potter when don Potter was still a druggie.   One evening about dusk, us and two or three other friends from Ludington got together in that rundown cottage and began worshiping the Lord.  As we sang, the presence of the Lord entered that humble place and it seemed as though we were transported to a different realm.  I remember some laying face down on the dirty floor, their tears intermingled with the sand and dust.  As for myself, I stood there singing and worshipping as never before and God gave me vision that is as clear today as it was then. 

            A big white dove with a golden lasso in its beak circled over us, closer, and closer and then it dropped the lasso over all of us.  It then began to slowly fly upwards, tightening the lasso; tighter and tighter, pulling us together so tightly and as our hands were raised upward, we were melded into the body of Jesus himself.  We were one with the Lord!!!!  Nothing else existed except God and me.  I didn’t think of anything else or any other person. 

So many times we “feel” something; goose bumps, chills, etc. and say ‘We are standing in the presence.’  Let me tell you, to really be in the presence of the Creator of the universe is not a feeling, its being absorbed into God himself.  Its becoming one with him.  It’s beyond the intimacy of a man and woman.

We know that God is omnipresent, which means God is everywhere. David said in (Psalms 139:7-8 NKJV) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? {8} If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. God is with us; His presence is very near us and as Christians He is in us.
Since God is present everywhere, when we talk about the presence of God we are really talking about the realization of God's presence, the perceiving of His presence, becoming conscious of His presence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 NKJV)
It seems that when we are at our low points in life and it feels that God is a million miles away then we turn our focus on Him and immediately we are filled with the presence of His peace and comfort The second reason is because when we are at our lowest point we seek God with our whole heart and soul, He becomes our only focus, our only hope. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  (Psalms 46:1 NKJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. (Psalms 51:10-12 NKJV)
There is a wonderful joy in salvation that comes from our inner most being where God dwells in our heart. (Psalms 16:11 NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. His refreshing brings love, peace, and joy that could only come from God even when we are surrounded by trouble on the outside we can enter into His presence and have rest and security. And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14 NKJV)
The secret place of the Most High is the presence of God. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shade of the Almighty. {2} I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." (Psalms 91:1-2 NKJV)

Realizing the Greatness of God brings you into His Presence

   I have come to the conclusion that those who don’t fear God and reverence Him are walking in sin and not in the Holy Spirit!  This is a shocking statement, but there are too many scriptures to back this up.   We first need to realize the greatness of God – “Who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?”  So many times we “feel” something; goose bumps, chills, etc. and say ‘We are standing in the presence.’  Let me tell you, to really be in the presence of the Creator of the universe is not a feeling, its being absorbed into God himself.  Its becoming one with him.  Its beyond the intimacy of a man and woman.Turn to Isaiah 29:13-16 “And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote. Because of this, I will do wonders among these hypocrites. I will show that human wisdom is foolish and even the most brilliant people lack understanding.” Destruction is certain for those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who try to keep him in the dark concerning what they do! "The LORD can't see us," you say to yourselves. "He doesn't know what is going on!" How stupid can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you. You are only the jars he makes! Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, "He didn't make us"? Does a jar ever say, "The potter who made me is stupid"? TLB

   Since God is present everywhere, when we talk about the presence of God we are really talking about the realization of God's presence, the perceiving of His presence, becoming conscious of His presence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 NKJV)

   
This is true picture of many Christians in America today.  People pay homage to leaders and dignitaries, movie stars, dirty-mouth comics and rock stars like they created the world, but there is no room for the one true God.  It sounds like the days of the Roman’s and Greeks and their many Gods.  God is worshipped by our own standards and not His!! 

    So much of being in the presence of God is REPENTANCE!  After our sins are forgiven we can come closer into God's presence by thanksgiving, praise, and worship. Salvation through Jesus Christ gives us the right to enter into God's presence. Confession and repentance of our sins prepares us to enter into His presence. Thanksgiving unto God takes us in the gate and by praise we enter into His court. But it is love that unites us with Him. (1 John 4:16 NKJV) …God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. When we dwell in love we dwell in God and Him in us.

Is the Lamp of God going out in your life?

Matthew 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.   "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him! Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us! But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
       Why were their lamps going out?  I believe it’s for the same reason the lamp went out in Eli’s temple; the five virgins knew God, were Spirit filled, probably attended the temple services, but the cares of the world took over in their lives;  they had no doubt put God on the back burner.  You can’t keep a lamp burning unless you keep it filled with oil, or if it is continually turned down.
     I Samuel 3:1-3 “Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was,”