Dreamer
Dreamer
The Life of Joseph
In the story of Joseph, the account of the families in Genesis greatly slows down as the book that devoted only two chapters to creation devotes fourteen chapters to Joseph. If you know much of his story it would be easy to conclude that Joseph is the hero of it. He is not. And that the moral of the story is to be more like him. It isn’t.
The hero of Joseph’s story is God and the takeaway from Joseph’s life is that God’s promise of redemption and of one coming who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15), won’t be stopped. Not by bad parenting, sibling rivalry, near death, selling into slavery, national relocation, famine, false allegations, imprisonment, forgottenness, or anything else. God reigns supreme in Genesis 37-50 in spite of all things. And that’s its big takeaway.
God is the hero of Joseph’s story and His sovereign plans and purposes point ahead to a better Jacob, a better Joseph and a gospel of many colours.
Ep. 01
Ep. 01
Genesis 37:1-36
February 11, 2024
We begin a new series this week on the life of Joseph. In this kick off message we are going to look at how Joseph is the favoured son, the hated son, the obedient son, and the betrayed son in spite of his obedience.
Ep. 02
Ep. 02
Genesis 38:1-30
February 18, 2024
There are some who skip over Genesis 38 when teaching on the life of Joseph. There are actually some who say Genesis 38 is misplaced and should be put somewhere else. But we shouldn't, for two reasons primarily. One, Genesis 37:2 says that “these are the generations of Jacob.” In other words, the chapters that follow are about Jacob’s sons and not just Joseph. And two, Genesis 38 is one of the greatest depictions of the gospel and God’s grace in the entire Bible. So, why would we skip it!?!? In this message we dive deep into the darkness of Judah and see at the end how God's marvellous light overcomes it.
Ep. 03
Ep. 03
Genesis 39:1-23
February 25, 2024
Most sermons based on Genesis 39 focus on Joseph fleeing, quite literally, the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife. And although there are things to learn from Joseph’s resistance to her seduction, chapter 39 is more about God’s providence and presence in Joseph’s life while in Egypt. In this message we define what the providence of God is and how it shows up over and over in Joseph's life in spite of his slavery and imprisonment.
Ep. 04
Ep. 04
Genesis 40:1-23
March 10, 2024
In Genesis 40 Joseph remains in prison, wrongly accused for sexual assault and sent there by Potiphar. In this message we see several things: 1, how Joseph responded to his trials. 2, how Joseph trusted in God. 3, how he boldly speaks the word God gives him. 4, the failure of man. And 5, how Jesus shows up in the passage.
Ep. 05
Ep. 05
Genesis 41:1-36
March 17, 2024
Genesis 41 is the most pivotal chapter in Joseph’s story. Some say that it’s one of the most pivotal chapters in the entire Bible. It’s also one of the most misinterpreted. We will address that more when we look at the second half of the chapter after Easter. But to give you a taste, many see chapter 41 as a rags to riches story; a, good things happen to good people, story; a, hang in there long enough and everything will turn out great, story. And who doesn’t like a story like that?
But what if luck had nothing to do with it? And although we will see the exaltation of Joseph in this chapter, he is still in Egypt, separated from his family, given an Egyptian name, an Egyptian wife whose father is a priest of On - On was the centre of sun worship - and has a couple of sons with her. And so, I wonder about the rags to riches idea.
In this message we focus most on the things revealed about God in this season of Joseph's life.
Ep. 06
Ep. 06
Genesis 41:37-57
April 14, 2024
After an Easter break, we are back to our study of Joseph's life. In this week's passage, Pharaoh has two dreams that none of his higher-ups can interpret. Pharaoh's cupbearer, however, finally remembers Joseph from his time in prison and tells Pharaoh that he's a man who can interpret dreams. Thus begins the resurrection story of Joseph and the fulfillment of his dreams from chapter 37. But his rags to riches story also comes with a question: what if all our dreams came true and if they did, would they come with any danger attached?
Ep. 07
Ep. 07
Genesis 42:1-25
April 21, 2024
To what extent is God willing to go so as to produce repentance and holiness in His people? In this message, we look at the movement of the sons of Israel from living in two decades of sin and deceit to a place of declaring their guilt towards Joseph. What brought them to that place? What moved them there? And what in them is true for us today?
Ep. 08
Ep. 08
Genesis 42:26-43:15
April 28, 2024
Last week the calamity of the family took the brothers to Egypt. After being released from prison and in their conviction, they confess their guilt and are set free - paid in full, with provisions for the journey.
Fantastic, but what if God calls us to more? What if God wants more for us than simply our freedom? What if God doesn’t want salvation for us on our terms but His? What if God is as interested in our journeys as He is in setting us free? What if God is more dedicated to His call on our life than we are? What if God didn’t only save us from something but for something?
Here’s the overarching question this message will seek to answer: what can we expect after being set free, paid in full, and given provisions for the journey?
Ep. 09
Ep. 09
Genesis 43:16-34
May 19, 2024
In this passage the sons of Israel, all eleven this time, return to Egypt. But this time they return with fear and ongoing guilt but will surprisingly be met with grace, kindness and peace. This message considers what kind of grace and peace the Bible speaks of and how this passage reminds us of the beauty of the gospel.
Ep. 10
Ep. 10
Genesis 44:1-34
May 26, 2024
This is a series on the life of Joseph and yet, it's so much more than that. In this message Judah is again prominent and serves as an example of what a heart change looks like. And it's beautiful. In contrast to what it looked like in his past, Judah's heart now is full of humility, compassion and a tender concern for others. All coming because of God's mercy.
Ep. 11
Ep. 11
Genesis 45:1-28
June 2, 2024
Genesis 45 is all about the reveal. Up to this point, Joseph had concealed his identity by playing the part of an Egyptian ruler. But now, overcome with emotion, he makes himself known to his brothers. But that's not the only reveal this chapter contains which culminates with the reviving of Jacob's heart when he learns that his son is not dead.
Ep. 12
Ep. 12
Genesis 46:1-27
June 9, 2024
In last week's passage, it was revealed to Jacob by his sons that Joseph was alive and in Egypt. Jacob decided to go to Egypt but he was fearful. This week's message looks at why Jacob was fearful, what God promised to him to alleviate his fear and how the same promises are ours today.
Ep. 13
Ep. 13
Genesis 46:28-47:6
June 23, 2024
In this week's message Jacob is finally reunited with Joseph, the son he thought was dead is alive! In seeing his son face to face Jacob declares that he can now die in peace. In this message we key in on five things: God's "far more." The growth of Jacob. The land of Goshen. The mediation of Joseph. And the hatred of shepherds.
Ep. 14
Ep. 14
Genesis 47:7-31
June 30, 2024
This week's passage is a study of contrasts, three specifically: the contrast between Jacob and Pharaoh, Israel and Egypt, and land and the promised land. In this we discover a handful of elements true then that are true for the church today.
Ep. 15
Ep. 15
Genesis 48:1-22
July 7, 2024
Hebrews 11:21 says: "By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff." This expression of faith began at the end of chapter 47 but is fully shown in chapter 48. In this message, we take time to look at the blessing of Jacob on Joseph's two sons and end by highlighting three attributes of God revealed in this chapter.
Ep. 16
Ep. 16
Genesis 49:1-33
July 14, 2024
We are coming down the backstretch in our Dreamer series on the life of Joseph. Over the last couple of chapters, however, we’ve actually spent most of our time with his old and dying father Jacob. And what he’s been up to is a lot of blessings. Two Sundays ago he blessed Pharaoh and last Sunday he blessed his two half-Egyptian grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. His blessing work continues today with his twelve sons.
Ep. 17
Ep. 17
Genesis 50:1-26
July 21, 2024
We end the Dreamer series on the life of Joseph today. In this message, we spend the majority of our time in vv. 15-21 and verse 20 in particular. There we dive into the topic of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility and consider how the evil act of Joseph's brothers was at the same time a good act of God.