The Beginning and the End
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The Joseph Stories
Genesis 37:1-11 (ESV)
1 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
2 These are the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
Sermon Outline
Our complex stories move towards a redemptive resolution when our story aligns with God’s story. In meeting Joseph we see:
1. A Loved Son, Hated Brother
v3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age.
v4 they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him
2. A Dreamer
v5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.
v10 Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?
Prayer of Confession
Our Sovereign Lord, you know the end from the beginning, and by your great mercy you have assured an end for us that is overwhelmingly hopeful. We confess our unbelief. We confess our lack of imagination. We confess we hold tightly to false promises. We fail, and our world fails us. Forgive us for every time we have been unable to speak a word of peace. Forgive our jealousies and our selfish ambition. Release us from hatred and pour your love into our hearts. We humbly bow before Jesus, who went to the lowest place for us. As we set our eyes on him who is now above all, we thank you that you have made known your redemptive ways and we ask that you sustain us and lead us as our hope is set fully on you. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Where does your story begin? What complex factors are part of your life (family background, circumstances, experiences, advantages/disadvantages, etc.)? What stands out and why?
What sources of hope do you have? What do you hope in? Does this hope sustain you? Does it bring healing or deeper help?
Joseph’s brothers hated him and “could not speak peacefully to him”. In what ways can you understand or relate to their hatred? What would you tell them about how they are feeling (what would your advice be for how they should think or what they should do)?
Do you believe your life as a whole will have a good outcome? Why or why not?
How can you maintain hope when things are failing in certain areas of your life? Does trusting God mean assuming everything will work out as you desire? How does holding to God’s promises for the whole of your life help you deal with parts of your life that are not going well?
How does the Joseph story anticipate the Jesus story? What about the Jesus story is the key to our own life stories being redemptive?