The Gospel According to Joseph

“The Pits”

March 23, 2025

Chris Honess, Lead Pastor

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

God is orchestrating our character formation.

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him;

Genesis 39:20-21

How God forms our character:

1. He allows the pits.

I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

Genesis 40:15

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

2. We makes us wait.

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Genesis 40:23

When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:

Genesis 41:1

3. He puts us back in the game.

The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

Genesis 40:4

“This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position,

Genesis 40:12-13

Praise be to … the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Action Step: I will serve someone this week.

#family, #grace, #reconciliation