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Fellowship at Cross Creek
Gen. 45:16ff
The Best of the Best…
5.18.14

Intro… This story you are about to study is incredibly rich in what amounts to parallels to our Spiritual journey today. I mean it has it all. This story represents the culmination of God’s promises. It’s all here. The reward that makes the journey, and all the aches and pains along the way, worth while. My hope and prayer is that you will never be tempted to just think of Joseph’s story as mere biblical history again because if foreshadows everything that is to come. Everything. The truth of its story is primed to explode across your heart and consciousness, if you get it, and I pray that you will GET IT!

As you read the story, ask yourself, what role does Joseph seem to play in the story of our Spiritual journey? Pharaoh? Egypt itself? Joseph’s brothers? The gifts and provisions sent back with the brothers? Jacob or Israel himself, and by extension, the brothers’ wives and children who had been left at home?

Once you get it, you will totally amazed. The parallels seem to never end. And the irony of all of this, is that this occurs at the end of the very first book of the Bible–2,000 years before Jesus and 4,000 years before us, almost as if this was all planned out from the very beginning . In addition, what role or roles do you most identify with and why? In what ways could you play all the roles?

If you can’t see the parallels, or need help, when you get to my whys and application, there will be plenty of illustrations to get your Spiritual juices flowing.

Recently, we began a new unit or section or person of study…the life of Joseph. Essentially, the story of Joseph, is for the most part, our story. Chosen by God for a special purpose, Joseph must first endure much suffering and injustice before arriving at his God-ordained purpose and calling, and what a purpose it will be.

As we read, I want you to continue pondering, your special identity in Christ, and that just because you may be going through difficult days, your suffering…your waiting is NOT in vain. As God’s child…as God’s children, just as with Joseph and his brothers, you…we…all have a purpose in Christ (Romans 8; Eph. 1; 1 Peter 1).

Your servant,
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