The Rich Get Richer

 

Genesis 45:25-28

25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Jacob works fourteen years for Rachel -> Leah has a bunch of children -> Rachel cannot have children -> Rachel prays, “give me children, lest I die” and then dies in childbirth with Benjamin -> Joseph becomes his father’s favorite -> Joseph’s brothers become jealous of him -> Joseph is sold into slavery and purchased by Potiphar, an assistant to the Pharaoh of Egypt -> Potiphar’s wife lies about Joseph attempting to have sex with her -> Joseph is sent to jail -> The jail warden trusts Joseph with being in charge of the prisoners -> Pharaoh send a cupbearer and a baker to jail, where Joseph interprets their dreams that they have in jail -> The cupbearer is freed and forgets about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, until the Pharaoh has a dream that no one could explain to him -> Pharaoh, hearing about Joseph’s special gift, asks to see Joseph, and asks him if he can understand dreams -> Joseph interprets the Pharaoh’s dream and the Pharaoh places Joseph above all of Egypt -> People came from all around the world to buy grain, because of the famine -> During the second year of famine, his brothers showed up in Egypt -> They bowed to him, not recognizing him -> Joseph requires them to bring him his full brother Benjamin and keeps Simeon as hostage -> Benjamin comes back with his brothers -> Joseph deceptively plots a plan to hold Benjamin as a slave -> Jacob and his family moves out of Canaan and heads for Egypt -> Jacob can hardly believe that Joseph is still alive

Weak and tender spirits are influenced more by fear than hope, and are more apt to receive impressions that are discouraging than those that are encouraging.

Sometimes life throws more at you, than you can bear. Even when the news is good, you are so overcome with unbelief, that your heart faints; waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

God has a Plan for you!

 

For Want of a Nail

 

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

 

So many big things in life hang on so few little things in life!

What convinced Jacob, that truth was in what they said?

Genesis 45:27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:

Who would have ever thought, such a common thing, could have produced such uncommon results.

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Faith allows me to see things that are not, as though they are.

2 Timothy 1:6-7

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Fear – Cowardice; lack of courage to face danger, difficulty, opposition, or pain.

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Parable of the talents:

5 + 5 = 10

2 + 2 = 4

1 + 0 = 0

If you use what you have, then more will be given to you! If you do not use it at all, then what you do have will be taken! The rich get richer!

You must take all opportunities to use these gifts, and so stir them up, for that is the best way of increasing them. Some ingredients have to be stirred together, to become one, to make the entire process right!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Faith is a spiritual muscle, if you do not use it, you will lose your strength.

When you try to do things you haven’t prepared for; problems arise. Not from the lack of ability or faith, but rather from lack of strength to move what you need to.

For example: carpet layer’s go through agony their first couple weeks of working, but after a while, their muscles get used to the work and it becomes easier and easier. It becomes easier to live with something, than to move the mountain.

Do you see the wagons? Can you hear the axles screeching in the distance?

Joseph is yet alive! Start looking for your faith!

If you use what you have, then God will not only strengthen what you have, but will give you more. Jacob was hoping for his sons to return, and for bread to last out the famine, what he got in return was a lost son restored and a kingship.

 The Rich Get Richer!