Here's the Man

AuthorHouse

Contents

Foreword.......................................................................ixHere's the Man.................................................................xiIntroduction...................................................................xiiiThe answer is easier than we want to make it...................................1There is nothing like being the favorite.......................................7And Joseph dreamed a dream.....................................................15Innocence or Arrogance.........................................................21They know when you are telling the truth.......................................27Enter Hostile territory willingly with your eyes wide open.....................33Resolve is necessary...........................................................39Those against you spot you often before you know it............................45It just seems like the end.....................................................51God knows how to encourage along the way.......................................57God blesses others because of you..............................................63Don't get too comfortable!!!...................................................69Is this the way things are going to be forever.................................75Prison A change in plans.......................................................81God is not through with Joseph yet.............................................87It may not be coincidence......................................................93Faithfully be who you are......................................................99I've had enough................................................................105The right time will come.......................................................111Fulfillment comes in steps.....................................................117The dream fulfilled............................................................123

Chapter One

Gen 37:1 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. ESV

Growing up I remember going to church. I can't tell you that I remember a lot of specifics about churches we attended but I do remember attending. At the age of eight or nine a Sunday school teacher left an impression on me. I don't know why I remember this but I recall his faithfulness in tithing. Every week I would witness him putting his tithe check in the offering. I expect he has gone on now to receive his reward and trust that his faithfulness has benefited others also. Maybe later on that is why tithing was not an issue in my life. I just knew that's what I was supposed to do.

I remember he would load us boys up and take us places for extra activities. There might not be a whole lot of spirituality in Putt Putt golf or then again we may need to rethink our position on spirituality. One of our goals in life ought to be positively affecting the lives of the people God places us around.

Our family moved a lot during my childhood. Not being able to realize it at the time that those frequent moves may have been affecting me, I do consider it now. I remember about the age of 10 or 11 going to church and hiding rather than going to class. For some reason I was afraid. Like I said I don't remember a lot about spirituality when I was younger but I remember being in church. That is why I considered myself very fortunate raising my four sons. I have observed them in a relationship with God at an early age that I didn't have. Because of that I believe their potential is much greater than I will ever know.

About the age of fifteen I had my first real experience with God. For the first time I realized I needed a Savior. I knew I was lost and undone and needed the one (Christ Jesus) who gave His life for all on Calvary. I repented of my sins. I believed on Christ as my savior. I confessed and was saved. I was not saved because I was a good person. I was not saved because I was an important person; I was saved because God wanted me saved and sought after me. Whether it is by God sending someone our way or the experience of a church altar, it is Him. He is the one who draws and makes the experience possible. That's why we call Him Savior.

In Genesis chapter 37 we find the beginning of the story of Joseph. We may overlook verse one where it explains that in the meantime Jacob had come to settle down in land of his father. Think on that as we go on.

We know from the rest of the story that Joseph is fixing to go on a journey and at times that journey is going appear more like a nightmare than a dream. Joseph is going to go places he never expects to go. He is going to stay there longer than he wants to stay at times. He is not going to understand why and I am certain that while he was going through it he didn't know how God was going to do it.

I believe I do know this. The answer to his coping with all of the situations may have been declared in verse number one. As Jacob settled down in the land of his father God was at work. Don't forget what God had promised Grandpa Abraham. Jacob became Israel as he returned to his father's land as a new man. God was working His plan and God knows things we don't know. That is what may be overlooked in verse one. While settling down in the land of his father the stage was being set for the next step in God's plan to be carried out.

We would like to think that we are responsible for God using us to accomplish certain things. We would be foolish to think too highly of ourselves. It does require our faithfulness but it is God that fulfills the dream. God is much more in control than we can imagine. That is the hidden gem. God is in control. He knows where He is taking us and He knows how and when He is going to get us there. When we realize that He is the one in control, we can honestly say with full assurance when He calls. HERE'S THE MAN.

The answer really is easier than we want to make it.

Accept His plan for He is in control.

We would be foolish to think too highly of ourselves. It does require our faithfulness but it is God that fulfills the dream. God is much more in control than we can imagine.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to think it is our responsibility to make everything happen. Consider these suggestions:

God does declare His will in such a way that we can know what we are going to be.

God declares to us along the way things we need to do and be a part of in order to continue forward.

It is very important for us to learn to follow His lead. Don't make it too complicated.

You are God's favorite He will keep him in peace whose mind is stayed on God.

He is for you not against you

There is nothing like being the favorite

Genesis 37:4 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. ESV

I don't know about you but I don't think it would be a bad thing at times to be the favorite. It may cause some stress at times but having the tendency to be kidder, I can see also see that it might be fun. There may even be some benefits. We need to know we are loved. We need to know we are special.

My wife and I have four sons, the youngest being twins. We thought we were going to have 3 children and then stop only to find out 9 days before they were born that we were having twins. After being told she was having twins my wife sat down and cried. The doctor wouldn't let her drive home and someone had to go pick her up. She was crying not because of two babies but because of 2 more babies. You see the older two were 40 months and 23 months. This was going to be 2 more babies.

As it turned out these two boys were extremely competitive. They were most competitive with each other and their two older brothers. I guess I thought it amusing but on occasion I would stir up a little activity by informing the older two that their momma loved the twins more than she loved them. Some will think that is funny and some will think that is outright uncalled for but listen to this statement carefully. Everyone has a favorite. We all have favorite friends. We have favorite foods. We have favorite past times. The truth of the matter is none of us chose our worst enemy to become our spouse although sometimes they become that later. We all have favorites. That's just the way it is and God does also. I understand God loves us all. However God has favorites.

Joseph was dad's favorite and it is only speculation but there were probably times he took advantage of it. I think I have mentioned it before that I really don't comprehend the concept of more than one wife. To me it appears to be a recipe for disaster. It was for Abraham, and it has been for others also. If the truth was known the brothers came by their regret of Joseph honestly. You see Joseph's mom was Jacob's favorite also. The jealousy probably didn't start with the brothers but with their mothers.

It is kind of fun to be the favorite. It makes you feel special. It helps you believe things are possible. It encourages you to accept that you achieve what you want and that's not a bad thing. It allows you to believe in yourself. We will have to deal with some controversies in this life. People will be jealous of you at times. I have said this and it is worth mentioning again. God has favorites also. I know Christ died for us all. That's not what I'm talking about. Not all are apostles, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. Not all can be president or captain of the team. Somebody is going to sit at God's right and on His left and it will be His choice. God has favorites. But don't allow that to detour you from being what God has for you.

With respect to this world we are all His favorites when we are His. (saved) Because of that the world and those of the world are going to be jealous. I believe Jesus said that the world didn't like him and they were not going to like us either. We will have to deal with that so get ready.

Joseph was the favorite. The brothers didn't like it. In verse four they haven't dealt with being told basically that he was God's favorite also. It was more than they could take but it was enough for Joseph to hang on to for the rest of his life. He may not have always understood this but he could not forget it. He needed it so he could confidently present himself with these words.

Here's the Man.

There is nothing like being the favorite It's His plan so accept it.

We all have favorites. That's just the way it is and God does also.

Joseph was the favorite. He may not have always understood this but he could not forget it.

There are some things that are going to help carry you through the issues of this life.

Consider the following suggestions:

It is imperative that you know that God is for you.

Although some may be against you, not everyone is your enemy. Keep your friends close.

Look for areas in your life you can identify yourself as the favorite. It can also be identified as the favor of God.

All dreams are not worth remembering but some are too important to forget

And Joseph dreamed a dream

Genesis 37:5

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. ESV

I try my best not to over spiritualize things. Some things we experience in life have super spiritual meanings and others should only be considered as just something we have experienced. Learn from them and go on.

I don't remember as a child having any particular dreams of significance which is one reason I think we should not overlook the importance of verse one of Genesis chapter 37. The truth is God knows where we are and where He is taking us and even more than that. He knows when He will have us there. In accepting His plan it is important to trust that God is in control.

I may not remember any dreams growing up but I do remember some desires being developed in my mind and heart. I remember thinking this is what I want to be and do. I remember saying someday I am going to do this. Somehow I am going to find a way to fulfill this. One of those things is giving. One of the desires that I have had all my life is to be able to give to others. Over time God has allowed me to be able to fulfill part of that however it has only fueled the desire to be able to do more. I don't wish to turn this into lesson on giving. My desire is to declare that God begins placing things in our hearts only to later bring us to a place of fulfillment. It is not just about establishing our character but it is about fulfilling His will and working out His plan in our lives.

Another desire that has developed is to physically and emotionally be able to make a difference in the lives of others. When we take an honest look at the world around us we can identify a number of needs. Some of which we may possess the means to positively affect and others that God wants to develop the mean's through us in order to fulfill those needs. The meeting of those needs can be identified as God's will for us. His developing in us and through us the means to fulfill is to accomplish His plan through us.

Do you understand or comprehend what I am saying. Recognizing that there is a need and that God desires to meet it is to know His will. For Him to develop in us the means to fulfill that need is His plan. It is the latter I want to concentrate on.

Joseph had a dream. That dream was, as we now know it, concerning a much later time and a need that had not yet been manifest. As is often the case the dream didn't originally satisfy the desires of all involved. In Fact it offended all the parties involved except Joseph. That's why it is important to keep in mind that knowing God's will and accepting His plan is two different things. That part is still hard for me. I often times want to jump to the finish line and that's not what God has in mind.

I am convinced in my own mind that Joseph didn't know what the dream meant. He only knew what he saw and that is encouraging to me. Think about it. I don't have to know everything. I don't have to understand everything. I don't even have to imagine anything. As long as I know what I see is from God. As long as we are purposefully following God, we don't have to fear anything or anyone for God knows where He is taking us and when we are going to get there. I suppose that is why He says in Hebrews chapter eleven that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. As we mature in God He will give us the understanding we need. Our focus in life should be to walk through intentionally.

Maybe even with this intention. HERE'S THE MAN

Don't be afraid to dream. It may be the beginning of God's plan for you.

The meeting of needs can be identified as God's will for us. His developing in us and through us the means to fulfill is to accomplish His plan through us.

Consider these suggestions:

Don't try to over spiritualize everything but if God gives you something don't forget it.

Don't use others' acceptance as a basis for spirituality.

Don't be afraid of what you don't understand only be content in knowing what you know in God.

Innocence or Arrogance

Genesis 37:9-10 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." 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?" ESV

I was once falsely accused of something. I was 15 years old and pretty sheltered. I was extremely naïve. So you can imagine easily I hope what I was going through when this event happened. I was scared to death. My cousin and I were pulled over and I was taken to the side and questioned as to what we were up to. I was so scared I didn't know how or what to answer. I was in absolute shock. I wasn't even sure what we were being accused of until later. Because I didn't know how to answer I always believed that the officer believed we were guilty but just couldn't prove it. Innocence is a good thing but there still may be some pain involved.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Here's the Manby Robert Jackson Copyright © 2011 by Robert Jackson. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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