ree things JOSEPH DID not do When Everything was going wrong

When hard times come we are not able to take care of ourselves and it places in the position to have to trust God. This is why God sends the hard times. He wants to draw us closer to Him. I have people I work with who do not trust in God because they feel everything is good.

E. We have seen on national TV that what people do in their personal lives is not our concern as long as they do the job they are supposed to do. I remember when Britney Spears said she could dress the way she wanted to because she was not a role model and yet many young girls wanted to be like her. Her character was ruining many a young lives.

F. We are not electing any leaders for our country this year but how many seek to be leaders and decide our future and yet say it does not matter about my character. It should not be your concern if I do drugs, commit adultery, lie, spend money foolishly, have history of crime or do not believe in God. We need to be concerned about the issues of our day.

G. Is God getting us ready for hard times with stock market falling, seeing many of our young people having to spend their lives fighting in wars, having floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and gas prices so high? What are you going to do when a loaf of bread will cost a bag of gold? Yes the bible says that will happen.

H God has said IS 55:8-9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,” declares the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” When we come to times when things do not make sense to us and we do not understand does not mean we will never understand.

I. There are many things we are not capable of understanding because our minds are not infinite. We need to learn to trust him even if we do not understand. We can seek to understand but we should not demand that God explain it all. IS 45:9 Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you are doing it wrong?' Does the pot exclaim, 'How clumsy can you be?' Jere 18:6 “As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand.” IS 64:8 Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.

J. Personally I like to trust people and that they will do what is right. In our time with 10 teen age girls in Macon, GA the Lord sent me through some tough times. Joan and I cried many tears in that place. God took us through that to teach me to be tougher on people and not be unsuspecting when people are not being truthful. Joseph as we think did not understand why all these things were happening to him. He continued to trust in the lord. The Bible says over and over, “And the Lord was with Joseph.” Joseph knew God and believed what was happening to him was preparing him to be what he was to be. He was spoiled boy in his family and now god says I need to have you go through some tough times to get you ready to be a ruler in Egypt. Are you satisfied that the Lord is with you?

II. Joseph did not give in to being bitter though he was treated wrongfully.

A. Many of the things that happened to Joseph seemed to have no reason in our understanding. He did not deserve to have these things happen to him.

B. We live in a world that is given into