Tag: Joseph

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Bible Teaching

Bound but Free, Free but Bound

Stephen Kuntzman | 7/29/2025 | 7:00 PM

Text: Genesis 50:15-21 

(15) And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.  (16)  And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, (17) So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.  (18)  And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  (19)  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  (20)  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  (21)  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

First time “Forgive” is found in the Bible.

<<Tell the story of Joseph and his brethren>>

He wept because his ten elder brothers had forgotten his forgiveness.

He had forgiven them 17 years ago, but they were in bondage to their own sordid past, fearful emotions and unbelief.

Joseph had released them, but they could not enjoy their freedom.

They were physically free, but spiritually bound.

“Joseph was a type of Christ in the Old Testament. The famine was an event designed to bring the brothers to repentance and a saving knowledge, both physically and spiritually. The tragedy of the famine created the circumstances that led to freedom for these men, for they had been in bondage to a wicked crime against their brother for many years. It was forgiveness from Joseph that led to that freedom.”

-Os Hillman

Freedom

-President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Four Freedoms in his State of the Union Address to the Congress on January 6, 1941:

  1. Freedom of speech, and expression—everywhere in the world.
  2. Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.
  3. Freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.
  4. Freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.

It was that last fear that bond those ten brothers.

The fear was, “Now that Dad is dead, what will Joseph do?”

They did not judge Joseph as he was, but as they were.

The reason so many people continue to live in bondage and cannot enjoy the freedom that Jesus offers is because they have never truly received His forgiveness.

When you are truly free your priorities change and you are no longer drowning in a quagmire of past regrets

True freedom means you trust God’s mercy and, grow in His grace, and your relationship with Jesus becomes intimate, close and full of trust.

When you have truly accepted the forgiveness of God the chains fall and you experience true freedom:

1. Freedom from hate, unconditionally. 

2. Freedom from self-pity. 

3. Freedom from fear of possibly doing something that may help someone else more than it would help you.

4. Freedom from the kind of pride that could make a man feel that he is better than his brother.[1]

Gal. 4:21-5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” 

  • Paul is referring to the bondage of the flesh versus the freedom of the Spirit referring to Ishmael and Isaac: “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise…. we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”
  • Then Paul refers to the liberty – freedom – Christ grand us with as He frees, liberates, and releases us from:
    • “…the yoke of bondage”
    • Liberty from the power and guilt of sin, which nothing but the grace of Christ can take away[2]

Romans 8:1-2, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

When you truly know Jesus – The Truth – you are free from sin:

(31) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (31) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (32) They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? (34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (35) And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. (36) If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.[3]

Bondage

Over the last twenty years, I have seen a rising infatuation with inspiration, but an aversion to real anointing.

“Inspiration does not break the yoke of bondage. Only the anointing breaks the yoke of bondage.”[4]

And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.[5]

You can tell how bound a person is by the way they speak. In 1956 Evangelist T. L. Osborn wrote Faith’s Testimony: and it is a true today as it was then:

The Importance of Confession

You said that you could not do it, and the moment you said it you were whipped.

You said you did not have faith, and in that moment, doubt arose like a giant and bound you.

Perhaps you never realized that, to a great extent, you are ruled by your words.

You talked failure, and failure held you in bondage.

You talked fear, and fear increased its grip on you.

Solomon said, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth. Thou art taken (captive) with the words of thy mouth” (Pr. 6:2).

Testifying – Witnessing – Confessing

Few Christians have recognized the importance of confession and the place it holds in their lives. Whenever the word “confession” is used, they automatically think of confessing sin, weakness, and failure. But this is only the negative side of the subject.[6]

Positive Confessions:

  • “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
  • “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
  • “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
  • “My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
  • “I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me” (Romans 8:37).

Forgiveness 

Scars (mentally, emotionally, physically) are reminders of

past hurts that have healed.

You carry the reminder as a lesson in life, but that reminder need not paralyze you.

Forgiveness releases you from the feelings and bondage associated with the pain. 

Forgiveness is not saying that what happened was/is ok, but it’s releasing you from the pain associated with the hurt so

that you can move on.

The scar then becomes a gentle reminder that you are a survivor and you can overcome anything.

It ain’t easy forgiving God, people, or yourself sometimes, but it’s a decision that you make and then keep.

So, when that old pain flares up you remind yourself, “Wait, I choose to forgive and I refuse to fall back into that trap of turmoil, pain, and hurt.”

You do that enough times and eventually all that remains is a scar, and as time passes the scar fades.

“One of my wise teachers, Dr. Orr, told me, ‘There is only one thing evil cannot stand, and that is forgiveness.’” 

-Fred Rogers

Forgiveness Doesn’t Allow Abuse

Joseph’s own brothers had attacked him, thrown him into a cistern and sold him into slavery (see Genesis 37:12 – 28) — causing him to be separated from his loving father for over 20 years.

And though Joseph had much to forgive, he did not dwell on the offenses. He gained grace from God and let go of what others had done to him.

His response is a healthy model for us when we’ve been hurt or sinned against: we need to let it go and then get what we need from God and people who can give.

That is a better life.

Unforgiveness destroys a good life. Forgiveness creates it.

Forgiveness is not denial. We need to name the sin against us to forgive it, as Joseph did (see Genesis 45:4 – 5; 50:20). He worked through it. He named it. He expressed his feelings about it. And then he let it go.

We need to watch out for the resistance that will want us to stay in the past, trying to collect a debt that will never be paid.[7]

Forgiving People have been put in positions where they had to learn forgiveness. Have you been betrayed? Hurt? Offended? 

“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47).

Forgiving is Releasing, you must learn to forgive and be free (Luke 6:27-38):

(27)  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

(28)  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

(29)  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

(30)  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

(31)  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

(32)  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

(33)  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

(34)  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

(35)  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

(36)  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

(37)  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

(38)  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

[1] Source: Duke Ellington. (4/29/1969). Four Major Freedoms to Live By and Enjoy.

[2] Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. Galatians 4:21-5:1.

[3] John 8:31-36

[4] Lee Stoneking

[5] Isaiah 10:27

[6] T. L. Osborn. (1956). Faith’s Testimony : the Important Secret of Confession Unveiled and How to Keep Your Healing. https://archives.northwestu.edu/handle/nu/56853.

[7] Source: Forgive, Grow and Find God’s Path for You (21-Day Plan).  @YouVersion plan http://bible.com/r/Xv

Categories
Bible Preaching

The Fruitful Bough

Apostolic Life Cathedral | April 14, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Genesis 49:22-26

(22)  Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

(23)  The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

(24)  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

(25)  Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

(26)  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Truly, we are living in the last days.

No doubt, the attack of Iran – biblical Persia – against Israel these last 2 days signals to us that the while the end of the world is not yet…it is edging closer.

Gog & Magog are on a prophetic collision course to that final showdown known as Armageddon when all the nations of the earth come to a little hill in Israel and to fight Israel, that’s when Jesus comes with His saints and fights for Israel delivering a final victory for His people.

The Church need not worry about that event because we will be the ones arriving with Jesus when He collects us in what many call The Rapture, and what a mysterious day that is for:

“…We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Paul wrote about it to the Thessalonians:

“…The Lord himself [that’s Jesus] shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

That moment is nearer now than ever before.

After the church goes up to be with the Lord: seven years of tribulation begin, the Temple is rebuilt, the sacrificial system begins again, the antichrist comes to power, the Jews see that they were tricked by this antichrist, the last half of those seven years become a time of Great Tribulation, and the culminating event is Armageddon.

The Lord is coming for His Bride. A fruitful Bride. Daughters that are bearing fruit and spreading out across the world.

A glorious church, a holy bride:

“Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:24-30).

Colossians 2:16-17, “(16)  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17)  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Jesus Christ is in the Old Testament concealed and in the New Testament Revealed.

Joseph is an Old Testament type and shadow of Jesus Christ. In fact, there are at least 75 instances where Joseph’s life parallels that of Jesus Christ:[1]

  • Miraculous birth: Jacob was 90 years old, Rachel was barren – Mary was a virgin
  • Both spoke truth in exposing sinful behavior of others knowing he would be hated and ostracized
  • Both were shepherds
  • Both were beloved sons of their fathers
  • Both were hated by their brothers without a cause
  • Both prophesied and foretold the future
  • Both were betrayed for silver and stripped of their clothes
  • Both became servants
  • Both were tempted but did not sin – no sin of Joseph is recorded, and Jesus was truly sinless
  • Both were falsely accused
  • They both suffered for others’ sins and false accusations
  • Both sentenced with 2 criminals: 1 saved and 1 lost
  • Both wept for the wicked
  • Both forgave those who wronged them
  • Both became saviors: Joseph to his family, and Jesus to the whole world
  • Substitutionary atonement: Innocent Joseph/Christ suffered for guilty brethren
  • Evil turned into blessing
  • Comforted those who betrayed him. Disciples were comforted after abandoning Jesus at the cross
  • Both married a Gentile bride
  • …and the lost goes one…[2]

Back to our text: Genesis 49:22-26

(22)  Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

  • Bough (bau) = “a son (as a builder of the family name)”[3]
    • “…I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…” (Eph. 3:14-15).
  • Branches = “a daughter”[4]
    • The branches are the Jewish and Gentile bride that make up the Church.
    • Ephesians 2:11-17, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  (12)  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  (13)  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  (15)  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  (16)  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  (17)  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
  • Branches run over the wall:
    • The wall is the world
    • The Church will cover the whole world

(23)  The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

(24)  But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

  • Jesus Christ was persecuted, hated, and killed, but the Hand of God raised Him from the dead and He is our:
    • Shepherd
      • 1 Peter 2:25, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
    • Stone
      • Ephesians 2:19-22, “(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  (20)  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  (22)  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

(25)  Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:

  • Our God is an all sufficient God
    • JEHOVAH ROHI – THE LORD MY SHEPHERD
    • JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD MY PROVIDER (He sees and provides)
    • JEHOVAH RAPHA – THE LORD MY HEALER
    • JEHOVAH SHALOM – THE LORD MY PEACE
    • JEHOVAH NISSI – THE LORD MY BANNER
    • JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – THE LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS
    • JEHOVAH SHAMMAH – THE LORD IS THERE FOR ME (He is present)[5]

(26)  The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

  • The Blessing of God, the promise of God is on you, your children, your children’s children…
  • The kingdom of God is an ever growing and enlarging body that will one day fill the whole earth
  • 40 million apostolics world-wide, according to Dr. Talmadge French.

You have no need to fear.

You are part of The Fruitful Bough

Jesus Christ is The Fruitful Bough

He is the root and the offspring of David

He is the bright and morning star

The Fruitful Bough is by a well…a water source

Psalm 1 – “Blessed is the man…like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”

You can draw joy out of the well salvation – the Lord Jesus Christ

[1] SOURCE: https://www.bible.ca/d-bible-archeology-maps-timeline-chronology-Joseph-types-Christ-Shadows-Antitypes-similarities-comparisons-2166-1876BC.htm#full

[2] Ibid.

[3] Strong’s. H1121.

[4] Strong’s. H1323.

[5] SOIURCE: https://glennarekion.org/article/7-redemptive-names-god

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Consider this...

While You’re Waiting

I was going about my daily activity recently when this thought entered my mind: “while you are waiting, God is shaping your life.” I believe that this was God’s way of speaking to me in that moment. So, bear with me as I try to convey this idea in a clear and concise manner.

Joseph was an immature younger brother and it’s possible that he was also a spoiled son doted upon by his father. He had a dream, but he was not ready to receive the fruition of that dream. So, God, in His great wisdom, allowed the 17 year old to be put into precarious situations and he did not see his father until he was 41 years old, at which time his dreams were fully realized. Each trial in Joseph’s life added responsibility and served to increase Joe’s maturity and integrity preparing him for the role he was to play in his dream.

Waiting for the second table : Inmates of the Poor-House on Randall’s Island, East River, at New York City, forming in line for dinner | Artist: Joseph Becker | 13 February 1875

Just as Joseph was not ready, we sometimes find that while we are impatient for fulfillment, we are not quite ready for what God has promised us, or given us in dreams and visions. Therefore, while we are waiting, God is shaping and preparing us to receive the fullness of His promise.

Instead of becoming impatient, we need to learn how to let God shape us. All too often, we can get in the way of God’s plan by allowing the flesh to rise up and prolong the shaping that God’s hand is doing on our inner man as the Great Potter molds us into a vessel that He can use, and if we’re not awfully careful, we can get in the way of the Master’s preparation.

Joseph is a great example to us of one who suffered for his dream, but we read in no passage where he complained or charged God foolishly. In fact, the Word of God indicates twice God’s continued presence even in circumstances where the carnal mind would doubt His proximity (Genesis 39:2 & 21 “…the LORD was with Joseph…”), but Joseph teaches us a principle that will serve us well when our ambition collides with God’s timing.

I admonish you today to trust God in your time of preparation and allow the maturing process to complete its cycle because while you’re waiting, God is shaping your life.

Originally posted on 30 August 2010 on https://thepillarandgroundoftruth.blogspot.com/2010/08/while-youre-waiting.html