Series: "Worth the Wait"
How God Heals Broken Families
November 08, 2020 | Mark Simmons
Worth the Wait
Joseph: How God Heals Broken Families
What Was Your Family Like Growing Up?
Biological father
Biological mother
Step-dad(s)
Step-mom(s)
Grandparent(s)
Sibling(s) of same parents
Sibling(s) from one of your parents (Half siblings)
Sibling(s) of a step parent (Step siblings)
Siblings by adoption
Uncles
Aunts
Cousins
Drawing a picture of your family
ACE test score 1-10
The most common kinds of trauma found in the Kaiser study.
Lots of other trauma happens.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/media-coverage/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GenogramJACOB
Leah Zilpah Bilhah RACHEL
JOSEPH
BENJAMIN
The Lord Chooses and Uses Broken, Wounded, Hurting, Hurtful, Dysfunctional People
Genesis 37:2 (NLT)
This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
Joseph the 11th son reported on sons 5-8
Joseph: I’m a whistleblower honoring my father
Brothers: Snitches get stitches
Genesis 37:3-4 (NLT)
Who was the favorite in your family?
Genesis 37:5-8 (NLT)
Joseph: Listen to this cool dream I had that shows I’m the most important son and y’all will honor me, your younger brother, as your superior
Brothers: You’re not gonna be the boss of us! We hate you!
Genesis 37:9-11 (NLT)
Joseph: Listen to this cool dream I had that shows I’m the most important person in the family. Even dad and mom are going to honor me.
Brothers: We are so jealous of this brat!
Jacob: Listen Joseph, I’m your father. You should honor your mother and me! [Privately] I wonder what it all means though. . .
Genesis 37:12-14 (NLT)
Brothers: OK dad, we’ll go to work at the family business in the distant pastures. You and Joseph can just chill out at the house. We don’t want him having to work or anything. You guys can have your mutual admiration society here.
Jacob: I can’t really trust your brothers to do their work. Could you go pay do a surprise management inspection, Joseph, and bring me a report? Don’t forget your special coat!
Joseph: Man, this is the life. I’ll just go make a site visit and report back to dad all they are doing wrong.
Genesis 37:18-35 (NLT)
Joseph: Where did all of my favor go? Why did this happen to me?
Brothers: Let’s kill him. No, let’s banish him via slavery and get some money for him. That way he can think forever about how he disrespected us. We don’t care about the heartbreak our father will experience.
Jacob: I will be grieving for decades and will feel more connected to my favorite son who has died than to any of my living ones. Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, will be my new favorite.
How would you describe/picture your family’s emotional strengths and weaknesses?
The Lord Can Be with You as You Wait for Family Healing
Genesis 39:1-2 (NLT)
Genesis 39:23 (NLT)
He waits 9 years as a slave and then prisoner
He gets to interpret dreams for Pharaoh’s officials
He waits 2 more years.
He interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, He is elevated to 2nd in command in the Kingdom
Our Pain Comes from Our Family, So God Uses a New Family to Heal Us
Genesis 41:45, 50-52 (NLT)
Joseph waits 9 more years before miraculously he sees his brothers, 22 years since they had sold him into slavery
Love (Does not equal sign) Trust
Trust = Trustworthy Actions + Time
Relationships move at the speed of trust
The one who was betrayed decides how fast trust is rebuilt
Forgiveness does not mean trust or reconciliation
22 years later, Joseph sees his brothers
Genesis 42-44
Waits a long period of time to see how they behave under pressure.
Sometimes God Brings a Trustworthy Reconciliation
Genesis 45:12-15 (NLT)
Genesis 50:14-21 (NLT)
What family issue do you need to bring before the Lord?
How are you receiving love from your Heavenly Father and companionship from your older brother Jesus?
Series Information
