God’s Design and Image
Part 45: Approaching Culmination

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-11.
Numbers 13:30-32a (ESV)
30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32a So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out…
Proverbs 10:18 (ESV)
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
1. Jospeh isn’t Jesus
Genesis 21:10-11 (ESV)
10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.
Genesis 25:28 (ESV)
28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 29:30 (ESV)
Jacob… loved Rachel more than Leah…
2. Unrepented Sin Leads to Destruction
James 1:14-15 (ESV)
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Romans 6:23a (ESV)
23 For the wages of sin is death…
Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
3. When Unresolved Conflict is Not Addressed, It Gets Worse
Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,  24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
4. God Works Through Deeply Flawed People
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (ESV)
6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.  7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,  8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Titus 3:4-5a (ESV)

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5a he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
5. God’s Sovereign Hand Governs Every Scene
Genesis 15:13-14 (ESV)
13 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.  14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”