LifePointe Christian Church

ORIGIN STORY: God Starts What Can’t Be Stopped - When God Doesn’t Make Sense - Week 3

September 6th, 2026

Chris Delfs, Senior Pastor

The most important part of the story can be the part we do not see

What Joseph could see wasn’t the whole story

Genesis 37:3
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. NLT

Genesis 37:4
But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. NLT

Genesis 37:19
Here comes the dreamer! NLT

Genesis 39:2
The LORD was with Joseph. NLT

God’s presence doesn’t promise the absence of pain

You can be where God wants or allows you to be and still be somewhere you never wanted to be

Genesis 39:9
How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God. NLT

Don’t let what happened to you determine what happens inside you

The Bible never promises that following Jesus makes your circumstances easier

2 Timothy 3:12
Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. GWT

Genesis 39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. NLT

Genesis 40:14
Please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. NLT

Genesis 40:23
Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. NLT

Isaiah 49:15
I will not forget you

Genesis 41:16
It is beyond my power to do this. But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease. NLT

Genesis 41:40
You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours. NLT

Faithfulness doesn’t guarantee the outcome you want

Romans 5:3-5
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. NLT

God can use what you’re going through to shape who you’re becoming

Genesis 42:6
When Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. NLT

Genesis 45:3
I am Joseph! Is my father still alive? NLT

Genesis 45:4-5
He said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. NLT

Genesis 50:19-20
But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. NLT

What they did was evil. God was still at work

Romans 8:28
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God. NLT

Joseph could forgive because his brothers never controlled his future

Don’t let someone else’s worst decision control your life

Joseph is saving Egypt - God is preserving His promise

At the cross, what was intended for evil became the place God accomplished our rescue