God’s Timing vs Your Timing — Why Joseph Had to Suffer First

Jan 27, 2026    Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin

— Joseph, Timing, and God’s Promotion

This message teaches that God’s timing—not human timing—governs spiritual growth, promotion, and blessing. Using Joseph in Genesis 39, it shows how injustice, adversity, and delay are part of God’s training process, not evidence of abandonment.

Joseph was betrayed, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned—not because God failed him, but because God was preparing him. From age 17 to 30, Joseph lived under undeserved suffering so he could develop:

·      Humility

·      Integrity

·      Objectivity

·      Dependence on God

·      Capacity to handle blessing

Key doctrinal principles taught:

·      Adversity is a training ground, not a punishment.

·      Prosperity can be as dangerous as suffering if the believer lacks capacity.

·      God can bless you in any environment—freedom or slavery, Canaan or Egypt.

·      Promotion comes only in God’s timing, not through human effort or self-vindication.

·      Defending yourself destroys spiritual growth—Joseph stayed silent and trusted God.

·      Passing a test once doesn’t mean it’s over—tests repeat until doctrine is stable.

·      Helplessness teaches grace—only when human strength fails do we truly learn to rely on God.

Even in prison, “the Lord was with Joseph.” God used injustice, temptation, and false accusation to prepare Joseph for future leadership. The message emphasizes that true prosperity is not wealth or status—but God’s presence, doctrine in the soul, and a personal sense of destiny.

Bottom line:

👉 God’s delays are not denials.

👉 God uses adversity to prepare you for blessing.

👉 Promotion comes when you have capacity—not when you demand it.


MC42 617      Doc: Problems & problem solving, part 13. Circumstances do not provide prosperity. Gen 39:1-23; 40:1-15.

Date: 02-14-1993       God’s Timing vs Your Timing — Why Joseph Had to Suffer First

 



GBIBLEDOCTRINE.ORG

GBIBLE.ORG


ALL BIBLE STUDY MATERIALS:

http://gbibledoctrine.org/

 

FULL 57 PART ANGELIC CONFLICT SERIES FROM 1996:

https://gbible.snappages.site/media/series/xvrhm8m/angelic-conflict-1996

 

FULL CHURCH AGE MYSTERY DOCTRINES:

https://gbible.snappages.site/church-age-mystery-doctrines

 

ALL MP3 BIBLE STUDIES:

https://gbible.snappages.site/series-study

 

FULL MEDIA LIBRARY:

https://gbible.snappages.site/media

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST FOR FULL NOTES –

PLEASE EMAIL & INDICATE SO @: mailto:dlg@gbible.org

 

 

 

THE GBIBLE APP IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Attached are 2 links - 1 for Apple IOS and the 2 for

Android Google Play:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1623957291

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplashconsulting.s_2QTST8

 

To Support This Ministry: https://gbible.org/donate

 

 

Here are some instructions for anyone who may have trouble or

don’t know how to find our new app:

 

 

If you're going to look it up on the app store - we are actually

"New England Bible Doctrine Church '' that's only if you're going to

search that way - btw - way too many Grace Bible Churches - so this is kind of

a good thing!

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DAVID SERIES: https://subsplash.com/gbcpodcast/mp3-series/ms/+sjw7jqq

 

 

Pastor Robert R. McLaughlin was ordained by the late Col. R. B.

Thieme, Jr. of Berachah Church in Houston, Texas.

 

 

No price appears on any material from Grace Bible Church or

Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries. Anyone who desires Bible teachings may

obtain them without charge or obligation. God provides Bible doctrine; we wish

to reflect His grace.

http://gbible.org/books

 

 

This Ministry operates entirely on voluntary contributions. When

gratitude for the Word of God motivates believers to give, they have the

privilege of contributing to the dissemination of Bible doctrine.

Your contributions are tax deductible.

 

 

http://gbible.org/ is a Grace Ministry.

 

 

Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries and Grace Bible Church are

non-denominational. We are dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the

original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.