Do you detect a pattern? Joseph gives God the glory for his ability to interpret dreams, and for the circumstances which have fulfilled his own. And God uses him far beyond anything Joseph or his brothers could have imagined 20 years earlier. Joseph will live for God's glory, and God will use and bless Joseph. Here's the sermon in a sentence: God uses most fully those who give the glory to him. Joseph is Exhibit A.

Here's Exhibit B. Moses led God's people out of Pharaoh's Egypt and to the edge of the Promised Land. But not into it.

When the people who had passed through the Red Sea later complained that they needed water, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock so that water would come forth for the nation. But Moses said to the gathered nation, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?" Then he "raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank" (Numbers 20:10-11).

With this result: "the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them'" (v. 12). His desire to get the glory for himself kept him from the glorious Promised Land of God.

Could it be that ambition and ego are keeping some of us from the Promised Land of God's dream for our lives?

Consider a command especially appropriate to the weekend after Thanksgiving: "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you" (Deuteronomy 8:10).

"Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength" (1 Chronicles 16:28). When? At church in worship? On the sanctified ground of 3939 Northwest Parkway?

"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

God says that we are "the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise" (Israel 43:21).

Paul reminds us, "You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:20). God uses most fully those who give the glory to him.