D - Joseph Pt. 9

Romans 10:13 NIV

13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So last week we learned that Joseph had created a plan to get revenge on all of his brothers. So he sent them back to get his youngest brother Benjamin who he had not met yet. And when they came back, Joseph threw them all a big party. But at the party, Joseph planted some silver into the pouches of food. Joseph’s plan was to frame them all for stealing and to get his revenge on them.

So Joseph accused them of stealing although they hadn’t. You know what’s ironic about all of this? Joseph was tossed in jail for something he didn’t do, and now he is doing the same thing to his brothers.

Joseph is really struggling through all of this though. He is having a hard time. Why do you think that is? I think that although his brothers may deserve all of this, Joseph still loves his family. But there is one more reason why Joseph is struggling. Let’s read it together:

Genesis 45:1–5 NIV

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Joseph reveals to us that he has been struggling with following God’s will the whole time. Joseph was able to put 2 and 2 together as time went on. Joseph learned at some point down the line, That God had allowed all of these awful things to happen to him so that one day, Joseph could save his family from this famine.

Even after that Joseph says: You didn’t send me, God sent me. What does that mean? That even at the end of all of it, Joseph recognizes that God is in complete control over the entire situation. But Joseph doesn’t realize this until after he has gone through all of the hardships and difficulties. he went through.

I feel like for us, it can be hard to see that God is sovereign especially when we are going through difficult moments right?

Here is what I want to charge all of you with:

Let’s learn to recognize that God sees things in big picture.

What does that mean? That God can see then end even when we can’t. God can see that when Joseph was being enslaved, he would one day save all of his family. As God was watching Adam sin against Him, He could also see that one day, Jesus would come and die and save humanity from their sin.

When God sees you going through hardships, he can also see how this can and will work for your good even when we can’t see it. What does the New Testament say?:

Romans 8:28 NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 10:13 NIV

13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”