God's Sovereignty: A Plan Unveiled
Notes
Transcript
Good morning, everyone! Whether you're here with us in the room or joining online—listening live or later—we’re truly glad you're here. You're part of our extended spiritual family, and we're thankful for you.
Hey, if you’ve got kids with you this morning—now’s a great time for them to head to class. We’ve got an amazing team ready to welcome them and help them know Jesus in a way that makes sense to them
For the rest of us, grab your Bible, get comfortable, and get ready for what God has for you today.
Now, I know that every week I remind us about Joseph…and I know some of you might be getting tired f hearing me say the same stuff…so, let me just say this. Joseph’s brothers sold him to slave traders and left him for dead. Then later in life, God used Joseph being in Egypt to save the whole family through the famine. When Joseph confronted his brothers, later in life, this is what he said… “As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose." —Joseph . In other words. What man means for evil…God means for good!
This morning we are going to finally move into a time where Joseph acknowledges who he is to his brothers. Of course, this is going to create some tension and likely much fear on behalf of the brothers.
Now,
Let’s go ahead and dig in and read our first section today.
Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Now, since this was an official meeting, other Egyptian officers were present; but now that he was about to settle a long-standing family matter, Joseph wanted his brothers all to himself. His interpreter, and perhaps other officials present, would understand their conversation in Hebrew, and everybody would be able to witness the brothers’ tears and expressions of love. But this was time for family privacy. This is a…
Humble Revelation of God's Plan: (1-5)
Humble Revelation of God's Plan: (1-5)
Joseph was overwhelmed by Judah’s words here. Remember last week where we saw that Judah offered to exchange places with his brother Benjamin. Well, now Joseph is trying to maintain his his dignity before his Egyptian attendants, he ordered everyone but his brothers out of the room. Then Joseph let go of more that twenty years of pent up emotions. Crying and weeping so loudly that the Egyptians outside of the room heard it all.
Now, Joseph’s revelation of his true identity was more than likely spoken in Hebrew and not Egyptian. This would explain why his brothers were simply to terrified to speak and acknowledge their fathers well-being, at least at first. Finally, Joseph really broke protcol and invited his brothers to come near to them so that he couls speak in a more intimate manner. When he did this…there was no longer any doubt about who Joseph was!
Think about Joseph’s revelation to his brothers and what he is telling them. This is the beginning of God’s sovereign plan that is being unveiled…This is the moment that little Haley Joel Osmond says, “they don’t know there dead” and then veryone realizes Bruce Willis’ character is dead.
Joseph shows an amazing outpouring of God’s grace and forgiveness by acknowledging that it was God who sent Joseph to Egypt all those years ago…not his brothers.
Now, there’s something that hard for us to imagine sometimes…God, in his sovereignty, uses painful situations for a greater good. Now, this shouldn’t be discouraging to you as a beleiver…quite the opposite. This is encouraging because it means that there is purpose for your pain. This truth should enable you to see your challenges as opportuities to see God’s purposes unfold in your life.
There is something else that we see as a result of this interaction though. It’s something that I beleive we all need to understand and be reminded of from time to time. This interaction between Joseph and his brothers shows us The Gospel Pattern of Forgiveness.
You see, just like Christ, Joseph accepts the cost of his brothers’ betrayal. When Joseph says, “do not be distressed or angry with yourselves…God sent me before you to preserve life.” Joseph is acknowledging that there is a larger plan in motion. Through Joseph we see that when we understand God’s larger plan…or at least accept that there is a plan larger than yourself…Forgiveness flows more freely. In other words, Joseph shows that forgiveness flows from accepting God’s larger plan.
That’s what Joseph did to be able to move past the pain that his brothers placed at his feet…What about you? Are you able to move past the pain of others by accepting God has a plan bigger than you? Look at your situation and seek how God is working in your situation and then allow forgiveness to flow from your understanding of God’s largerplan.
Next Joseph gives us the reason behind his peace and forgiveness. He lifts our eyes above the pain and into God’s providence. In verses 6 to 8, Joseph anchors everything that has happened not in his brothers' sin—but in God's sovereign hand. Let’s read…
For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Ntice that Joseph doesn't minimize this hardship, but he emphasized God's purposes in it. This isn’t just resilience—Joseph is teaching us a strong theology. Here we see…
His Hand in the Hardship: (6-8)
His Hand in the Hardship: (6-8)
Joseph is continuing his explination of how God is actually the author of these events. I love how Joseph simply points his brothers back to the Lord…something we all should be doing if we’re honest, right?
Look at how rich Joseph’s understanding of who God is through this. Joseph emphasizes that God is in control. By the end of verse 8 Joseph has laid all responsibility for these events on God, not on his brothers. That is truly amazing. You see, Joseph has had twenty years to consider everything and to have direct conversations with the Lord about all that has been happening to him in his life. The conclusion he has come to is that God is in control and his ways are far better than man’s ways.
God sent Joseph to Egypt for a reason. Where are you today? What is your “Egypt” this morning? What is it that seems bad from the outside, but truly is God’s hand working in ways you don’t even understand. Christians find assurance in knowing that God orchestrates events with a purpose. Every hardship can be part of God’s plan in order to reveal his glory. Believer…will you trust in God’s wisdom instead of your own understanding? That is the way to find peace with your current hardships…accept that God is working, and trust that no matter what takes place, God is in control and things happen according to his glory.
Having reframed the past in light of God's sovereignty, Joseph begins to look to the future. He doesn’t just forgive his brothers—he restores. He invites. He embraces. This final section takes us from God’s providence to personal restoration.
Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Joseph’s words lead to action. His theology becomes reconciliation, and his forgiveness becomes embrace. This is what healing looks like when grace reigns. Let’s consider …
Healing Through Reconciliation: (9-15)
Healing Through Reconciliation: (9-15)
Joseph is reconciling with his family even though they don’t deserve it. They did a horrible thing to Joseph and you know they didn’t treat him well prior to selling him off. While he was in the pit he likely heard them talking about killing him or what they were going to do…he was terrified during that time. However, he is not repaying evil for evil here is he?
No, Joseph not only forgives but calls his family into restoration and blessing—This is a true model of gospel reconciliation. This should encourage you to seek reconciliation whenever possible and trust in God’s provisions, understand that God’s purposes span far beyond any immediate trials to a more full and complete restoration that comes with joy.
You see, Reconciliation Is Rooted in Redemption. When Joseph said, “Hurry and go up to my father …You shall dwell in the land of Goshen…” he was not only restoring relationship, but he was providing for the future. This is what Jesus did when he laid his life down on that cross so many years ago.
Joseph, who had once presented a plan to Pharaoh to save Egypt, now offered a plan to his brothers to save Israel’s clan by moving them to Egypt to live in Goshen during the five remaining years of famine. Goshen was an amazing fertile piece of land. You see, the Hebrews were shepherds and so Pharaoh gave them a place that would be a great field for their cattle.
Pharaoh gave this land happily to Joseph’s family because if it were not for Joseph, there would be no Egypt. Goshen was in the eastern portion of Egypt’s Nile Delta which is why there was a good pasture there as the water from the Nile and from the Mediterranean Sea would be enough to support grass for the cattle to graze.
Do you realize what is going on here? What we are seeing as we read this story? We see that Grace reaches beyond the offenses. The brothers who were still having trouble believing who Joseph was. They are wrestling with the fact that not only was he alive, but he somehow became a ruler in Egypt. Now, they are watching Joseph throw his arms around his brother Benjamin and weep. He only stopped that embrace to welcome each of the brothers, who once conspired to kill him, with a kiss while he continued to weep.
This is such a beautiful picture of redemption and reconciliation that was given by Joseph. Here we see love that embraces former enemies—foreshadowing the reconciliation through Christ. Again we see that Joseph is pointing us to a greater savior. Just as Joseph cries out for his brother…Jesus cried out for the men that crucified him…including you and I when he said, “Father forgive them…they know not what they do.”
Frequently we don’t fully understand what our sin is truly doing, or how far we are from pleasing God…However, today I want everyone to understand that even in the midst of your struggles…God is in control, and he has a purpose for your pain. The only place you will find hope is in trusting that God is working all things together for a good purpose. That’s what we read in
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
As we step back and look at this scene in Genesis 45, we are not just reading the story of an emotional family reunion, though there is that—we are witnessing the beauty of God’s sovereign grace on full display in this family.
You see, Joseph saw that God was at work through his pain, betrayal, and even famine—not just to save a family, but to preserve a nation.
Joseph forgave his brothers because he believed something deeper than his own justice—he believed in God’s purpose through his pain.
Here’s the deal though…Joseph is not just a moral example—he is a shadow of the Savior to come:
Like Joseph, Jesus was betrayed by His own brothers—rejected, abandoned, and left for dead.
Like Joseph, Jesus was raised up to the right hand of power, not in Pharaoh’s house—but at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3).
Like Joseph, Jesus offers forgiveness to those who betrayed Him—He invites His enemies to become His family.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Folks, the same Christ who forgave His enemies now calls you to be reconciled with him. You can’t undo your sin, but you can trust the One who turned the greatest evil—the cross—into the greatest good—your salvation.
So, if you're here today and you've never turned from your sin and trusted in Christ—listen carefully now: God is not merely calling you to fix your life. He is calling you to be forgiven and reconciled. Like Joseph with his brothers, Jesus says: “Come near to me, please.”
Of course for those who know Christ—this passage presses us to live as Joseph lived:
First of all to see your suffering through the lens of God's sovereignty.
Don’t just ask “Why is this happening?”—ask “How might God be working?”
Count it all joy… for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Secondly, Be quick to forgive because you've been greatly forgiven.
Reconciliation is not optional for the Christian. It’s the very essence of our salvation.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Finally, Live with a long view of God’s providence.
You may not see the good yet—but God is never idle. His hand is in the hardship. Trust Him like you trust your chair to hold you up.
This morning Joseph's words still echo: “you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose.”
The same God who was at work in Joseph's pit, in Pharaoh’s palace, and in that Egyptian famine—is at work in your life right now.
So…will you trust Him to hold you?
Will you follow the One that Joseph is pointing to—Joseph delivered his brothers from the famine…but Jesus Christ, is the greater Deliverer?
Let’s pray:
