God's Sovereign Plan

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 133

Psalm 133 ESV

A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Scripture Memorization: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18-30 (Gideon)

Romans 8:18–30 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Sermon:

Good morning Church! I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

Well, this morning, we turn our attention to a passage that. If you have been here, any amount of time you are already familiar with the most important portion of this passage. We will get a little bit more context today than just what we've been memorizing.

But as we come to the end of the Book of Genesis, we find. The wrapping up of Joseph's story after the end of Jacob's life. We find the heartbeat, the message, and the push of the Book of Genesis.

Truly, this book has been teaching us that since the beginning God has been working. God has been Sovereign and in control. Not one event, not one moment. Not one tiny piece of of any small anything lies outside of God's Sovereign hand.

In the beginning.… Genesis 1 he created all things. He holds all things. When man fell, God was the one who came in. Speaking to the serpent, the woman and the man. Explaining his plan for salvation, Redemption, hope, and healing. It was God who judged mankind in the flood. It was God who scattered mankind over the face of the Earth at the Tower of Babel. It was God. Who called one man, Abraham, out of Ur of the Chaldeans? It is God who covenanted with Abraham taking upon himself the burden of establishing and keeping and fulfilling all of his Covenant promises. It's God, who gave Abraham a son named Isaac. It's God who worked in Isaac's life that within the womb of his wife would be growing two children and yet. The older will serve the younger. Jacob, I have loved - We read elsewhere in scripture - But Esau I have hated. It's God who worked this out. And what we will find today is it is God who orchestrated all of the events of Joseph's life, not just the dreams that God gave to him. But even the working of his brothers. Potiphar, Potiphar's wife, Pharaoh, his time in prison. All of this was according to God's Sovereign plan. And as such, he is worthy of all glory Honor and praise.

our passage for today. Genesis chapter 50, verse 15 through 21, I'm going to ask us to do something as I read it when I get to verse 19. If you have verse 19 and 20 memorized? You can say it with me. I'll say it slowly. At the Cadence, we're used to saying it out loud together. But here's the halfway point between testing if you memorized it with nothing up there and reading it. We will read God's word and We get to the part we've memorized Let's say it all together.

Genesis 50:15–21 ESV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's begin our time together with a word of prayer.

Dear Lord, we do thank you for your goodness and Grace. We praise you for your love and mercy, your strength and Justice. We humbly come before you, for you are The Sovereign King of Heaven and Earth. The one who holds all things, who controls all things, who knows all things. And so we thank you that you see fit in your Sovereign plan to bring it about that many people should be kept alive. Here in the story of Joseph, but we know and Proclaim through the work of your son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. The one who bore the Wrath we deserved. The one who knew no sin, who became sin for us that we might have eternal life. Thank you for the hope we have in the truth of the Gospel. It is in Jesus name that we pray. Amen.

So, here we are, the payoff the theological, the emotional and spiritual high point that Genesis has been building up to. And it comes as Joseph's Brothers approach Joseph with full knowledge of everything they've done. Full knowledge of their own Hearts. Full knowledge of their sin. And so the passage opens, and I think it's important we understand this. It opens with The fears of man.

the FEARS of MAN

On one hand, the fears of man. Are that Joseph, who has power? We'll treat them poorly. Maybe they say in verse 15, it may be. That Joseph will hate us. Their fear is that Joseph, their brother, who's been claiming to love them and claiming to forgive them, Well, now that Dad's gone. Now, the dad's dead. And now that Joseph has all the power. It might be. He didn't actually forgive us. It may be. That he will hate us, and it may be. That every evil thing we did. Will be paid back to us.

Truly, This if I may be frank Is the fear of man?

In this particular case, it's seen in Joseph's brothers and the fear of of what Joseph May and could do to them. But at its heart. What is the fear of man? The sin that we know all too well. The sin. The book of Hebrews says so easily entangles. The sin. We sing this sometimes in a song by Matt Papa. that promised joy and life that led us to the Grave. The fear we have is that that sin… That that evil that begins in our own heart... James says, each one of us is tempted when the desires of our own heart, the passions of our own soul we give in to these things. Paul writes about Sin, and he talks about how, what a wretched Man. Am I for the things I desire to do I don't do the things I don't want to do. I do, do, who will save me from this body of death?

And so the ultimate fear of man here highlighted, Illustrated and lived by the brothers. Is that our sin? Will require. Recompense. Our sin will require payment. Our sin will require. Some sort of Restitution, and some way to make it right. But our fear is compounded when we understand just how evil. Our sin is. They know what they did? They're not beating around the bush. They don't say Joseph might hate us because you know, he's not gonna think that what we did was good, but we had his best interests in mind. Joseph's going to hate us because you know we were just kids? And kids will be kids. We can't help that we were jealous and wanted. Throw him in a pit and sell them into slavery and then lie to our father and say he was dead. I mean. What do they say? he will hate us and pay us back for the evil we did to him!

The fears of man become more accentuated and highlighted when we know and understand just how sinful we are. And so. They plot and they scheme. And they try to figure out a way out or or around their fears.

And we're confronted with the solutions of man.

The SOLUTIONS of MAN

They send a message to Joseph. Okay, Joseph may hate us. We got to cut this off at the pass. Plotting and scheming and evil is what got us to this point. But what are we going to do? Let's do just a little more plotting.

They send a message saying “your father gave this command”. Now, we don't have any record of Jacob actually giving this command. Are they lying? I don't know because I actually could see... It would make sense that Joe Jacob would give a command like this. He would have been, at this point before he died, well aware of the sins of his sons. They're lying, they're scheming. They had to confront him when Joseph was magically alive, and they have to come to him for food. So, maybe they're not lying, but either way look where they look for their solutions. They appeal to their father.

Their solution is. Well, if Dad's the one who kept us alive before he died? Now that he's gone, we're still going to rely on Dad. Your father gave this command verse 17 say to Joseph. Please forgive the transgressions of your brothers. Their solution appealed to their father and. Rely on the goodness! Of Joseph. Which is a bit ironic, that they fear Joseph so they appeal to Joseph… but here is the truth: Joseph is a good man. He has already shown his kindness, his grace, his forgiveness to his brothers. And so, if you're going to have to rely on any man? Joseph is a great candidate. Anyone else we committed such evil against, we might be in trouble… but Joseph, Josephs kind and generous and gentile and wise....

But the solutions of man are still here, relying on man. Please forgive your brothers of their sin because they did evil to you. Their solution is to rely on their father, rely on man, and. Try to show that just because I messed up doesn't mean I'm completely worthless.

We're 17 continues.

Genesis 50:17 “‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.”

He's the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And we serve him too.

There's an interesting undercurrent here that we should should note. Joseph, Though he is a son of Jacob, Is at this point and we can view him. As thoroughly Egyptian. He serves pharaoh. Ministers and Pharaohs Court. He has an Egyptian wife with Egyptian Sons. We covered this with Ephraim and Manasseh. And so they're appealing to something higher.

The god of your fathers. NOT Egyptian gods. The God Who Rules and Reigns, The God Who Covenant to The God Who promises. The God Who YOU serve.

So, the solution is. Look to the father. Earthly father. Look to the brother. And his good graces. And try to claim some sort of standing in righteousness. On their own.

Joseph. Weeps. When they spoke to him. Why does Joseph weep?

The question “why” is a good question if you're looking at scripture? Your understanding and the fruitfulness you will get out of scripture will be. Increased. A hundred fold. If you just are always asking the question why? Why did Joseph Brothers come to him? Well, their father died, and they're afraid. Why are they afraid? because of their sin. Why do they call upon the grace of Joseph? because he showed it in the past. Why do they call upon the god of the father of Joseph? because that's the God who can save and deliver. Why does Joseph weep?

I think there's a lot going on here. I think what any of us weep? It's not always just one thing. And for Joseph, it seems there's a lot going on here.

One. His brothers were evil to him. Maybe he's weeping because he knows they're honest. We were evil. And he weeps because of. The loss of years of time with his brothers, his father. His family. He mourns.

Maybe he weeps? Because they think they even have to come to him at all. My brothers. He weeps that they don't know him well enough. That they think that he's gonna hate them. He weeps. He's like guys after. 17 years of you being here with us. Plus all the time before, plus all the time before that. You really think that I won't care for you. And he weeps.

Or maybe he weeps tears Of solemn Joy. Because he knows the truth. This whole situation. Everything. Does not rely on the fears of men. And, in fact, in this case. Though the fears of man are founded in reality of their evilness. They are irrational. Because they don't understand the full story.

Maybe he weeps because he sees their Solutions and he realizes they don't get the point. What they hope to be. The solution is not it. Just because their dad said, hey, you should forgive them. That's not why Joseph's going to forgive them. Just because? They, they call on his kindness... Joseph's kindness is actually, not why he's going to forgive them. Just because they offer to be his servants.

This is the last note here in verse 18. they fall down before him and offer to be his servants.… that's part of their solution, too. We'll just indentured servitude ourselves, we will be your servants.

But why does he weep and why will he ultimately forgive them? Because of the plan of God.

The PLAN of GOD

But Joseph said to them. Do not fear. For. Am I in the place of God?

Do not. Fear. Sure, you did evil against man. You did evil to Joseph. And Joseph has. A ton of power, second most powerful man in the world. It's Pharaoh. It's Joseph, that's it. That's the list.

Don't fear. Because am I in the place of God? Why would you fear me? God's the one? Who rules and Reigns? You claim to be the servant of God. So, why would you fear me if you are God's servant? Will he not protect you? Will he not care for you?

There's even this thought here if we just. Contemplate Joseph's entire life. Everything he's gone through. And then just think through what he's saying. You say that you're God's servant, Joseph says. I am God's servant. So, what might happen to you? You might have your brother hate you so much that he throws you in a pit. And sells you into slavery. Is God still Sovereign? Yes. So, why are you fearing? I'm not God. So, no matter what. No matter what Joseph could do to his brothers. He won't do anything… but no matter what Joseph could do to his brothers. Even if you were to do to them exactly what they did to him, God is still Sovereign.

And if they claim to serve God, he will still hold them care for them. So, why are you fearing? Maybe you end up in Egyptian prison? Is God still not God? Will he not be with you? So, why are you afraid? Do not fear what man can do to you. Do not fear what man may do in recompense to you. Do not fear what may happen to you at the hands of any man. For, he is not God.

God is greater. God is stronger. God is Sovereign. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

We will discuss this in our grace group a little bit this week. But I, I feel the need to make explicit, painfully explicit, the truth that is being said here. Because sometimes we try to. Make it sound better for God because we think God needs us to defend him, and in doing so we proclaim a MUCH weaker truth, anod one that ultimately cannot comfort they way The full truth can.

What Joseph does not say? Is? Well, what you meant for evil. God turned it for good. What Joseph does not say is what you meant for evil. God found a way to use for good. What you meant for evil God meant it for good. In the English, those two words are the same. Because in the Hebrew, those two words that are the same because the heartbeat, those two words are the same.

God does not go around trying to fix mistakes and try to scramble to to whip everything back together. After we do things, God is Sovereign over all things at all times. All people, all places God is Sovereign. So, Joseph said. My time Drug behind a Slave Caravan. That was God. My time in Potiphar's house. That was God. Getting into prison? God's plan. My time in prison. That was God's plan. Being forgotten about by the cup bearer. God's plan. This famine that we've all suffered through. God's plan. Everything that has happened has happened because The Sovereign hand of God sees fit to pour it out.

Why? For good and for life.

In Joseph's particular case, literal physical salvation from famine life and GOOD.

So, let's suppose. Joseph is saying to his brothers. So, let's suppose I do. Kick you out of Goshen. Throw you into slavery. Sell you to whomever. Make you a servant. Egypt. Take your stuff and your kids. Let's suppose I do all of this. Am I God?

What was God's promise to you Brothers? Well, it's the same promise given to our father. That we would grow into a nation. We've been called already… Tribes. We were promised BY GOD that we have descendants outnumbering the stars in the sky and the Sands. On the beach that we would be blessed a nation that would be so blessed that we would be a blessing to all others.

Can Joseph, A man, do anything to thwart God's plan?

The plan of God is sure and secure. And so God has worked it about through your actions that many people would be kept alive. So, do you not think that, no matter what I would do to you that God would still be Sovereign and he would still care for you.

So, do not fear.

Don't Fear. Trust in the promises and the plan of God.

It will Be okay. No matter what I do to you, God will still care for you.

But I'll also care for you

verse 21, so do not fear I will provide for you and your little one.

He never says. It's interesting... What do they ask for? forgiveness! Your father gave this command verse 17, forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin. Please forgive the transgressions of your servant.

We're the Servants of God, like, just forgive us, forgive us, forgive us.

Joseph never says, I forgive you.

His actions. Tell us that he has.

I'll provide for you. I could throw you into slavery in Egypt. And God would still care for you. But I forgive you. I'll care for you. Not just you, your little ones. Have I not shown that I would do this? Are you not currently residing in Goshen? Are you not currently enjoying? And fruitfulness. Because of what I've done for you. Don't worry. I'll care for you. Thus, he comforted them and Spoke kindly to them.

This whole passage starts with them Waking up in dread fear of what Joseph may do? And at the end, Joseph is speaking, kindly comforting, providing for them and all their children.

What they wanted was just some forgiveness. Maybe Joseph will forgive us, and then we will just go home. Maybe Joseph will just, you know, maybe he won't fully forgive us? We'll say, you know, what? I'm not going to take it out on you, whatever. What does Joseph do? he provides. He goes above and beyond. The solution of man was appeal to. Our father appealed to Joseph claim that we're some that we're still worth something and then offer ourselves as servants. And the plan of God works it out so that they enjoy blessing, Comfort, kindness, blessing. Dwelling in the land of Goshen.

God's plan still in full effect to bless them to keep them to multiply them to grow them, that they would become a great nation. The plan of God is far better. Than anything we might hope for.

And this is still true today.

God's plan. Of Salvation. Is better? God's promises to bless us and keep us. We see and experience in an even more particular and Powerful way. As you go through Genesis. There's this thought that sometimes will appear. Maybe, if you're like me, it'll sometimes appear in your brain. You read God, appearing to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, you read of these dreams, the Angels going up and down the ladder, and God coming in covenanting with these people. Like man, how… How incredible to have promises of God.

If you don't catch ourselves? That correct thought. Can lead to an incorrect thought.

I wish God would make those sorts of promises to me.

He has.

In Jesus Christ. Are all of the promises of God! And we are hid. In him.

All of those who are in Christ? Have experienced? Every spiritual blessing. In the Heavenly places. To all who call upon his name.

Just a quick tour forward. John, chapter 1

John 1:12–13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 1:16 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Trust the promises of God

Ephesians chapter 1. Verse 7

Ephesians 1:7–14 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

We have. Even better promises in Jesus.

James. Chapter 1, verse 16,

James 1:16–18 “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

He saved us. Gives us every perfect gift. Every good gift he has sealed us, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to his will. So, do not fear for. Am I in the place of God? As for you, human evil against me, but God meant it for good. And if God will work all things according to the purpose of his will and in doing so, he has predestined us to be to obtain an inheritance. To be United in Christ to have his grace lavished upon us. The book of Ephesians says. To be sealed with the Holy spirit that we are safe and secure to be called children of God.

That's our hope.

So, if Joseph? Can say, do not fear for. Am I in the place of God? How much more can we?

If Joseph can look to? Any situation? Say. As for you, human evil against me, but God meant it for good. How much more? Can we?

If Joseph? Can show kindness and comfort Even to those who Threw him in a pit, sold him into slavery while ignoring his cries for Mercy. So that he would suffer and languish in Egypt... if he can to them. Show comfort and kindness. How much more? Can we?

Let's pray.

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