Where is God?

Where is God?

Text: The Story of Joseph (Genesis 37:23-36)

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many coloursd that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officere of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

(Genesis 50:15-20)

15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Introduction:

1. Man sees life as a mess of random events but God sees order and purpose.

2. The disciples cried out "Master careth not that we perish?

(Mark 4:35-41)

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

3. I remember asking God if He saw what was happening in my life on two occasions:

a) During the hardships of Bible College

b) When my wife left

4. In Times of trouble as a nation we ask where is God in all of this! (911 we all asked where was God in all this)

a) During the Great Depression

B) During War time

I. God is sovereign- rules over all of his creation.- He is on his throne! (the visions of Daniel and Revelation)

"The sovereignty of God is the most hated attribute of God." Men are ok with:

a. Holiness. b. Love. c. Goodness. d. His Omnipresence- "His immensity" e. His Eternal nature. f. HIs Omnipotence- "All knowing" g. His forgiveness But not his sovereignty - "His Rule"

Illustration:

Concerning the sovereignty of God, theologian R. C. Sproul said,"I have never in my life met a Christian who said that he did not believe that God is sovereign. But what they really mean is that God is like the king of England, who reigns but does not rule." To most Christians God is just a figurehead, we make all the decisions and we run our lives.

II. God chooses to work behind the scenes because He has no need to prove that He is in charge.

A. "God accomplishes his purposes no matter what men may do." Esther-

B. "Man means things for evil, but God turns them around for good." (Genesis 50), (ie. Pharoah)

C. "Promotion comes from God"

(Psalms 75:4-7)

Lift not up the horn: 5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the southc. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

D. "God chooses to use the weak and foolish to confound the wise and powerful."

(I Cor. 1:25-29)

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

III. God is sovereign in the face of injustice. Joseph-

A. "Vengeance is mine"

(Romans 12:19)

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

B. "fret not because the evil man prospers"

(Psalms 37:1-7)

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verilya thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commitb thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

IV. God is sovereign in face of suffering.

A. "Christ's suffered and it was the will of God."

B. "not all suffering is a result of sin" Sometimes suffering is the will of God. the blind man suffered for the glory of God.

(John 9:1-3)

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

C. "Job suffered according to the will of God."

V. God is sovereign in the face of persecution.

(II Tim. 3:11-12)

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

VI. Faith in the sovereignty of God brings about great peace.

Illustration:

When General "Stonewall" Jackson lost an arm in battle, his chaplain exclaimed, "Oh, General, what a calamity!" Jackson thanked him for his sympathy, but replied, "You see me wounded, but not depressed, not unhappy. I believe it has been according to God's holy will, and I glory entirely in it. You may think it strange, but you never saw me more perfectly contented than I am today, for I am sure my heavenly Father designs this affliction for my good. I am perfectly satisfied that either in this life or in that which is to come, I shall discover that what is now regarded as calamity is a blessing."

VII. Faith in the sovereignty of God brings about rest. "be still and know that I am God" Hebrew "go limp"

(Psalms 46:10)

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

VIII. Faith in sovereignty, does not give us all the answers, but removes all the questions.

A. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

B. "The Just shall live by faith."

C. "Jesus asked how long he would have to suffer this faithless generation."

D. "God asked Job some hard questions"

(Job 38-1-7)

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answera thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hastb understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundationsc thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

(Job 40:1-14)

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. 14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Conclusion:

The next time you wonder where God is in a situation put your hand over your mouth! Be satisfied in knowing that God is on his throne ruling in HIs sovereignty.

Added notes:

"The Sovereignty of God is the stumbling block on which thousands fall and perish; and if we go contending with God about His sovereignty it will be our eternal ruin. It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God as an absolute sovereign, and the sovereign of our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom He will have mercy and harden whom He will" ~ Jonathan Edwards.