Joseph's Forgiveness and God's Providence

서론

- After Joseph suffered from hardship for thirteen years, he became the prime minister of Egypt.

- Joseph confessed, “God made me forget all my trouble and made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

- It seems that all problems of Joseph were solved, but one problem still remains.

- That is the relationship with brothers who sold Joseph to Egypt.

~In today’s text, the last problem was dealt with. First of all, let’s see how Joseph and his brothers met again.

요셉과 형들과의 만남

1) 요셉과 형들의 만남

- We know that Joseph became Number 2 of Egypt.

- And as Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, there were seven years of abundance, and then there were seven years of severe famine.

- During the seven years of famine, Egypt could endure thanks to Joseph’s wisdom. Joseph stored grain ahead of time.

- But people in other countries had to suffer from severe hunger. Joseph’s father and brothers also had to suffer from severe famine. They heard the news that only Egypt has enough grain and people buy food there. So Joseph’s father Jacob makes his sons go to Egypt and buy food to eat.

- One day, Joseph was supervising the process of distributing grain to people as usual. By the way, some people who look familiar are coming from a distance. Joseph could notice them immediately because they were his brothers who sold him as slave to Egypt. How could Joseph forget them?

2) 요셉의 마음이 어떠했을 것 같아요?

- For Joseph, the ten brothers would be not just brothers. They were his enemies. They were those who ruined Joseph’s life. They left Joseph scarred for life.

- But the situation was changed. Thirteen years ago, Joseph had no power, but now Joseph has enough power to get back at his brothers. Even he could kill them if he wanted.

- Let’s read verses where Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers!

<< Gen 45:3-4

- And then, how would Joseph say to them? Would he say to them like this? “I will get back at you guys. Kneel down to me. From now on, you are my slaves.”

3) 요셉의 반응

<< Gen 45:5

- Joseph does not avenge himself on them. He does not threat them with power.

- Rather, Joseph is reassuring them.

- “Don’t be distressed. Do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here.”

- These are not words that victim can tell offenders.

- Furthermore, Joseph says even these words.

<< Gen 50:21 “I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

!! Joseph throughly forgave them. Perfect forgiveness!! Active forgiveness!!

- Not just forgiving them but also reassuring and comforting their heart. And Providing for the enemy’s children.

How is this possible?

~ How is this possible? Let’s see Joseph’s words more!

<< Gen 45:5, 7 / It is God who sent me here.

- In Joseph’s confession, we can discover his God-centered perspective that all things happening in this world or in his life are under God’s will. Actually, Joseph had the faith that God sent him for a deeper purpose.

- What was the purpose of God?

<< Gen 45:5, 7 / “it was to save lives that God sent me” “to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance”

- Think about this!

- Joseph’s family was God’s covenant people. And we know that there were seven years of severe famine so that many people died for that.

- If Joseph was not sent to Egypt and he did not become the prime minister, Israel’s family could not have survived. Through Joseph, his family could be saved.

- “preserve for you a remnant on earth” / We know that the family was God’s appointed bloodline through which Jesus would come to the world.

- If the family could not survive at that time, how could Jesus come to the world? There was God’s amazing purpose when the brothers sold Joseph.

- Let’s read Joseph’s another words to his brother!

<< Gen 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

- Yes! God is really the one who turns even evil for good for his people.

!! Because Joseph had the perspective of this faith, he could forgive his brothers.

God’s Providence

1) 설명

- We call this God’s providence. <PPT>

- It means that all things happen and procede according to God’s will, including even evil actions of bad people. And God always intends final good for His people.

- Today’s sermon is the last sermon in Genesis. <PPT>

- The theme of Genesis is this: God created all things in this world. And He plans and reigns over all things. And, especially, to His covenant people, He shows his faithfulness through all things happening in their lives. God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and providence. These are the themes of Genesis.

- This theme of God’s providence is discovered in the New Testament, too.

<< Rom 8:28

- This is why we have to believe in Jesus Christ. If you belong to Jesus, because you are God’s people and children, all things in your life will work for good. Even when you face hardships you cannot handle, through the hard times, you will be guided by God to a better way.

- Remember! For God’s people, all things are God’s grace.

2) 예화: 나의 이야기

- EX: 대학진학

- When I was about to go to college in Korea, I wanted to go to good college in Seoul. And actually I could go. My homeclass teacher told me that I could enter good college in Seoul easily. But I couldn’t go because I have no enough money. And my dad wanted me to go to college in the province where I could get scholarship. So I had to go college I didn’t wanna go. At that time, it was so tough to me. Everything in this world looked unfair. There was anger in my heart. No peace.

- But what comforted me was the word of God. Romans 8:28 / In all things God works for the good to His children.

- Through the Bible, God told me that all events including bad situations we cannot understand will be good for me. This word persuaded me, and I could restore peace in my heart.

- EX: 군대에서 허리가 아팠다.

- In military, I suffered from severe pain in my lower back. I’m sorry for repeating this story again.

- This is because it was really hard. One of the most difficult time in my life.

- But when I think now, it was also God’s providence. There was God’s good intention.

- Through the tough time, I could lay down my bad and selfish desires and meet God deeply and really purely. Considering now, it was really beneficial and necessary time for me.

- The times were really the times God prepared for me. At that time, I could not understand, but now I can confess they were God’s providence.

3) 적용

- Today, I hope you guys to understand God’s providence.

- When you face difficulties you cannot bear, or when you face the situation baffling you, try confessing like Joseph.

- Let’s confess together now! “It is God who drove me to this worst situation.” “This situation is really bad, but God will turn it for good.” <PPT>

- I am convinced that this understanding and confession will make you overcome difficult times and make you spiritually maturer person, God-centered person like Joseph.

4) 구체적 적 용

- Especially, is there anybody who is in the situation like Joseph’s situation? It can be situations where somebody else broke your heart before, or there are some people who hate you or those who you hate. I mean relationship problem in which you have to forgive others.

- I know that forgiveness is not easy. The closer they are to you like family or friends, the more difficult forgiveness is.

- But God says to us to forgive enemy. Forgiveness is God’s will. And we were forgiven by God.

- How about thinking like Joseph? There is God’s providence. God did all things for bigger and better will. For our maturity. For somebody else’s salvation.

- How about telling them as Joseph told his brothers?

<< Gen 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

- If you can truly confess like this, you will be able to forgive those who broke your heart.

결론

- Today is the end of the messages from Genesis. Today’s Joseph’s last story was about forgiveness and God’s providence.

- Whenever we face incomprehensible situations, we need to remember God’s providence toward your life!

- Remember that our God really reigns over and leads your lifes, and that all things in your life is under God’s control.

- And if you are in Christ, God turns all things, even bad and evil things and any kind of hardship, into good.

- With this perspective, overcome your situations and forgive your enemies just as Joseph showed us perfect forgiveness for his brothers.

<기도제목>

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