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TRANSCRIPT
This chapter of Genesis is one of the most incredible pictures of forgiveness and trust in scripture.
We as Christians often quote Romans 8:28. It says,
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
We make the statement that we can trust God with anything we are going through, even the horrible experiences of our lives. We say, and I believe this, that God will use that moment for good to come out of them.
Now, quoting that verse and truly letting that seep into your spirit are very different. Too often, when we walk through complex, unfair, unjust situations and downright wrong moments in our life, we harbor feelings of resentment for those who were a part of it, and even God himself,
But I get emotional here as I think through Joseph's journey.
Can we quickly recap it? God gave him a divine dream, which causes hostility between him and his family; he is his father's favorite son, creating a divide between him and his brothers. Those brothers beat him up and intend to kill him, but instead, they sell him into slavery and lie to their father about his death. He spends time as a servant to only be falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit and spends years in jail; he helps a friend while in jail and once again is forgotten and left in prison.
This is a lot to swallow for anyone. I compare the moments in my life to this and realize the wrongs inflicted on him were much greater than what I have experienced, yet what do we read in this chapter?
Let's read Genesis 45:3-5
This is the moment that Joseph comes clean to his brothers, and that is him. Let's read it together.
"I am Joseph!" he said to his brothers. "Is my father still alive?" But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. "Please, come closer," he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. "Genesis 45:3-5 NLT
My two takeaways from this passage are:
1. His forgiveness for his brothers
2. His trust in God's plan
Can you imagine all the time that Joseph could have sat and stewed over what his brother's actions caused him to go through? Think about the days in the caravan traveling with the slave traders, every day in Potiphar's house as a servant, all the days he spent in the prison cell.
Do you realize that the unforgiveness he could have been justified in could have cost him everything? It could have cost his family everything!
Today, I want to encourage you to be like Joseph, to take your anger, frustration, and unforgiveness and lay them down. If anyone was justified for feelings of anger, hatred, betrayal, and a good case of retribution, it was Joseph, but never once does he take advantage of his opportunities.
What an incredible model for us to see what Joseph accomplished when he set those things down! Even if you are justified, this is your moment of challenge. Let it go, move past that, and know God will use it.
This brings me to the second point of observation: look at how, through everything, Joseph continued to trust in God's plan.
Let's be honest; many of us only accept the plan of God or trust the plan of God when we see mountaintops and blessings running down. It's easy to trust God when the promotions are coming, the bank account is full, and relationships are good, but what happens when things don't go according to plan, and you find yourself sitting in a place you didn't "deserve" or want to be in? This is where Joseph's trust in God shined through.
He took Colossians 3 to heart,
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you are serving is Christ. Colossians 3:23-24
No matter where Joseph found himself, whether in the pit, Potiphar's house, prison, or the palace, he worked hard and trusted God in the process!
Are you trusting God with the place you are at? Are you trusting that God can work everything we go through for our good?
Joseph is the best example of this; even look at Genesis 45: 8-9
"So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt. "Now hurry back to my father and tell him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me Master over all the land of Egypt. So come down to me immediately! “ Genesis 45: 8-9
"God brought me here." do you see that?
Can I encourage some of you right now that find yourself in a place you didn't want or expect? This is when we need to turn to God and trust him because we can't and don't see beyond the moment. Still, God sees our eternity, and in the words we heard in the story of Abraham, Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
Joseph goes from betrayed brother to prison to 2nd in command of Egypt. It's a scenario that we couldn't imagine, but God knew. Don't allow your circumstances to limit what God will be able to do in your future. We have to walk in trust no matter where we find ourselves.
One final encouragement today chose to let the unforgiveness go; one of the sayings I always go to on the subject is that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.