God’s Plans: Genesis 45.1-15

 

As we gather this morning we are reminded we gather as a broken people who are forgiven; we live in God’s grace.  This week we will end out time in Genesis and next week we’ll start Colossians and look at the grace of God.  Next week you’ll have a treat from the one who will bring the Word: Mark will preach.  I look forward to gathering and sitting with you.

In Genesis 45 life has not gone as planned for Joseph.  Have you ever tried to rake leaves in the wind?  It doesn’t work!  The wind wins.  Maybe you feel like that today?  Maybe things aren’t going as planned?  Joseph had many of these moments.  When life isn’t going like we think it should we have the opportunity to ask, “What is God doing in all of this?”  There are some surprises in this passage that ties it all together.  We already know the end of the story and that can cause us to overlook some things.  This is where it clicks for Joseph.  It’s a fun moment.

God surprises us with love.

It’s been 22 years since Joseph has seen his family, 22 years since he’s spoken in his native heart language of Hebrew.  That’s a long time!  All that emotion is inside of Joseph as his brothers have come to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers don’t realize it’s him.  They just see an Egyptian guy who has a lot of power who’s given them a hard time.  Joseph cannot contain himself anymore. 

                    ³And 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.

Judah recounts the loss of a brother and takes responsibility for it.  Something happens as Joseph hears Judah express that Godly sorrow for what they did to him.  Can you imagine being ripped away from your family?  We’ve read about a strong Joseph.  It’s easy to overlook the emotional strain of having to be so strong.  There’s an ice breaker moment where we have a real breakthrough.  When we meet with new groups we do ice breakers too.  On my way here today a friend stopped me in the hall and asked where I’m from in Alabama.  I’m from a small town; nobody goes there.  Nancy and I were married in Washington, AL.  This friend was there years ago and knows my hometown.  What we have in common can break down barriers.  Joseph hears Judah’s confession and he is surprised by the love of God.  We’ve learned how to put up walls.  God can break them.  Joseph speaks in his Hebrew language and his brothers are dismayed and silent.  The word here is the same word used to describe the trauma of war.  The brothers do not speak in this passage; they’re stunned and frozen.  They’ve lived for 22 years with guilt over what they did to their brother Joseph. Joseph has a heart change here but the brothers are going through a lot too. 

God has a plan for your life that will bless the world.

Joseph will reframe his life.  The events of his life are the same but his perspective shifts in verse 5.  How do we reframe our lives?
                    ⁵And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

What Joseph does is forgive his brothers; there’s a huge element of forgiveness here.  One reason we don’t forgive is we think it will take away what the other person did.  We cannot undo the past.  Joseph doesn’t forget the past.  Joseph doesn’t forget what’s happened.  He says, “you sold me,” but look at how he rephrases this: “Your intent was to sell me but God sent me here.”  Joseph interprets what happened as God sending him.  This is a huge change!  Joseph is no longer a victim.  He shakes off that victim mentality.  This is the proverbial taking lemons and making lemonade.  This is a powerful moment to look at our own lives.  It’s not that we ignore what happened to us, but when we spend time with God we can ask about and see what God is doing in all of this.  There’s a change in Joseph’s focus here.  Some things don’t’ make sense.  Some of you have had some bad things happen in your lives.  I do not want to dismiss these things.  Joseph is able to see why.  Some things may never be clear to us.  In verse 5, Joseph expresses God sent him to preserve life.  Life matters to God.

God has a plan for your life that will bless the church.

We have to dig deeper into verse 7 to see one key word: remnant.  We’ve heard this word before.  It’s mostly used in the Old Testament and sometimes we call it an Old Testament Remnant Theology.  We see it in Jeremiah and Nehemiah.  Whatever Israel went through, there’s always a remnant.  We saw it in the story of the ark.  This is God setting aside a remnant.  In the New Testament there’s a remnant of the faithful.  God knows how to preserve His people.  In Romans 11:5, this word is used of Christians.  God is preserving a small group of people who are faithful that God will use to impact the world.  The reason?  It’s the church.  We will remain faithful no matter what happens in this world so we can tell people the hope we have in Christ.  This is God’s purpose for us.

                    ⁷And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

Old Testament theology is always about a remnant of Israel.  What this means for us is God has his purpose for preserving us in His church.  Judah softens Joseph’s heart.  It’s through the line of Judah that God sends Jesus into the world.  This is so important for us today as we see what’s happening.  Sometimes we wonder what’s happening as we are living in very strange times, but they’re not that strange because God is preserving us for a purpose.  Joseph has no idea of the implication of this.  God has us here for a reason.  God has a purpose and a reason for your life.  There’s a reason you’re here.  We are thankful for this, that God is preparing us for our future purpose.  “And God sent” is the same idea we express when we say, “on mission,” the same idea as someone who is a missionary.  There’s a purpose behind this.  We gather as a called out people.  We are a gathering of called out and sent people.  God has a purpose for our lives.

God has a plan for your life that will bless your family.

This is what God does in Joseph’s life.  Family gets to our hearts.  We all have a desire to take care of our families.  It’s a good thing.  What’s the first thing Joseph asked about?  He asked about his father.  How’s my dad?  It’s a big deal for Joseph.

                    ¹³You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.”

Joseph wants to take care of his dad but he knows his dad can be stubborn.  God will provide.  Joseph wants to provide for his father.  This is a God given desire.  They do not realize there will still be 5 years of famine to come.  Joseph sees this and wants to care for his family.  We have moments where we realize God did things for our family.  The last part, in verse 15, is about a relational need.  We need food, shelter and clothing, but God gives us much more:

            ¹⁵And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

We’ve gone 15 verses and the brothers haven’t said a word.  The brothers are just numb and just sitting there.  Joseph goes one step further.  He embraces them and kisses them.  This is not easy to do!  Some of you are here with your siblings.  How easy is it to embrace them and kiss them when you’re mad at them?  22 years and now Joseph has power over them.  What’s it take for Joseph to love them?  This is a work God as done.  There’s a restoration that happens here.  Joseph has been a slave and is in prison, but the brothers have also been enslaved for 22 years.  A number of times when something went wrong in their lives they said they knew they’d die.  They’d die for the bad things they’ve done, for what they did to their brother Joseph, because of their sin.  They’ve carried a heavy guilt in their lives.  Joseph frees them form this guilt. We too can give freedom to other people.  What the brothers means for evil, God used for good.  How can we do this?  How can our lives be reframed?  The cross has done this for us.  By the power of the cross God says He knows what we’ve done.  There is forgiveness.  The first part is to be restored to God.  What hangs over your life?  Lay it before God.  Joseph doesn’t want his brothers to be walking around under guilt.  You’re a sent out people.  Maybe you have this power over someone today?  You’re not mean to them, but you hang it over them a bit.  How can you restore that person? Set them free?  Joseph kissed them and embraced them and let it go.

Sermon Notes are taken, transcribed and posted by Jeni Martin Johnson.  Sermon is by Dr. Scotty Carpenter.