The Unexpected Fulfillment of God's Plan

The decree of God is His eternal plan or purpose, in which He has foreordained all things that come to pass. Since it includes many particulars, we often speak of the divine decrees in the plural, though in reality there is but a single decree. It covers all the works of God in creation and redemption, and also embraces the actions of men, not excluding their sinful deeds. But while it rendered the entrance of sin into the world certain, it does not make God responsible for our sinful deeds. His decree with respect to sin is a permissive decree.

Summary of Christian Doctrine, Part II: The Doctrine of God and Creation, Chapter VIII: The Divine Decrees.

Louis Berkhof

The plans of God are often a mystery to us, aren’t they?

He often works in unexpected ways.

He plan often takes unexpected directions, methods, and tactics in the fulfillment of his plan and promises.

This is the truth I want us to focus on this morning as we look over the continuing narrative of Genesis 45-47.

Outline

Big Idea: The promises of God may not be fulfilled as we expect, but the promises of God will be fulfilled perfectly.

Six Unexpected Path’s To the Fulfillment of God’s Promises.

Unexpected sin of others - Genesis 45:7-8

...but God reconciles - Genesis 45:14-15

Unexpected separation and hurt - Genesis 45:5

...but God heals - Genesis 45:6-7

Unexpected grief and numbness - Genesis 45:25-26

...but God softens - Genesis 45:27-28

Unexpected doubt and uncertainty - Genesis 46:1-4

...but God assures - Genesis 46:1-4

Unexpected moves - Genesis 46:1-7; 26-27

...but God provides - Genesis 46:28-47:12

Unexpected wait - Genesis 47:7-9

...but God comes through - Genesis 47:27-28

Sermon Body

Big Idea: The promises of God may not be fulfilled as we expect, but the promises of God will be fulfilled perfectly.

Six Unexpected Path’s To the Fulfillment of God’s Promises.

Unexpected sin of others - Genesis 45:7-8

We examined this at great length when we considered chapter 37 (God’s sovereign control over all, even sin)

But it is worth noting again here.

Even the sins of men do not thwart the plan of God

Even the sins of men can be used of God to work his sovereign plan.

Israel showed favoritism

Joseph bragged

The brothers plotted murder

The brothers DID sell their own brother into slavery

Potiphar’s wife’s treacherous life

The forgetful neglect of the cupbearer

As we considered and have been considering throughout this narrative, God has been above all, over all, and working through every sinful decision that man has made.

No one expects to be sinned against this grievously or regularly.

And it often causes us to question God, doubt God, withdraw from God.

And only wisdom and experience teaches us that God can use the sins of man in our lives to accomplish good.

We do not EXPECT (at times) the plan of God to include the sins of others against us.

And yet it happens.

...but God reconciles Genesis 45:14-15

At first the brothers are grieved and (likely) terrified that the person now standing before them with such power is Joseph.

They know the depth of their sins.

They know the treatment that they have been put through

They know (now) that he has understood them when they thought otherwise.

Genesis 45:3 - They are dismayed at this presence there.

Genesis 50:15 shows their frame of mind both now and later after Israel’s death.

They feared retribution.

And they feared that Joseph’s initial kindness was just a show for his father’s and brother’s (potentially) sake.

Why would they think so? Why would they question the authenticity of Joseph’s forgiveness and grace?

Likely because they were fashioning his response after what theirs would have been or what they have seen others to be.

But notice Genesis 45:14-15.

It took them a bit to get over the initial shock, to believe his authenticity (and obviously as evidenced by chapter 50, they still struggled to later) but once they did, they spoke with him.

It is not explicitly stated, but it is implied, peace between the was made. Reconciliation was accomplished.

Often we view relational conflicts, broken fellowships, the sins of others as roadblocks, stumbling blocks, and hindrances to the plan of God.

The truth is, while God NEVER desires for man to sin, nor does he entice, prompt, or lead men to do so....MAN’S SINS NEVER STAND IN THE WAY OF GOD’S PLAN.

And because God has permitted sin to remain, for man’s choices to continue, HE DOES AND WILL use those wrong decisions as part of his divine plan to orchestrate a narrative so glorious that we can only stand in awe of it.

It is an unexpected path, for sure, but one that God often uses in the narrative he is writing.

The second unexpected path is that of separation and hurt.

Unexpected separation and hurt - Genesis 45:5

For Joseph and his family, it meant separation from each other and the hurt of betrayal, sorrow, and “death.”

I realize that this is very similar to the first one in the sense that separation and hurt are often caused by the sins of man.

However, it can be broader than that as well.

Separation, hurt, and pain can be caused by man’s sin, but they can also be caused by things that have nothing to do with sinful choices.

The explanation given to Israel about Joseph’s demise at the hands of a wild beast is just such an example.

Circumstances happen.

Natural disasters, sicknesses, etc that are not directly connect to man’s choices can cause separation from the ones we love and can cause grief and hurt deeper than we can ever truly understand.

Mankind often struggles to make sense how bad things can be good. How good things can come from bad circumstances.

But God often uses pain, sorrow, grief, hurt, and difficulty in his plan.

This was the complaint of Habakkuk, if you recall from our study and time in Genesis 37 and considering how God is Sovereign over all, including sin.

In human wisdom, we come to think that being good means that we are spared from all hurt and harm.

What we have to come to terms with, accept and embrace is the simple truth that without pain and hardship, we do not fully know or appreciate the person or works of God.

If you want to know God, enjoy God fully, and experience the deepest pleasure of life with Christ, hardship is a necessity.

But, we also must remember that when the path of God uses separation and hurt, he also heals.

...but God heals - Genesis 45:6-7

God healed Josephs’ hurt and anger.

He showed him the greater purpose of his suffering

And Joseph found peace with the path that God had used to get him to where he was USING the hurt and suffering he endured along the way to get him there.

It is an act of grace that enables one to see how the suffering and hurt in ones life has been used for good and not harm. I am convinced that only grace can expose this.

Therefore, when you are dealing with hurt in your life, trials you do not understand, we must PRAY FOR GRACE to trust, to see AND TO wait patiently for the answer.

For Joseph, it took 20 some years for him to see and understand.

For us, it may not be until we reach home in eternity that we understand.

God may grant insight to see sooner, but we are not promised that; nor are we entitled to that.

But when we see it, we must acknowledge that this is grace at work and we must worship and give thanks to God for it.

But God heals. If not fully here in this life, we know for sure in the next. Do you trust that?

Unexpected grief and numbness - Genesis 45:25-26

No one expects or desire to have grief as part of their journey and narrative. We would all love to live free of sorrow and grief.

And yet, even God himself was not spared this necessity.

Christ on the Cross

Father as He turned his back and crushed his own Son.

God as he watched the horrors of sin ravish his creation, turn his creation away from him, and defame all that is right and true.

Yet, unlike God, we can allow that grief to produce a numbness and despair within us.

So deep was Israel’s grief over Joseph’s “death” that he had cut himself off from all hope and healing.

He refused to believe his sons, at first.

He had grown numb.

The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament פוג

: Sam. פוג, פוגג to console (Ben-H. Lit. Or. 2:520) and to be glad; MHeb. qal to dwindle, fail, pi. Sir 3023 to comfort, bring solace, see Syr.; JArm. pe. 1. to become weary, be ineffective; 2. to grow cold; Syr. pe. to grow cold, pa. to cool off, freshen up; CPArm. sbst. *pwg relief (Schulthess Lex. 155a); Arb. fāja (fwj) to go cold.

qal: impf. וַיָּ֫פָג, תָּפוּג.

—1. to turn cold Gn 45:26 (לֵב), metaphorically Hab 1:4 (תּוֹרָה).

—2. to grow weary Ps 77:3 (יַד → נגר nif.); cj. Ps 88:16 for אָפוּנָה prp. אָפוּגָה (BHS) :: Dahood Psalms 2:306f: אוֹפָנָה → אוֹפַן, or אֶפְנֶה → פנה. †

nif.: pf. נְפוּגוֹתִי to be faint, powerless Ps 38:9. †

Der. *פּוּגָה, *הֲפֻגָה.

He had closed himself off to hope.

This is a self defense mechanism to protect from further pain.

This is what happens when we permit something too great of a value in our life; when we do not place all things in the context of our relationship with God; when we value things or people more than we do God.

I do not mean or intend to be insensitive here. I too place a great value upon my wife, my children, my family, my friends, and loved ones.

BUT when they become the source of our ultimate happiness (instead of God), when they are taken from us, as they inevitably will be in this life, we are left devastated.

Even when God is first and foremost, it does not mean we will not know and experience a deep grief…we will…just as Christ endured a deep grief in the garden and Our Father knew a deep grief over the sins of the world he had made (over and over again).

But what it does mean, is that despite the deep grief, we will not lose faith, we will not grow numb, we will not cut ourselves of from the world, we will not put up barriers to prevent further harm.

We will embrace any and all that comes our way in the grace He supplies and trust Him with the outcome using our grief to draw nearer to him than we ever thought possible.

These self defense mechanisms that cause us to grow numb, closed off, and buried behind walls of self protectiveness are in reality a sin as we are declaring to God that pain, suffering, and grief are NOT to be part of His plan and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure it will not be. It is a lack of trusting Him to bring the best possible good out of terrible circumstances; it is a lack of trust to carry us through the hurt for His glory and our good; it is a lack of trust in the goodness and justness of his name.

Rather than throwing up self defense mechanisms seeking to shelter ourselves from the harms of this world, we are to run to Him, THE SHELTER from the harms of this world and throw our cares upon Him in perfect trust and submission.

Consider wonderful truths of Psalm 91 as we take up refuge in Him from the troubles that befall us in a broken world.

He will deliver from snare, from deadly pestilence

He will cover you

You will not fear

A thousand may fall…but none will come near you

No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near

For he will command his angels to guard you

You will tread on the lion and adder

He will deliver, he will protect

When he calls, I will answer

I will be with him in trouble

I will rescue and honor him

I will satisfy him

That is a blessed hope to encourage despite the grief and temptation to self protect. You cannot get better than the promises of God.

SIDE NOTE - You have to wonder what they said to him? You have to wonder if they told the truth of what they had done or if they had spun it to make it appear that they had all been mistaken and that something else had happened to him along the way. We are not told if they confessed to what they had done, just that they told Israel that Joseph was still alive. Personally, I think it is likely they finally told the truth. I do not see that truth being kept contained, especially once Israel reaches Egypt and is reunited with Joseph. So I suspect that the full truth came out, but since we are not told explicitly, it is something left to our wonderings.

When we do run to Him as our shelter, when we surrender, God brings a softening and a healing to our hearts.

...but God softens - Genesis 45:27-28

Over time, Israel came to believe his sons and permit hope in once more.

Enough evidence had been given through the words of Joseph, as they were repeated to their father, that God used them to revive Israel’s heart and restore hope again.

Here’s the thing…I credit this to God because Israel could have refused to believe the boys and been so closed off that he refused to accept what they were saying.

It is an act of grace that his heart softened.

I suspect that Israel also never fully forgot Joseph’s dream…or the recounting of Joseph’s words to the brothers (now being shared with Israel) sparked it to memory again and that was enough to convince Israel of the truthfulness of his words.

One has to wonder if this was not God’s plan the whole time. He knew the issue of Israel’s favoritism and he knew what was coming. He knew that when the time came, Israel would need some encouragement to trust and believe. Maybe this was one of the reasons why the dream was given in the first place. All purely speculation since we are not told, but I do not see it being unreasonable to think about.

Either way, knowing the tendency of sin and the hardness of man’s hearts, I believe it to be a work of grace the enabled Israel to trust and believe.

The third path of the unexpected fulfillment of God’s plan is that of doubt and uncertainty.

Unexpected doubt and uncertainty - Genesis 46:1-4

The issue of faith and God’s reaction to both faith and its absence it worthy of note in scripture.

Jesus is seen time and time again rebuking the lack of faith

Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 17:20

Matthew 16:8

Luke 12:28

He marveled at their LACK of faith - Mark 6:6

Jesus is seen being moved by the depth of faith

Luke 7:9; Matthew 8:10 - Centurion

So, God does not endorse or encourage our lack of faith or our doubt.

But God does work in us and through despite that doubt. AND he will take steps to overcome our doubt.

One of the reasons why Elizabeth got pregnant in her old age was because it was a sign to bolster Mary’s faith when she would be told she would bear a child though never having been with a man.

God understands our weakness and our doubts. He will rebuke it, yes…but he also provides the means to overcome and bolster it.

Which, by the way, is an act of grace. It is grace that leads God to supplying assurances for our own weaknesses of faith. God is NOT obligated to do so.

As he does here with Israel.

Genesis 46:1-4

God’s words to Israel suggest that Israel was struggling with doubt and having questions.

“Do not be afraid to go down”

...but God assures - Genesis 46:1-4

God provided an assurance in the face of a doubt that was plaguing Israel.

He affirms to Israel to go to Egypt.

He affirms his presence with him and affirms that he will bring Israel’s family up out of Egypt again.

This is all Israel needed. He trusts it and goes without delay, without question

God also takes steps to assure us and give us confidence in Him in a hostile and uncertain world

Matthew 10:26-33

God reminds us of our value and importance, of his love and care over us, and provides assurance that he can be trusted despite the grief, fear, and hardships we may face.

The fourth path of God’s unexpected fulfillment of his plan is that of unexpected moves.

Unexpected moves - Genesis 46:1-7; 26-27

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and their descendents were promised a very specific land.

One that they are now being led away from.

Often the plan of God takes us away from that which is familiar, comfortable, and desirable.

Often the plan of God takes unexpected moves. Ones that we are forced to trust and obey despite not knowing or seeing the outcome.

Consider Abraham - He was told to leave and given a general direction, but not much more.

That same promises has been passed down two generations, (now three if you count Israel’s sons) and is still waiting to be fully realized.

Moses’ life took an unexpected turn when he was asked to be the face of Israel’s deliverer, being the spokesman for God to Pharoah and to the nation of Israel

Mary’s life took an unexpected turn when she was asked to mother the Messiah.

Joseph’s too.

The apostles lives took a turn when they were asked to leave everything and follow Christ.

Paul’s life took an unexpected turn when he was blinded on the Damascus Road

Israel is being asked to take an unexpected turn in his life by fleeing to Egypt for the duration of the famine (and longer)…one he had not expected to take and one that he apparently did not desire to take at first.

But for that which God asks…he also provides.

...but God provides - Genesis 46:28-47:12

Genesis 47:4 - I will go down and I will bring you up again.

God provides the assurance for the unexpected.

He also provided the necessities.

Once in the land, God used Joseph’s good standing with Pharaoh to provide the best of the land, occupations, and provision of food for his family.

God used this entire narrative that has been unfolding for 20 years (more) to save the nation of Israel from this judgment of famine that he sent upon the land.

The promise of the land made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob so many years before, will be honored.

Jacob just will not live to see it. He has to trust that God is good for His word.

Listen, when God’s plan involves the unexpected moves, He will with the unexpected also provide all we need.

2 Peter 1:3

Everything we need has been supplied to us.

God had a plan for Israel…as a person and as a nation…but he made provision for that in both assurance and care.

He will do the same for us.

The final path I want to consider of God’s unexpected fulfillment of his plan is that of the unexpected wait.

Unexpected wait - Genesis 47:7-9

We do not like waiting. Human fallenness being what it is, we are impatient and do not like to wait.

What’s more, we have built a culture and society around impatience

Every other advertisement speaks to the speed of things…whether it is technology, service, or shipping

We do not like to wait and the culture has built itself around that impatience.

God has a very different way of operating, doesn’t he?

We have also considered this one in the past, looking at how God waited 20 years to give Isaac, and 20 years to give Jacob and Esau and now how he has waited 20+ years for the fulfillment of the dreams given to Joseph.

But there is more as is evidenced by this passage.

Israel himself has been sojourning 130 years (waiting) for the fulfillment of the promise handed down to him from His father who got it from his father.

The initial promise given to Abraham has still not yet been affirmed.

Like these men, often we have to wait for he fulfillment of the promises God has given. The plan of God OFTEN has long periods of waiting. But that waiting is a divine tool of God that we ought to cherish and cling to. The prayer I emailed out this past Friday was my own meditation upon this truth.

I do not like waiting any more than the rest of the world.

But I pray that as I grow and mature in Christ that I, that we will come to cherish the part of God’s plan that requires us to wait.

And as we wait, I pray that we would every advantage that thewaiting provides for us.

There is an in-between-ness to this life. God gives us great promises in the gospel. Then He calls us to wait for their fulfillment. He doesn’t give us everything right away. He calls us to wait. In between the giving and the fulfilling of God’s promises, the waiting can be hard. Sometimes it can seem impossible to endure, because what we’re stuck in for now doesn’t just fall short of God’s great promises. Our experience can be the opposite of God’s great promises. Living in-between is not easy. But God’s greatest gift is not always what we think. God’s greatest gift is Himself. And He does give Himself right now. His own reality and presence and nearness and immediacy and smile: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). That is not a consolation prize, not something we have to settle for. There is nothing greater in all this world. We don’t understand how God draws near and we can’t control Him. But this is real, very real, very wonderful. As we stumble forward, God’s real presence gives us strength to wait without self-pity but with resilient good cheer.

Blog Post: In-Between, February 26, 2013, Used by Permission.

📷Ray Ortlund

In the waiting, God gives Himself, the most precious thing He can give. We need to cling to that truth and find our hope and joy in that.

Israel has had to wait all the years of his life and he will still not see the fulfill of the initial promise to inherit the land.

He will, however, see some of the fulfillment of the promise.

...but God comes through - Genesis 47:27-28

They are being made fruitful and multiplying (Father of many nations)

Egypt has prospered and become exceedingly wealthy due to God’s blessing on Joseph. (Nations will be blessed through Abraham).

While they have not yet seen the full fulfillment of the promise God made, they have seen its partial fulfillment.

The waiting is hard, for sure. But God is always at work in the waiting, providing Himself and providing partial aspects of his great promises…do we trust that?

Appearances can be deceptive. The fact that we cannot see what God is doing does not mean that He is doing nothing. The Lord has His own timetable. It is we who must learn to adjust to it, not vice versa. When God’s time comes nothing will stand in His way. We can therefore wait for Him with this happy confidence: “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31).

Discovering God’s Will, By Permission of the Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA. 1991, p. 114.

Sinclair Ferguson

Conclusion

Big Idea: The promises of God may not be fulfilled as we expect, but the promises of God will be fulfilled perfectly.

Six Unexpected Path’s To the Fulfillment of God’s Promises.

Unexpected sin of others - Genesis 45:7-8

...but God reconciles - Genesis 45:14-15

Unexpected separation and hurt - Genesis 45:5

...but God heals - Genesis 45:6-7

Unexpected grief and numbness - Genesis 45:25-26

...but God softens - Genesis 45:27-28

Unexpected doubt and uncertainty - Genesis 46:1-4

...but God assures - Genesis 46:1-4

Unexpected moves - Genesis 46:1-7; 26-27

...but God provides - Genesis 46:28-47:12

Unexpected wait - Genesis 47:7-9

...but God comes through - Genesis 47:27-28

The decree of God is founded in wisdom, Eph. 3:9-11, though we do not always understand it. It was formed in the depths of eternity, and is therefore eternal in the strictest sense of the word, Eph. 3:11. Moreover, it is effectual, so that everything that is included in it certainly comes to pass, Isa. 46:10. The plan of God is also unchangeable, because He is faithful and true, Job 28:13, 14; Isa. 46:10; Luke 22:22. It is unconditional, that is, its execution does not depend on any action of man but even renders such action certain, Acts 2:23; Eph. 2:8. Moreover, it is all-inclusive, embracing the good and the wicked actions of men, Eph. 2:10; Acts 2:28, contingent events, Gen. 50:20, the duration of man’s life, Job 14:5; Ps. 39:4, and the place of his habitation, Acts 17:26. With respect to sin it is permissive.

Summary of Christian Doctrine, Part II: The Doctrine of God and Creation, Chapter VIII: The Divine Decrees.

Louis Berkhof

The plan, purpose, and promises of God are set. They cannot and will not be thwarted. Though his plan often takes unexpected turns and utilizes the wickedness of man, and though we are often forced to wait for it, it will come to pass. It is trustworthy and reliable.

As we meditate upon this truth, I pray that we are ever growing together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God.

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