The Providence of God: Power to Live Free

Aaron Hale

The Golden Thread • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Genesis 50:15–21

God's Providence

0 ratings

· 9 views

Notes

Transcript

The Providence of God:Power to Live Free

Please open Your Bible to Genesis Chapter 50

We will be in verses 15-21

Introduction

Question 11 of our Church Catechism asks “What are God’s works of providence?”[1] The answer “God's works of providence are his most holy wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions”[1]

The 1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 5, article 1, reads

“God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence… ”[2]

What is this providence? God’s work in keeping the promises he made to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. In our text today Jacob has died. Yet God continues to carry out his “definite plan and foreknowledge.” (Ac 2:23, ESV)

Lets read the text

Genesis 50:15–21 ESV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Body

Main Body Division 1

Text

Genesis 50:15–17 ESV

Explanation

“Joseph will hate us and pay us back” (Ge 50:15, ESV)

This would be the human reaction.

Joseph is the all powerful ruler of the world,

he can do what he wants

He has the power to take terrible vengeance

Having them, their families, executed

“they sent a message to Joseph.” (Ge 50:16, ESV)

We don't know if Jacob actually told them to do this.

It seems unlikely.

They had sinned and they knew it.

In verse 15-17 what they did is called, Evil, transgression, sin, evil and then transgression again.

They were guilty

“Joseph wept when they spoke to him.” (Ge 50:17, ESV)

Joseph is sad that his brothers are afraid of him

What a different response to “Normal”

Illustration

Think about all the monarchs over the year that have executed people for even the smallest offence. Henry the 8th for example that had two his wive executed because they did not bare him a son.[3] That’s what people do with the kind of power Joseph owned.

Transition

Yet, Joseph weeps. These people tried to murder him, and he says “am I in the place of God?” Lets look at Joseph’s reply in verse 19 and 20.

Main Body Division 2

Text

Genesis 50:19–20 ESV

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Explanation

“Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?”

Moses wrote in Dt 32:35 years after Joseph

“Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’” (Dt 32:35, ESV)

Paul quotes this in Romans 12:19

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Ro 12:19, ESV)

Notice how Joseph is conformed the character of a child of God likely we talked about Sunday.

"As for you, you meant evil against me.” (Ge 50:20, ESV)

There is no excuse of the bothers actions.

Oh you were just young

Oh I was a jerk wasn’t I?

No, the actions are evil and they are called evil.

You MEANT evil.

“but God meant it for good” (Ge 50:20, ESV)

God meant for these evil action to happen

Its the same word, ḥā·šǎḇ (ha sha ba)

The brothers ḥā·šǎḇ evil

God ḥā·šǎḇ for good

Its worth reading Chapter 3 Article 1 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession here.

The reason I always bring up the 1689 and plan on continuing to do so is we confess this document. Our Statement of faith says that we hold to all articles of the 1689. Its important to understand why we use these confessions and how they tie back to scripture.

Chapter 3 Article 1 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession

God has decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor has fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.[4]

Remember last Wednesday we talked about the three promises where God established his decree by his own word, with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

Jacob is now dead, but God is still providentially holding up his word.

“bring it about that many people should be kept alive’ Ge 50:20.

How many lived?

all of the world

Application

Look at the freedom Joseph has.

he says, yeah look at the evil you did and look how good God did.

Joseph is not bound by “bitter jealousy or selfish ambition”

Joseph does not have a need to see them punished

Joseph is free to genuinely wish freedom for his brothers.

The genuineness of Joseph’s are demonstrated be hos actions.

Transition

Joseph does that, with freedom for his brothers and Joseph asks on this wish. Look at verse 21

Main Body Division 3

Text

Genesis 50:21 ESV

So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Explanation

In case you guys haven't noticed, I like quoting Calvin’s commentaries.

John Calvin the Genevan Reformer wrote of Joseph’s actions here.

“Joseph renders his office subservient to the design of God’s providence; and this sobriety is always to be cultivated, that every one may behold, by faith, God from on high holding the helm of the government of the world” [5]

“So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.”

Instead of vengeance provision

We are meant to see a little glimpse of Christ here in Joseph.

Jesus the king has been offended by us.

We have done evil, transgression, sin, evil and then transgression again again and again

He has the right for vengeance and he will have vengeance against his enemies.

But to those elect to be his brothers he provides all we need for his life and the life to come.

Considering our transgressions against the king are infinitely heinous and they are repeated again and again and again

Jesus is the greater savior.

In the end as astounding as Joseph’s story is, Jesus story is infinitely more glorious.

Application

Do you harbor anger in your heart for things that have happened to you? Ask you to find the freedom that Joseph had. Evil people do evil things, but God does in the same action good. Do you have the faith to believe God is in control?

Conclusion

As we wrap up I would like you to remember two things tonight.

Nothing happens without a reason.

Preach that to yourself, remind yourself of that every day. Gd is good and he has good reason for everything.

Every horrible evil thing that happens, God decrees to come about has with it an infinitely good purpose.

Peter preaching the first sermon int he new testament said, “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Ac 2:23.

If God “definitely plans” the scarifies of Jesus at the hands of evil to save you and redeem you, what evil has happened in your life that he cannot, will not, use for good.

Nothing happens without our God’s knowledge, and without a good reason.

We are just getting to the end of the first book. 38 more to go in the old testament. How many more times will we be remanded of God’s providential work?

My prayer is that each time we see another example of the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, it will strengthen you and make Christ even that much more dear to you.

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Go in peace

References

[1] Compiled by Heir of the Puritans C. H. Spurgeon’s, Puritan Catechism, With Scripture Proofs

[2] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2481.

[3] https://www.history.com/news/henry-viii-wives

[4] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2480.

[5] John Calvin and John King, Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 488.

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and John King. Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Sproul, R. C., ed. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015.

Related Media

Related Sermons