God Has His Hand on Us from Joseph

Genesis 45

He is not a God of confusion, of discordance, or accidental, random, private courses in the execution of His will, but of determinate, regulated, prescribed action."
- John Henry "Cardinal" Newman –

    Today our focus is again on the record of Joseph from Genesis.  As I meditated on the Scripture for the First Lesson this week, I was reminded of the whole story by re-reading the context of chapter 45.  John Henry Newman reminds us above that all of life is under the watchful foreordained love and plan of God.  As Christians we affirm from the beginning of the Scriptures to the end that God has a hand on His children and will not let them go.  Different philosophies of the world describe life as fatalism or Deism.  We do not believe in either of these things if we read the Scriptures. Fatalism says that there is no loving personal God at the end of our lives , while Deism tries to affirm God by says He has no hand in the ordinary events of our lives.  Like a clock the Deists said, God winds up the world at the moment of creation and then leaves it.  If you read the story of Joseph you will certainly not come to that conclusion.  Instead of fatalism or Deism we affirm what early Christians call the “Providence of God” .  He watches, orders and directs all our ways .  Even the hard and unplanned by us events of our lives are part of God’s plan. Joseph knew that and affirmed it.  We should as well.

    The first thing we note in chapter 45 of Genesis is that Joseph is human. He has gone through a lot. He makes the brothers go through a little pain as he did.  He has done some things we could not say were helpful , by in chapter 42 putting the money back in the brother’s sacks before they returned home.  “ And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack…and they were afraid.” Vs 35  Then Joseph forces the brothers to bring back Benjamin even though it may hurt Jacob their father.  Joseph has the silver cup hid in Benjamin’s sack as he plays another trick on the brothers. Judah offers to take Benjamin’s place (ch. 44:33) because of this. “ Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go with his brethren.”

    We too are human as Joseph was.  The difficulties and stresses of life add up and as those who trust in God and His providence we too doubt.  Joseph comes to the point of tears .  He wept aloud. 45:2. He finally reveals that he is not the Egyptian “ Zaphnath-paaneah” 41:45, but he says, “ I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?”  We too wonder if God really has His hand on our lives and its issues.  The key throughout our struggles as was the key for Joseph is back in chapter 39, “ And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites which had brought him down thither. AND THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH.” 

    Point 2 is exactly that.  Despite our doubts, failings, striving, and as Chuck Swindoll said, “ two steps forward and one step backward” in his meditation on trials in the Christian life, God has His hand on our lives.  We are asked to believe this at the point of trial when faced when so many of them.  Joseph says, “ And he said, ‘ I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.’ “ 45:4  In other words all of the previous stuff was part of God’s plan.  Was does this mean to you and me?  It means that when we look at our world and our own lives we can say, “ there are things I cannot control or predict or plan, but because of my Christian faith, I can trust that they are there for my good and His glory.”  Proverbs affirms this as well, “ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” 16:9 Today’s Rector’s Corner has this as well from Romans and a collection of Thomas Watson’s thoughts on Romans 8:28, “     " All things work together for good"  Thomas Watson said in reflecting on this, " What will satisfy or make us content, if this will not? This expression 'work together' refers to medicine. Several poisonous ingredients put together...make a sovereign medicine, and work together for the good of the patient. He who loves God and is called according to His purpose , may rest assured that every thing in the world shall be for his good."

      Point 3 is to ask ourselves as Joseph certainly must have what does God have to do with what is going on right now?  Apparently if we take this story at its face value a lot.  God has everything to do with what is going on in our lives from the smallest to the biggest thing we see happen.  Did not Jesus say , “ And fear not them which kill the body , but are not able to kill the soul….Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And not one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29  Joseph may not have known the plan but because the LORD was with him , Joseph knew he did not have to fear.  His conclusion in Genesis 45 is exactly that, “ So now it was not you (talking to his brothers) that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharoah, and lord of all his house.” 45:8

      And John Henry Newman was correct, “  He is not a God of confusion, of discordance, or accidental, random, private courses in the execution of His will, but of determinate, regulated, prescribed action."
- John Henry "Cardinal" Newman –   

Conclusion---whatever is going on that may mystify or trouble us, God has His hand on you and I and we can trust Him as well.