When one reads the story of Joseph, one sees the God who decrees and orders whatsoever comes to pass.
This includes the painful as Joseph is …
- Disbelieved by his parents.
- Mistreated by his brothers.
- Slandered by his master’s bride.
- Imprisoned by the master whom he faithfully served.
- Forgotten by his friends in prison.
This also includes the pleasant as Joseph is …
- Promoted as a servant.
- Promoted as a prisoner.
- Gifted as a prophet.
- Remembered by Pharaoh’s servant.
- Promoted to second in the land.
- Reunited with his brothers.
And Joseph understands this truth of God’s sovereignty. Before his brothers, he clearly states:
I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
Genesis 45:4-8
Yes, Joseph’s story is planned, decreed, outlined, ordained, and predetermined. It is also performed and pulled-off without a glitch. It is God who proves himself sovereign over the sin of parents, brothers, slave-traders, seducing women, vow-breaking prisoners, and idolatrous world leaders. Human sin, human righteousness, human misery, human forgetfulness, human remembrance, and human choices are all under the sovereign control of God.
And all of this is on purpose.
Notice how God sovereignly works out the salvation and sanctification of his chosen people. Look what he does for the unworthy children of Abraham. Despite their heinous transgressions, they are …
- Graced
- Forgiven
- Transformed
- Fed
- Protected
- Blessed
Yes, Joseph’s story is one of a sovereign God, who works out everything according to his plan, and harms a son, in order to provide undeserved blessings to those in his predestined family.
Hey Christian, let us pause and think on this for a moment. Instead of putting ourselves in the shoes of Joseph, why don’t we allow Jesus to occupy those shoes while we place ourselves in the category of Joseph’s heinous brothers. Then this ancient story will really make sense.
How fantastic is the grace of God shown to us through the rejected, mocked, slandered, imprisoned, and crucified Son. God is so good to us!
Unfathomable Grace 