God Preserves His Promise Genesis 45:4-11; 50:14-21

“‘As for, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive’” (Gen. 50:20, NASB).

We all live with trouble in our lives from time to time. Difficult days are certain, but they are not often predictable. As people of faith, how do we respond to the circumstances that take place in our lives? In this article we will review the life of Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob. In this story we learn that God allows, and yes, even causes things to take place in our lives to bring about His purpose. We will learn that regardless of what takes place in our lives, God is working to preserve His people. God does not stop bad things from happening to us. No, God is using those bad things to bring about a greater good. Before we engage our text let us go back in time to discover what God’s promise is.

The story of Joseph is a continuation of the story of Abraham. In Genesis 12:1-3 we read that God calls a man named Abram. God tells Abram to leave his country and his father’s house. He is to go to a land that the Lord will show him. God promises Abram that He will bless him to be the father of many nations. His name will be great and he will be a blessing to other people. All the families of the earth will be blessed. Genesis 12-36 tells us about the events that take place in the life of Abram, now called Abraham, and his descendants. We learn that God never forgets His promise to Abraham regardless to what takes place in the lives of Abraham and his descendants. Throughout the life of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob God continues to reassure them that He will keep His covenant. Genesis 37-50 (omitting Genesis 38) is the story of Joseph who God uses to keep His covenant promise that He made to Abraham.

Abraham has a son and names him Isaac. Isaac has a son and names him Jacob. Jacob has twelve sons. His eleventh son is named Joseph. Joseph is the son of Rachel that is born in Jacob’s old age. Jacob favors Joseph above his brothers and gives him a coat to mark a distinction between Joseph and his brothers. The brothers are jealous of Joseph. Joseph has dreams that indicate that one day the brothers along with his father and mother will bow down to him (Gen. 37). The brothers hate Joseph and when they get the opportunity, they sell Joseph to some Midianite traders (37:28). They take Joseph to Egypt and sell him as a slave (39:1). Through a series of events Joseph becomes second ruler in Egypt. A severe famine covers Egypt and the surrounding nations. Joseph is in charge of the food distribution. In time Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain. They have to appear before Joseph, but they do not recognize their brother. On the other hand Joseph knows that the men standing before him are his brothers. “But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him” (42:8, NASB). At this time Joseph gets a sense of what is taking place. “Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them” (v. 9).

Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and sends for his father and his family (45:1-11). It is when Joseph makes himself known to his brothers that we learn that God preserves His promise and God preserves His people. Let us take notice of what Joseph says to his brothers. “‘Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord over all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt’” (45:5-8, NASB). Let us unpack the words that Joseph says to his brothers.

First, Joseph admits that his brothers sold him into Egypt. When they sell him they tell their father that Joseph is dead; killed by a vicious animal. They tell this lie so much that the lie becomes a part of their reality. When they approach Joseph they tell him that one of their brothers is dead (42:13). Joseph knows that his brothers must now face reality. Joseph is not dead. He is standing in their presence. They are at the mercy of the brother that they hated and sold. The lie is not true. Having to face the truth is likely to cause the brothers to be grieved. They will worry and experience pain. They are sorry for the wrong that they have done. What will their brother do? Will he seek revenge? Will he refuse to sell them grain? What will they tell their father? They will now have to go home and admit to their father the wrong that they have done. They will have to take responsibility for the pain and suffering of their father for the loss of his son; his favorite son.

Joseph’s brothers sell him into Egypt. However, at the same time that they are selling him to get rid of him, God is sending him to Egypt to preserve life; including the lives of his brothers. God allow us to act for our own reasons. God uses what we do to bring about His purpose. This is God’s providence. What does providence mean? Providence is the protective care of God. Providence is also God’s provisions to bring about future good in our lives. In our text, God sends Joseph to Egypt by way of his brothers attempt to get rid of him. The wife of Potiphar tries to seduce him, but Joseph runs out of the house. Potiphar’s wife accuses him of attempted rape. Joseph is put into prison. In prison Joseph interprets the dreams of the king’s cupbearer and baker. After two years Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret. The cupbearer remembers Joseph, and he tells Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream that tell of the coming famine. Pharaoh elevates Joseph to the position of second ruler in Egypt. He will institute a plan to preserve food for the famine. In all of these scenarios the people involved are unaware of what God is doing. They are unaware of God’s purpose.

When Jacob dies and he is buried, Joseph’s brothers worry that Joseph may still have revenge in his heart. They send a messenger to Joseph asking for forgiveness. They also go to Joseph and bow before him (50:17-18). When they bow to Joseph they bring to pass what Joseph had seen in his dreams. The very thing that causes them to hate their brother God uses to preserve their life. “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present results, to preserve many people alive” (50:19-20, NASB).

In Egypt Joseph experiences a full life. God is with Joseph even though the text records no evidence that God says anything to Joseph. The writer throughout the story tells us that God is with Joseph and he is placed into positions of authority and influence. “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man, And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” (Gen. 39:2, NASB).

We too experience many hardships and joys in life. We can remain joyful and hopeful if we remember that we live under the providential care of God. God is working in all our unpleasant circumstances to bring us a better good and a future. Regardless of what is taking place in our life we can remember that God is working to preserve His covenant promise made to His people.

God sends His Son to die on the cross according to His promise. The forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life we receive because we believe that God keeps His promise. The angels promise the disciples that just as they see Jesus ascend into heaven on the cloud, they will also see His return in like manner.