God's Plans

Introduction

Joseph’s story in Genesis is intriguing on several fronts. First, it is intriguing because we are allowed to see the growth, maturing, and transformation of a man from the age of 17 to his death. Second, it is intriguing because of the ups and downs of life. In many ways, Joseph’s life mirrors our own in which there are a number of setbacks and victories. Each one helps to prepare him for the next adventure. Third, it is intriguing because we are allowed to see God’s hand clearly at work. This may be the overall point of the entire Joseph story. While there are a number of spiritual principles to be learned from Joseph’s life, the overriding principle is that God is at work. We are to see Joseph’s life not as some series of disconnected events but as experiences which God carefully weaves together to carry out his purposes not only for Joseph but for his people.

And it is because we are allowed to see God at work through Joseph’s life that we are to have our own faith increased. We learn about the character and awesomeness of God as we study Joseph’s life and we learn that the same God can be trusted in the events of our own lives. Today as we continue to learn from Joseph’s life, we are going to be again encouraged to understand the ability of God to envision, know, and carry out a plan to reveal his purpose and will not just for Joseph but for all the descendants of Abraham.

Reunion

Chapters 42–45 reveal the intricate plan that Joseph devises to test his brothers. When his brothers come for food the first time, Joseph doesn’t reveal himself to them. Instead through a series of well-devised tests, he gets to see his younger brother, Benjamin, and he gets to discover what kind of men his brothers are. It has been twenty years since he was sold into slavery. In those twenty years, not only has Joseph changed from this arrogant and prideful teenager to one who waits on God but his brothers have also changed. They seem to be more aware of how their actions affect their father and are certainly more protective of Benjamin than they were of Joseph.

It is after seeing all of these changes and watching his brothers pass the tests he was giving them that Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. The revelation is one of intense emotion. Joseph weeps long and loud. The brothers are terrified and with so much emotion, Joseph reveals himself as their brother. Disbelief is soon followed with relief and joy as they hug one another. Joseph wants the whole family to be in Egypt and so does Pharaoh.

And with the aid of Pharaoh Jacob is brought to Egypt along with Joseph’s entire family. It is a wonderful reunion in Egypt. After 20 years, Jacob is to be reunited with his son.

God’s Planning

It is Joseph’s summary of the past twenty years that is most intriguing. He confesses that God has been at work for the last twenty years. He confesses that God’s plan was at work when his brothers sold him into slavery. He confesses that it is God’s planning that has allowed him to be where he is now so that he can save his own brothers from certain death.

Did Joseph have that kind of faith at the bottom of the dry cistern when he was 17? No. Did Joseph believe that God was working out his plan when he was accused of rape? It’s doubtful. Did Joseph believe that God’s plan was going to unfold in time when he was forgotten in prison? We have no indication that he believed that. But after 20 years of experiences which seemed at best to be perplexing, here are his brothers and Joseph makes a profound statement of faith about God and his work.

There had to be times when Joseph thought that God had forgotten him. There had to be times when he didn’t know what he was supposed to do next. There had to be times when he was uncertain about the future. There had to be times when he thought that he longed for some revelation. But 20 years after being sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, here stands the culprits before him and Joseph now knows what God has been trying to do all along.

God is still at work. We can’t always see God’s hand at work. We don’t always know how God is going to put things together. But this text and others like them tell us that God is always at work. Much of Genesis has been spent demonstrating the power of God at work. We see it at creation. We see it with Noah in which God gives warnings well in advance so that people can repent. We see it with Abraham while he is waiting for a son to be born. We see with Isaac and Jacob as they learn to trust God while he works to bring things about. And now we see it with Joseph who goes through difficult times and discovers 20 years later that God was always at work.

God is always at work, but it takes our faith to walk with him for the full journey. This speaks to our view of life and events. This speaks about our willingness to see life’s events as part of God’s overall plan. Here in Genesis 45, Joseph attributes his sale as a slave to his brothers. He does not say that God caused his brothers to sell him. But looking back on that event, he sees how God used that event to lead to his current position.

Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China, had definite convictions about how God’s work should be done and our response to God’s work. “We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength. Or we can make careful plans and ask God to bless them. Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.” It has to do with perspective and faith. The Proverbs speak to this point in a number of passages, but none is any clearer than Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

So many times we pray for God to do something to set us free from the burden of doubt and uncertainty. There is nothing wrong with that. Many of the psalms reflect the heart of David who pleaded for God to protect, provide, and set free. But those same psalms many times end up with words of faith and assurance that while not knowing God’s ultimate plan, that he was going to walk with God no matter what. This is the kind of faith that Joseph expresses. 20 years have come and gone. There were times of doubt and uncertainty, but God was always at work to bring about his will and purpose. And with his brothers in front of him, Joseph speaks with great clarity, “God sent me ahead of you to save your lives.” This kind of faith doesn’t take away the doubt, but it allows us to rest in the assurance of God’s continual grace and power as he works to bring about what is best for us and his kingdom.

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