Suffering and Faith

Introduction

A. It is easy to have favorites. We have our favorite chair; we have our favorite restaurant; favorite show; favorite pair of shoes or outfit; favorite child? This we try to avoid. Teachers have favorite students or at least students who we like more, but parents, we try not to have a favorite child. But such has not always been the case. One of the most blatant examples from the Bible of a parent who favored one child more than the others is found in the story of Joseph. Genesis 37:3 tells us that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. And as if to leave no doubts Jacob a special coat for Joseph. Not one of many colors but an ornamental coat. One that some speculate spoke to Joseph’s high status in the family. Whatever kind of coat it was, it distinguished Joseph from his brothers and highlighted Jacob’s favoritism.

B. To add insult to injury, Joseph told his brothers about two dreams that he had in which the meaning was not lost. In Joseph’s dreams he is above his family and his family bows down to him. Even Jacob is appalled at Joseph’s suggestion and yet Jacob understands that there is something special about Joseph that not even he fully understands yet. A favored son; jealous brothers; a father who makes no effort to hide his favoritism—one doesn’t have to major in psychology to understand that this family is in trouble.

C. We begin a study of the last part of Genesis today as we look at the life of Joseph. More than a character study, Joseph’s life reminds of many essential truths—God is at work when we are not certain of his presence; we get to decide how we deal with times of testing; grace comes at great cost; and God has plans that unfold in his time. As we begin this study Joseph this morning let’s be reminded of two lessons—God is at work when we are uncertain; God has a plan. God’s ultimate work and plan have been revealed through Jesus. Let’s begin with remembering our Jesus as we praise him and focus on his death and resurrection.

Hatred Expressed

A. Joseph’s brothers hate him. Favored son; one who tattles on them; the dreamer. We are not told how Joseph carries himself but at 17 he may well have lacked in maturity. We are told his brothers hated him, couldn’t speak kindly to him, and were jealous of him. So much bitterness and resentment toward Joseph that the brothers spontaneously hatched a plot to kill him. In 37:19 they see Joseph coming in the distance and they call him “the dream master.” This is not a term of affection but of hatred. The initial plan to kill him is changed. The oldest brother, Reuben, has a private alternative plan to imprison Joseph now and he will release him later.

B. But even Reuben’s plan gets derailed by another brother, Judah who on the spur of the moment suggests that they sell Joseph to a nomadic group traveling by and by this means they will make a little money and never see Joseph again. And this becomes the final plan. Joseph is sold into slavery and Jacob is deceived into believing that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. Hated brother is gone. They didn’t count on the depth of Jacob’s sorrow, but the objective was to rid themselves of the problem and that part is done.

So What?

A. What does this text have to teach us? Don’t play favorites with your children. That may be true but that isn’t the intent of the text. Plan well because spontaneous plans have unintended consequences. An interesting point and one that may be true but not the intent of the text. The writer of Genesis is weaving together more than just a story. He is explaining how Israel came to be and in the great scheme of God, how Jesus will come into this world. Let me show you how God is at work.

B. Turn to Genesis 15. God is making a covenant with Abraham. This is a covenant based upon the character of God. Abraham’s response to this covenant is faith. Let’s look at verses 12-16. Two things to note—the descendants of Abraham will live in a foreign land for 400 years and when they leave that place they will leave wealthy. Second, God’s plan reveals his patience waiting for the Amorites fullness of time.

i.  How is God going to get Abraham's descendants into Egypt? Through Joseph. And when they leave? They will be wealthy.

ii.  Turn to Genesis 50:24. What did Joseph know about the promise? He knew that the day would come when the people would return to the promised land and he wanted his bones returned to Israel when that time came.

C. God is at work when we are not certain of his presence. The Bible doesn’t tell us what Joseph thought or felt as his brothers grabbed him and threw him into a dry well. But human nature the way it is, don’t you know that Joseph’s heart rate went up? Can’t you hear Joseph yelling to his brothers to get him out of the well? Can’t you imagine Joseph pleading with his brothers not to sell him to the nomads? The Bible is silent about Joseph’s thoughts and feelings. But the Bible isn’t silent that God is at work. Look at 39:2, God was with Joseph even in Egypt.

D. Here’s the point. None of us can explain every event and the purpose behind every event. There are times in which we wonder if God is still aware of what is happening in my life or did he delete our names from his memory. But what Joseph’s story reminds us that our uncertainty doesn’t mean that God has forgotten us. God is still at work. I cannot point to any 400 year plan that God has in mind for you. What I can do is remind us that faith means trusting God when it is seems that God is silent.

E. I can also remind us that it is often through suffering that God brings about his plans. No escapes suffering sometimes by one’s own hand and sometimes by the hand of others. But what one can do is remember that even God’s very own Son had to suffer in order to bring about God’s will and purpose. Do not think that Jesus had it easy until the cross. Throughout his ministry, Jesus was attacked, persecuted, rejected, and despised. The cross is the final disgrace of Jesus’ life. But look at what God was doing through that suffering. In that suffering God was bringing us into relationship with himself.

F. Joseph didn’t know what God was going to do with his suffering but God worked in that suffering to bring about his will and purpose. God works in our suffering to bring about his will. Here’s the amazing thing—Joseph ends up saving the very ones who tried to destroy him and Jesus saved the very ones whose sin nailed him to a cross. God is at work when you think he has abandoned you. Listen to the words of the hymn that we sing:

i.  And can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior's blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who scorned His perfect love. Amazing love, how can it be, that You, my God would die for me.

ii.  Where is God? He is at work. Praise him for his unseen work.

iii.  Why is this happening? Don't know. Praise him for what he is going to accomplish through this event.

iv.  Why doesn't he stop this? Don't know. Praise him for the challenge of your faith.

G. You say this is doesn’t make any sense. How can I praise God in my suffering? Listen to Jesus on the night of his betrayal. John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” Jesus went to a cross because he wanted you to see him in all his glory. He suffered for us. When we suffer, God is at work perhaps allowing people to see Him. That’s how you praise him. You thank him for the privilege to demonstrate his glory in the suffering. Invitation.

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