In this sermon we looked again at Genesis chapter 50. Joseph’s words to his brothers reveal two secrets to overcoming injustice. The first: I will not take the place of God. The second: you can not take the place of God.
Last time we saw how giving place to the wrath of God allows us to freely forgive those who hurt us. This time we saw that allowing time for the sovereignty of God empowers us to move beyond the hurt we have received.
Sinclair Ferguson shares a great illustration to explain Joseph’s response.
When we experience deep suffering, our perspective of life tends to fall to pieces, like a puzzle knocked to the ground. We thought we understood our lives—who God is, what his plans are for us. Then, suddenly, pain breaks the picture into a chaotic mess and we can no longer make sense of things. We fixate on the piece that has hurt us and try to make sense of it, but we will never understand our circumstances in this way.
God is always working.
In those moments we can learn from seasoned puzzle assemblers, who always begin by finding four corners to anchor their perspective and make sense of all of the pieces. In Joseph’s story, we see 4 anchors which give us perspective in our pain.
- God is always working together a variety of circumstances.
- God is always working together a variety of lives.
- God is always working toward a variety of outcomes.
- God is always working to glorify Jesus Christ.
God’s glorious plan for Joseph, the way he worked together so many circumstances and lives to do good gives us much needed perspective when we too are victims of injustice.
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown