Joseph And His Amazing Theology
The story of Joseph may be best known because of a Broadway play that bears his name and chronicles his ability to intrepret dreams. Well, as I have read through the book of Genesis again, I am in awe of his mind and his thinking.
His brothers sold him into slavery instead of killing him because they were jealous of his gifts and they feared their father loved him more than them. After being raised to prominence in the government, being falsely accused and convicted of sexual misconduct, he is once again put into a place of authority and prominence because of his ability to interpret dreams. His gift told Pharaoh that there was a severe drought coming upon the people. The drought would be after a time of harvest. He was put in charge of the food supply and as a result of the drought, his brothers then come looking for food. It is in this moment that Joseph sees his family again for the first time after many years.
When he identifies himself to them they are rightfully frightened of him, and what his place of authority would allow him to do to them. But this is where Joseph displays for us his amazing theology. Joseph had lived a difficult and hard life being falsely accused many times. He sees all of this under the sovereign hand of God. He says to his brothers in Genesis 45:4: I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Genesis 45:8 says: So it was not you who sent me here, but God.
The people of God realize that He is over all things. Joseph was now able to see the reason for his suffering. His first thought was God. His understanding for the events of his life was because of God. He was able to forgive and provide because he saw this as the plan that God had for his life.
Do you think the same way? Is the first thought on your mind about every aspect of your life under the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over your life? Joseph has amazing and right theology. The days of our lives are not random, they are ordained by Him. They are for Him and for His great purposes. These days matter because of this truth.
Reading the story of Joseph again has stirred my heart even deeper to spend every second of breath for His glory. It is causing me to repent of discontentment and it is rooting out a complaining spirit. God has me right where I am suppossed to be.....because this is where I am! It is also a reminder that we can only get to know God through His Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Theology comes from God and not Broadway! Might we live our lives the way Joseph did with amazing theology and say, "It is not you who sent me here, but God."
Blessings,
Bro. Matt
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I have a question on God's merciful sovereignty. I agree that God is sovereign over all things. But does the fact that Joseph was sold into slavery have anything to do with his sinful attitude toward his brothers? He was arrogent and boastful so much so that his Father rebuked him saying, "Will your mother and I and your brothers come and bow down to you?" What about the decision of his Father to make a coat for his son which only provoked the other brothers. In this scene I come to see that God can and will bring about his good purposes regardless of man getting in the way. We aren't told what would have happened to Joseph and his family had they been completely obedient and faithful to God. In scripture we can only see how God always brings about redemption because of His great Mercy. Much harm came to Joseph, his brothers and all of Israel because of the decisions of each person. But God sovereignly brought about his will, His plans can never be thwarted.
My question is then, do we say,"God worked it for good so this must have been his plan for me"or do we repent and fall before our loving, merciful Father and call out for wisdom so that we don't have to suffer the bondage of slavery to sin in the future? Do we seek a way to get out of Egypt or "bloom where we are planted"?
Thoughts for contemplation,
Cindy