Sovereign Providence

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Sermon Notes by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.

The story of Yosef displays many principles of G-d’s sovereignty and provision including forgiveness and reconciliation. After twenty-two years of history, the eyes of Yosef’s brothers were opened not only to who Yosef was but how G-d provided for their people through him.

Genesis 50:15-21, “Realizing that their father was dead, Yosef's brothers said, "Yosef may hate us now and pay us back in full for all the suffering we caused him." 16 So they sent a message to Yosef which said, "Your father gave this order before he died: 17 'Say to Yosef, "I beg you now, please forgive your brothers' crime and wickedness in doing you harm."' So now, we beg of you, forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father."Yosef wept when they spoke to him; 18 and his brothers too came, prostrated themselves before him and said, "Here, we are your slaves." 19 But Yosef said to them, "Don't be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good -so that it would come about as it is today, with many people's lives being saved. 21 So don't be afraid -I will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he comforted them, speaking kindly to them.”

Yosef lived through so much and completely understood what it meant to be delivered from evil and experience how G-d used circumstances for good. He lived it after his brothers sold him into slavery and G-d elevated him. His elevation to second in Egypt was not just for Yosef’s own good but for the good of Israel through the provision of their lives through the famine.

Genesis 45:5, “But don't be sad that you sold me into slavery here or angry at yourselves, because it was God who sent me ahead of you to preserve life.”

When Ya’akov died, Yosef’s brothers feared retribution and resorted to scheming and lying out of fear. But Yosef saw through their pitiful lack of trusting the L-rd.

Who do I fear more, G-d or man?

Isaiah 51:12-13, “"I, yes I, am the one who comforts you! Why are you afraid of a man, who must die; of a human being, who will wither like grass? 13 You have forgotten ADONAI, your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. Instead, you are in constant fear all day because of the oppressor's rage, as he prepares to destroy! But where is the oppressor's rage?”

Why would we be afraid of men? Might we have forgotten G-d? We are wasting emotional energy imagining and fearing events that either don’t come to pass or aren’t even close to reality.

Yosef knew that when his brothers intended to harm him, G-d intended to use him!

This principle will change our lives if we really believe that G-d intends to use us rather than harm us.

G-d is Sovereign!

Many Scriptures illustrate His unaltered character in this regard. Here are just a few: Psalm 115:3, Proverbs 16:9, 2Kings 19:28, Proverbs 21:1, Ephesians 1:11,12 and Revelation 17:17.

Most notably, G-d presided over every aspect of the precarious life of Yeshua. Think of how He intervened in the details of bringing the Messiah safely to birth. How Miriam was called and how she was spared not only by the grace of her parents but provided for through her cousin Elizabeth. She could have been easily quietly divorced by Yosef, her betrothed, but again spared because of G-d’s intervention. At every turn and at every trial, G-d presided over Yeshua; and most especially in His death and in His resurrection.

G-d is always bigger than people!

Yosef said, “It is clear as this day (Gen. 50:17)!” He saw the bigger picture of God’s providential plan.

G-d’s love and grace goes beyond forgiveness to reconciliation. No matter how much I sense my need to be forgiven, He so much more wants to forgive me!

2Cor 5:18, “And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation.” and Col 3:12-15, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive. 14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart's decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body. And be thankful.”

G-d is Messiah reconciling the world to Himself. Yosef as a type of Messiah illustrated this principle perfectly to his brothers. May we also do so through Messiah’s Grace.