Genesis 50:15-21 - Flowing Together

Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Message: Flowing Together

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying:

Ephesians 1:11 states, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. Formerly God's inheritance was extended to Israel though it was expected that the Gentiles be ministered to as well. Israel did not minister to them. Now the inheritance is more broad. It is to Jew and Gentile and Paul makes this clear multiple times in his letters. Jesus made this clear as he often condoned the acts of the Jewish leaders of the day. The Church has been predestined to be part of God's plan for His people or God's welcoming of His people. The Gentiles were always meant to be part of His inheritance.

And this will of God to His church, to His people - all people - Jew and Gentile comes about after the counsel of His will. God works in the same way throughout all the instances of life. He adopts his children to his own. He is always holy, wise, and good. He doesn't operate the way we do, often by emotion. His plan is eternal and He continues to work it out. God has a sovereign decree. God is active and He actively controls all in creation. He actively works out all things in His way. He is the first cause and He works through our choices. Yes, we have free will but He works through our free will choices. There is a conflict in our world between these two. Christianity records that we are pre-destined by God. Determinism states that previous events determine future actions. God says there is free will and free will decision work out for His purpose. Atheism says there is no free will as man does not have a choice in how he responds in life.

Often in life we make choices based upon what we think is important at that time. God does not force us to act against our desires. We do what we most want to do, most of the time. Although Paul records that we often do what our new nature in Christ believes we ought not to do. We tend to do things based upon whatever will bring us health and safety. If a robber points a gun at us and asks us to give over our wallet or he will shoot, we give over the wallet. In that moment, life is more important than money. Thus, we respond in order to preserve life. And as Paul records often our decisions do not always match God's desire for us. 

In the telling of Joseph and his brothers who sent him off to be a slave in Egypt. His brothers wanted to see Joseph suffer. God however desired good for Joseph. As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Thus there is a flowing together in life of man's choices and God's decree.

Promise: The doctrine of concurrence tells us that both God and human beings make things happen according to their respective places in God's decree. It does matter what we do.

Prayer: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Thank you for helping me understand You better and this life in which I live and breathe. Lord, help me see that my choices matter. I pray that I would honor you in all things. Thank you for continuing to work out my life, for keeping me alive. I am thankful for that, for having another day with my wife and kids and being able to see them grow and develop and my influence on their lives and what You are doing. You do work all things out. It is hard to see other people suffer, but I want to continue to trust in You and constantly evaluate my life. Lord, grant me wisdom to know where you are leading me in my life.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with March being about the sovereign providence of God and looking at how the Bible reveals His control over all things.