THE VICTORY OF GOD

GENESIS 50:1

A. "AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT: FOR I AM IN THE PLACE OF GOD? BUT AS FOR YOU, YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME; BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD, TO BRING TO PASS, AS IT IS THIS DAY, TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE"
  1. The background to the words of our text:
    1. A day came when the ten brethren stood before the Prime Minister of Egypt and realized how true it is that 'the whirling of time has a way in it's revenge.'
    2. They knew by now that the high official was none other than their brother Joseph, who, they thought, was dead.
  2. They expected to hear words of revenge and dire punishment:
    1. Such thoughts are natural to the human way of thinking
    2. Revenge is a part of human nature
  3. How different were the thoughts of Joseph:
    1. There was neither hatred or vengeance in the heart of the Prince of God
    2. To the contrary, he had love and compassion for them B. THE VICTORY OF GOD
  4. God had a plan for the twelve sons of Jacob:
    1. They were to become God's great agency to bring light and truth to other nations - Is. 63:10
    2. Their repeated apostasy did not help the Lord to carry out His plan for them, neither did it prevent it altogether
    3. The names of the twelve tribes will be found on the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, a sign of victory - Rev. 21:12
  5. God had a plan for the live of Joseph:
    1. The sinful, wicked attitude of his brethren could not alter that plan
    2. The suffering of Joseph did not change it but served to make the ministry of Joseph for God and men more fruitful
  6. It must be understood, however, that the attitude of Joseph had a lot to do with the working out of God's plan for his live:
    1. "Am I in the place of God, that I should take revenge?"
    2. He took his experience in the light of his relationship to God. - Rom. 8:28
  7. This is the correct approach to life for all God's children:
    1. They must view their experience with men of the world in the light of what was done to the Son of God - Luke 23:41
    2. He never appealed to His Father to avenge Him on His enemies, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" C. SOME AMAZING OBJECT LESSONS OUT OF THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
  8. God's mysterious ways:
    1. It reveals that God brings light out of darkness - 2 Cor. 4:6; Examples: Moses was foreordained to be the deliverer of his enslaved people; he knew it - Ex. 2:10-14. But both Moses and Satan seemed to work against God's plan. Did they prevent it? Not at all. The annals of history are filled with the records of seemingly impossible situations - that turned to glorious victories for God.
  9. There is another truth to grasp by God's people:
    1. There is nothing that men or angels can do to prevent God's plan - Rom. 8:31-38
    2. Says Paul, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth" 2 Cor. 13:8 Examples: Pharaoh learned the hard way that he was no match for the God of Israel; The Jewish leaders, who sought to prevent the apostles from preaching Christ, found out that their efforts were useless.
  10. God's Victory:
    1. He had a plan for Joseph and carried it out to glorious victory
    2. He had a plan for the twelve sons of Jacob and their sealing is the evidence of God's final victory - Rev. 7:1-13
    3. God has a plan for the remnant people, Satan will do all in his power, but John sees them on Mount Zion singing the song of victory to the glory of God - Rev. 13:1-3


Design © John Bryant 2011