Sermon preview, week of August 8, 2023
Harm and Forgiveness
This Sunday’s order
- Sunday
- Reading
- Genesis 45:1-15
- Series
- Promise & Threat
- Preaching
- Kendall Ellis
This is a sermon preview for the eleventh (and final) sermon in the “Promise & Threat” sermon series.To watch the recording of any of the sermons in this sermon series, visit our website.
The readingGenesis 45:1-15
“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”
–Genesis 45:1-15 (NIV)
Read Genesis 45:1-15
1Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!”
So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. 3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”
But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. 4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.
“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. 10You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 11And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’ 12Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you. 13Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 14Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. 15Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.
Berean Standard Bible, public domain
Of the Genesis stories, Joseph is a well-known classic. Whether from children’s books, the 1970s musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or the 2000 animated movie Joseph: King of Dreams, odds are, you know (at least some of) the plot of the story.
And it’s truly an incredible story! Even by literary standards, this story has it all: family drama, rooting for the underdog protagonist, mystery. And now–in Chapter 45–a surprise “Joseph reveals all” episode and a moment of profound forgiveness. No wonder everyone knows and loves this story!
While thinking on the layers of this literary masterpiece, I read a reflection by John Walton (Genesis NIV Application Commentary). He lamented that he was a horrible chess player. When he plays chess against the computer, he is amazed that it doesn’t seem like it matters what move he chooses–the computer somehow uses each of his moves for its own strategy. The computer always seems to win. (A lament which I know all too well!)
He writes:
“Compared to God, we are all like bad chess players competing against a computer. There are differences, of course. God is not just in it to win, and God’s moves are not mechanically programmed. In one sense it can be said that when God wins, we win. He is driven by love and compassion.”
This is what makes Joseph’s story such an incredible ending to Genesis! God wins! Joseph wins! And even the rotten brothers, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham all win because of God's love and compassion!
For eleven weeks, FBCM has been following God’s promises throughout Genesis. For eleven weeks we have seen time and time again how humanity’s flaws and this sinful world try to threaten those promises–from old age to unknown futures, betrayal, silence, and wrestling. For eleven weeks we have seen God show up in the midst of every threat and overcome it–showing God’s true faithfulness in both scripture and our own lives!
When Joseph sees his brothers in need from the famine, he could’ve easily dismissed them. Joseph could have been consumed by rage and revenge. Joseph could have tried to use his power to punish his brothers for all the evil they did to him.
But God intervened. God guided Joseph towards grace. God led Joseph to forgiveness, allowing God to (once again) fulfill his promise of multiplying Abraham’s family and making them a blessing to others.
As Joseph so eloquently says a few chapters later, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives,” (Gen. 50:20).
There are many times in life when it feels like we’re losing–whether that’s because of our own choices or others’. But as we bring this series to a close, we can have confidence that God is the Chess Master. God does not desire evil to happen, but God cannot be stopped by it. God somehow always turns evil into good and shares his victory with us.
In the meantime–until we see that victory come to fruition–may we all have the eyes to see the world like Joseph did. May we forgive as we have been forgiven. May we bless others as we have been blessed. And may we rest in the assurance of God’s unshakable character that overcomes every obstacle in our paths.
Reflection Questions
- What is the most surprising part of Joseph’s story to you? How might God be trying to tell you something through that part of the story?
- Who or what do you need to forgive? How does knowing that God turns all things right empower you to take the first step towards forgiveness?
- What promise from this summer Genesis series do you want to “hide in your heart” (Ps. 119:11) to guide your life towards faithfulness in the future?
