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Are you in the place of God?
When God Seems Absent 4.0
Genesis 50:14-26
by Eric Stillman
May 25th, 2008

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This morning, we arrive at the end of Joseph’s life.  The overarching theme throughout his story has been the intimate involvement of God, especially when it seems like he is completely absent.  Every detail of Joseph’s life has been overseen by God, even when they seemed utterly random and meaningless to Joseph, and the end result was a man who had been transformed from a spoiled brat into a wise and mature leader in Egypt, overseeing a massive hunger relief program that would save the lives of the family of God and countless others.  This is great news for those of us who are going through experiences where we can not see what possible plan God might have in all of this.  The story of Joseph shows us that silence is not absence, that when God seems like he’s not at work, he’s very much at work.  The life of Joseph shows us that you can not discern the existence or goodness of God simply by looking at the events of your life.  If you reject God because you look at the surface of your life and can’t see what God is doing or can bring out of it, you’re making a mistake.  This morning I want to look one last time at how to follow God when he seems absent, and specifically how to deal with the suffering you have experienced at the hand of others.  How are you to move on when you’ve been abused, or betrayed, or hurt by another person?

Let’s begin by reading Genesis 50:14-26:

Genesis 50:14-26  After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.  15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?"  16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died:  17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.  18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.  19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.  22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father's family. He lived a hundred and ten years  23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees.  24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."  25 And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place."  26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Let’s focus especially on v. 19-21.  Jacob, the father, has died, and Joseph’s brothers still do not trust him.  They think that maybe out of respect for his father, he’s been waiting for his father to die before taking his revenge.  And so the brothers say that their father asked Joseph to forgive the sins of their brothers.  And Joseph responds by weeping, because he’s grieved that they don’t yet understand his love and forgiveness towards them.  And he says three very important statements to them, that each have a great deal to say to us about how you repair relationships and move on in a healthy way when you’ve been wronged.

1) Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
2) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
3) So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.