Genesis 45:5
God's Overtaking Providence: Trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness even in the midst of testing and suffering.
Chuck Smith discusses God's overruling providence as seen in the story of Joseph, emphasizing that despite human rebellion and sin, God remains sovereign and loving. He illustrates how God orchestrated events in Joseph's life, from betrayal by his brothers to his rise in Egypt, to fulfill His divine plan for salvation. Smith highlights the importance of recognizing God's hand in our trials, reminding us that even in suffering, God is working all things together for good. The sermon encourages believers to trust in God's providence, even when circumstances seem dire or confusing.
Text
"GOD'S OVERRULING PROVIDENCE"
I. LOOKING FROM THE DIVINE SIDE.
A. The World is in rebellion and lost.
1. Their concepts of God are wild, confused and wrong.
2. Man's sin has alienated him from the life of God.
B. God still loves man and plans to send His Son to earth to teach man clearly of
God then to demonstrate God's love by taking the guilt of man's sin upon Himself
and dying in man's place.
C. It Is necessary to select a man to start a family to create a nation bring forth
the Messiah into the world.
1. God chose Abraham.
2. His grandson Jacob had twelve sons who were to comprise the twelve tribes.
D. God will in time groom this nation, establish His law and covenant, send prophets
unto them to warn them and to encourage them.
1. He shall lay out such an intricate network of prophecies concerning His
Son they shall form incontrovertible proof of His authenticity.
E. Here at the beginning of the plan Jacob's family is in trouble.
1. In about 12 years a great famine is coming.
2. All of Jacob's resources are not sufficient to survive.
3. He will need the resources of Egypt.
4. God must put the resources of Egypt at Jacob's disposal.
II. LOOKING FROM THE HUMAN SIDE.
A. Jacob's obvious favoritism of Joseph creates jealousy and hatred in brothers
hearts.
1. Joseph's dreams of them bowing to him only heap fuel on the fire.
B. They plot to kill him, saved from death by Rueben's intercession.
1. Sold to stove traders taken to Egypt.
2. In Egypt sold to Potiphor one of Pharaoh's chief men.
3. Potiphar's wife falsely accuses him of rape.
4. Cast into prison (which prison).
5. The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh also cast into prison and they're
having troubling dreams which are interpreted correctly by Joseph.
6. Two years later the Pharaoh also has a troubling dream. The butler
remembers Joseph.
7. Joseph is called before Pharaoh and interprets the dream.
8. Joseph is made second in command in Egypt.
a. Actually began to run the country, the Pharaoh became a figure
head.
b. He stores the surplus grain in the good years in sufficient
supply to last through the seven year draught.
Ill. PROBLEM IS THAT WE CANNOT SEE OR KNOW THE DIVINE WHILE IN THE MIDST OF TESTING.
A. Why my brothers hate me and treat me so cruelly.
B. Why I am falsely accused.
C. Why I must sit in this jail for two years.
D. What can we know?
1. God loves us and is working out His plan.
2. All things work together for good.
Sermon Outline
- Looking from the Divine Side points: - The World is in Rebellion and Lost - God's Love and Plan for Man - Selecting a Man to Start a Nation - Establishing God's Law and Covenant
- Looking from the Human Side points: - Jacob's Favoritism and Jealousy - Joseph's Plight and Rise to Power
- Problem of Not Seeing the Divine points: - Why We Suffer and Are Tested - God's Love and Plan in the Midst of Testing
Key Quotes
“The World is in rebellion and lost.” — Chuck Smith
“God still loves man and plans to send His Son to earth to teach man clearly of God then to demonstrate God's love by taking the guilt of man's sin upon Himself and dying in man's place.” — Chuck Smith
“All things work together for good.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We can trust God's sovereignty and goodness even in the midst of testing and suffering.
- God's plan is to bring salvation to humanity through His Son, and we can know this by trusting in His love and goodness.
- We can seek God in prayer and worship to know His love and plan in the midst of testing.