Fear Ye Not
Joseph's unchanged love for his brethren demonstrates God's plan for salvation, and growing in knowledge of God's Son brings peace and spiritual maturity.
H.J. Vine preaches on the story of Joseph and his brothers, highlighting how their fear and lack of peace stemmed from not truly knowing Joseph's character and intentions. Similarly, older believers may struggle when they neglect to deepen their knowledge of the Lord and Savior, leading to unrest in their souls. Just as Joseph assured his brothers of his care and God's greater plan despite their past wrongs, believers are encouraged to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ to experience perfect peace.
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After their father's death Joseph's brethren lost their peace, and fear seized upon them. They judged Joseph according to the thoughts of their own hearts, thinking that, after all, he would requite them for the evil they had done unto him. Again Joseph wept when they came confessing their sin to him, and again he told them he would care for them and nourish them (Gen. 50:21). This loss of their peace showed they had not increased in the knowledge of Joseph himself since he had made himself known unto them, for had they done so they would never have harboured such wrong thoughts concerning him. And it is just this which explains the unhappy condition of soul which sometimes overtakes older believers.
They may have gathered up a great deal of knowledge concerning various things, but the knowledge of God's Son--of their Lord and Saviour--has been neglected.
Peter, in his second Epistle, speaks of idleness and unfruitfulness as regards the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of one having "forgotten the purging of his former sins" (2:9), but he closes with an exhortation to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. This will keep the heart and mind in perfect peace. Joseph had told his brethren it was God and not they who had sent him to Egypt (45:8), and God had done so in view of their salvation.
And now again he lets them know that he was fully aware that they "thought evil," but "God meant it unto good" (50:20), to bring to pass the salvation of much people. Beautifully prefiguring our Saviour's love, Joseph's WAS AN UNCHANGED LOVE; and he said, "Now therefore FEAR YE NOT: I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Sermon Outline
- The Unchanged Love of Joseph
- The Importance of Knowing God's Son
- God's Plan for Salvation
- God sent Joseph to Egypt for their salvation
- God meant their evil intentions for good
Key Quotes
“Joseph's WAS AN UNCHANGED LOVE;” — H.J. Vine
“FEAR YE NOT: I will nourish you and your little ones.” — H.J. Vine
“And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” — H.J. Vine
Application Points
- We can overcome fear by knowing God's love and plan for our salvation.
- Growing in grace and knowledge of God's Son brings peace and spiritual maturity.
- God takes even our evil intentions and uses them for good to bring about salvation for many people.