God in the Right Place
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The Joseph Stories
Genesis 50:15-26 (ESV)
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Sermon Outline
Trusting God’s work for our good is essential to facing a corrupted world honorably.
1. God in His Place (v19)
v20 “that many people should be kept alive”
2. God in your place (v21)
v21 “he comforted them”
v25 “God will surely visit you… carry up my bones from here”
Prayer of Confession
Our sovereign God, even in our broken world you still work all things for the good of those in Christ. We are filled with doubts, fears, skepticism and suspicion. Despite all you have done, we have difficulty fully entering into your grace. We still keep you off to the side, and put ourselves or some other thing in the center of our lives. We can be vengeful, impatient, spiteful, controlling and egotistical. We are subject to all sorts of twisted desires, and we fail in restraining or denying them. Forgive us our many offenses, and through Christ who put himself in our place on the cross, fully cleanse us and cover our shame. Renew our hearts and minds through the gracious and powerful working of your Holy Spirit, we ask, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Is God in the center of your life? Do you view the world with God above all things? Where is God in how you think of things?
Why do we marginalize God? In what ways do we do it?
What makes it difficult for you to believe that God is wisely working in your life for good?
What assurances do we have through what Jesus has done that God is really forgiving and will provide for us even with our many flaws?
Are there differences between what God has done for us and what we hope God is like, and what we are to do for others and what we aim to be like? Should there be?
How should trust in God’s justice (that He repays) help you navigate a world where we can’t make all things right? Does it help you love your enemies?
What good has God given you to steward for the sake of others? What gifts, abilities, resources, etc. has He entrusted you to bring to the world in imitation of Him?