“Dealing with Doubts” (Part Three)

There is some great theology in Genesis 50:20. Joseph has already taught his brothers about God’s justice, and now he moves on to the central lesson in his story: God is a God of providence. This truth shows up later in the Queen Esther story (see Esther 4:14) and in the New Testament account of Philip and the eunuch in Acts 8. But no one verbalizes it more wonderfully than Joseph. He wants his brothers to see the big picture.

He makes a blunt statement. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (verse 20). He tells them that what they did was evil. He does not trivialize their sin. Selling him into slavery was awful. They abandoned their own brother to be sold on the auction block. Terrible! They lied to Jacob, which caused their father deep sorrow. But the amazing thing about our God is His divine ability to produce good out of a painful past.

Again, Joseph anticipates the book of Romans. This time Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” How kind of Joseph to invite his brothers to step back with him and see a bigger picture. He does not lessen the sin, but teaches them that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. He concludes with, “Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones” (v.21).

For those of us who are dealing with people laden with guilt and living with a heavy heart, Joseph shows us the way. Some may even doubt their own salvation. The example of Joseph encourages us to give them a fresh portrait of our great God!