God's Sovereign Grace: The Story of Joseph

Joseph, sold into slavery by his envious brothers, becomes a type of Christ, embodying the divine plan of salvation. This story is not merely about human actions but about God's sovereign orchestration. Joseph's journey from the pit to the palace is a testament to God's providence, showing that even when human intentions are evil, God can turn them for good. [00:00:09]

The essence of the Christian message is that salvation is entirely of God, not of human effort. It is a message of grace, where God acts in spite of human sinfulness. The story of Joseph, like that of Jesus, shows that God's ways are often surprising and indirect, yet they lead to ultimate triumph. [00:04:46]

God always works on the same plan; this is the amazing thing about the Bible. Of course, it's true of God's work everywhere. He does it in nature. That's why you can have scientific study of flowers that have everything else. What we call the laws of nature, as if men had invented them. [00:08:16]

The Christian message is a message concerning God breaking into the human story. That's the first great principle we are taught. You see, don't you? Yes, mankind, these brethren of Joseph, the patriarchs moved within, so Joseph into Egypt. That's the story of the human race. [00:15:05]

The patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him. There it is, you see, as it were, in a nutshell, the gospel. Therefore, this message of the Christian faith is an introduction of human history. It is an intervention in human history. [00:15:41]

The message which tells us that the only hope is in a complete break, and it tells us that the break has taken place, that mankind was in such a condition that he could never evolve or develop in the direction of perfection. There is only one hope of his Egypt: God visited and redeemed his people. [00:20:06]

Salvation is all of God. We've looked at Joseph's president. There's mankind, Joseph himself. He can't do anything about it. He's got no power. He's got no ability, is constantly being defeated. He's equally helpless now, and the position of Joseph was quite hopeless, thrown into a dungeon. [00:25:38]

Joseph comforts them, and this is what I read in Genesis 45:5. Now therefore, says Joseph to his brothers, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that you sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. You see what he's saying? Don't be grieved with yourselves. [00:26:57]

It is all of grace. I needn't prove this needle. It's in spite of Joseph's brothers, but Joseph becomes the savior of his brothers and all the family and the whole of Egypt, and many lives are saved, as he says, it's in spite of them. And so your salvation and mine tonight is in spite of us. [00:32:10]

God's way of helping us, saving us, is never what we would have thought, never what we would have anticipated. The world is all wrong in its thinking in these matters. That's why it rejects the gospel. It's not surprising the prophet Isaiah chose in it. God says through him, my ways are not your ways. [00:35:51]

The strangeness of God's Way of salvation. What do I mean? Well, I mean in the first place just this, that he's always surprising us. God's Way of helping us, saving us, is never what we would have thought, never what we would have anticipated. The world is all wrong in its thinking in these matters. [00:35:51]

The triumph of God's ways after the strangeness, the triumph of God's Way, the triumph of God's grace. The Patriots moved with envy, soldiers of into Egypt, but God was with him and delivered him out of all his affliction and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [00:46:02]