God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty in Human Intentions

In the story of Joseph, we see a profound truth about God's sovereignty. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery with malicious intent, yet God used this very act to bring about a greater good. This dual intention highlights that while humans may act with evil motives, God can use the same events to fulfill His divine purposes. This does not make God the author of sin, but rather demonstrates His ability to govern all things for good. Understanding this can help us trust in God's plan, even when we face difficult circumstances. [04:05]

Genesis 45:7-8 (ESV): "And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt."

Reflection: Think of a situation where someone wronged you. How might God be using that experience for a greater purpose in your life today?

Day 2: Joseph's Journey as a Paradigm

Joseph's life is a testament to how God can use human sin to accomplish His divine plans. Despite being sold into slavery, Joseph rose to a position of power in Egypt, ultimately saving many from famine. This narrative reassures us that God is in control, even when our circumstances seem dire. It encourages us to trust in His sovereignty and to look for His hand at work in our lives, even in the midst of trials. [09:19]

Psalm 105:17-19 (ESV): "He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him."

Reflection: Consider a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you look for God's hand at work in this situation today?

Day 3: The Cross as the Ultimate Example

The crucifixion of Jesus is the ultimate example of God using human sin to accomplish His redemptive plan. While human actors sinned against Jesus, it was part of God's plan to offer hope and redemption to humanity. This event shows that God can use even the gravest sins to fulfill His purposes. It offers us hope, knowing that God can bring good out of the worst situations. [11:03]

Acts 2:23-24 (ESV): "This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt hopeless. How can the example of the cross encourage you to trust in God's redemptive plan today?

Day 4: Comfort in God's Plan

When we face evil or suffering, we can find comfort in knowing that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. This understanding helps us trust in His goodness and sovereignty, even in the midst of pain. It does not trivialize our suffering but offers profound comfort, knowing that God is actively working through our circumstances for our ultimate good. [11:45]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Identify a painful experience you are currently going through. How can you find comfort in trusting that God has a purpose for this experience?

Day 5: Rejecting a Passive God

Believing that God has no plan for evil events is contrary to Scripture and offers no comfort. Instead, recognizing God's active role in governing all things assures us that He is not merely reacting but is in control, working all things for good. This understanding helps us reject the notion of a passive God and embrace the truth of His sovereignty and active involvement in our lives. [12:44]

Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"

Reflection: Think about an area of your life where you feel God is absent. How can you begin to trust in His active involvement and sovereignty in that area today?

Sermon Summary

In this session, we delve into the profound truth found in Genesis 50:20, where Joseph confronts his brothers who sold him into slavery. This verse reveals a complex yet comforting reality: both God and humans can will the same event, even a calamitous or evil one, but with vastly different intentions. Joseph's brothers intended harm, but God intended the same event for good, to save many lives. This dual intention does not indict God but rather highlights His sovereign ability to govern all things, including evil, without being tainted by sin Himself.

We explored the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, an act they meant for evil. Yet, God used this very act to position Joseph in Egypt, where he would eventually save many from famine. This narrative illustrates that God can orchestrate events, even those born out of human sin, for His divine purposes. The same principle is evident in the crucifixion of Jesus, where human actors sinned against Him, yet it was part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Understanding this truth is crucial for our spiritual journey. When we face evil or suffering, we can trust that God is not absent or indifferent. Instead, He is actively working through these circumstances for our ultimate good. This perspective does not trivialize our pain but offers a profound comfort, knowing that God is in control and has a purpose for everything we endure.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Sovereignty in Human Actions: God and humans can will the same event, but with different intentions. While humans may intend evil, God can use the same event for good, demonstrating His sovereignty and ability to bring about His purposes without being the author of sin. [04:05]
2. Joseph's Story as a Paradigm: Joseph's journey from being sold into slavery to becoming a savior during famine exemplifies how God can use human sin to fulfill His divine plans. This story reassures us that God is in control, even when circumstances seem dire. [09:19]
3. The Cross as the Ultimate Example: The crucifixion of Jesus, the worst sin in history, was part of God's redemptive plan. This event shows that God can use even the gravest sins to accomplish His purposes, offering hope and redemption to humanity. [11:03]
4. Comfort in God's Plan: When we face evil or suffering, we can find comfort in knowing that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. This understanding helps us trust in His goodness and sovereignty, even in the midst of pain. [11:45]
5. Rejecting a Passive God: Believing that God has no plan for evil events is contrary to Scripture and offers no comfort. Instead, recognizing God's active role in governing all things assures us that He is not merely reacting but is in control, working all things for good. [12:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to God's Will
[01:01] - Biblical Thinking and Prayer
[01:34] - Joseph's Brothers' Sin
[02:28] - Joseph Sold into Slavery
[03:07] - Joseph's Brothers Seek Forgiveness
[04:05] - God's Good Purpose
[05:28] - Misunderstanding God's Role
[06:51] - God's Sovereign Plan
[08:13] - Joseph's Journey to Egypt
[09:19] - God's Governance in Joseph's Life
[10:42] - The Cross and God's Plan
[11:22] - Comfort in God's Sovereignty
[12:27] - Rejecting a Passive God
[12:59] - Conclusion and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 50:20
- Genesis 45:5-7
- Acts 4:27-28

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Observation Questions:

In Genesis 50:20, what were the intentions of Joseph's brothers when they sold him into slavery, and how did God's intentions differ? [04:05]
How does Joseph describe God's role in his journey to Egypt in Genesis 45:5-7? What does this reveal about God's sovereignty? [08:37]
According to Acts 4:27-28, who were the human actors involved in the crucifixion of Jesus, and what was God's plan in this event? [10:42]
How does the sermon illustrate the concept of God willing the same event as humans but with different intentions? [05:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does Joseph's response to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 teach us about forgiveness and understanding God's sovereignty in our lives? [04:05]
How does the story of Joseph being sold into slavery and later becoming a savior during the famine serve as a paradigm for understanding God's governance over human actions? [09:19]
In what ways does the crucifixion of Jesus, as described in Acts 4:27-28, demonstrate God's ability to use human sin for His redemptive purposes? [11:03]
How can the understanding of God's sovereignty in the face of evil and suffering provide comfort and assurance in our spiritual journey? [11:45]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult situation. How can the story of Joseph help you see God's hand at work in that situation? [04:05]
When you encounter evil or suffering, how can you remind yourself of God's sovereignty and His good intentions for your life? What practical steps can you take to trust in His plan? [11:45]
How can the example of Joseph's forgiveness towards his brothers inspire you to forgive those who have wronged you? What steps can you take to extend forgiveness this week? [03:47]
In what ways can you apply the understanding of God's redemptive plan in the crucifixion of Jesus to your own life, especially when dealing with personal sin or failure? [11:03]
How can you actively seek to understand God's purpose in the challenges you face, rather than viewing them as random or meaningless events? What specific actions can you take to align your perspective with God's sovereignty? [12:44]
Consider a situation where you might have questioned God's presence or plan. How can you use the insights from this sermon to strengthen your faith and trust in God's governance? [12:27]
Identify a current struggle or challenge in your life. How can you apply the principle of God's sovereignty to find peace and comfort in the midst of this situation? [11:22]

Sermon Clips

What I would like to do together with you in this session is to focus on one verse in this passage, namely verse 20, and think with you for a few minutes about an illustration of how God and man will the same thing which may even be an evil thing, a calamitous thing, a morally evil thing, and that they will it in very different ways. [00:00:06]

So they, meaning the brothers of Joseph in the Old Testament who had sold him into slavery, let's go back and see that happen back here in chapter 37:26 and 28. Judah, this is one of the 12 brothers, the sons of Jacob, Judah said to his brothers, what profit is there if we kill our brother thinking of Joseph and conceal his blood? [00:01:34]

Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh, as if he has some compassion to sell him into slavery, and his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traitors passed by, and they drew Joseph up, he was thrown in a pit, lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 shekels of silver. [00:02:01]

Joseph said to them, do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, that was God's purpose as in seeing to it that Joseph got to Egypt through their sin, as they are today. [00:03:57]

You meant it for evil against me, God meant it was it referred to it's feminine in the Hebrew, so is this word the most likely antecedent the nearest antecedent of it is this evil. So God it appears wills this same event which in their minds and hearts is evil, you meant it for evil, God meant it for good. [00:04:37]

God governs all things, even sinful events, but God never sins. He never wills these sinful events as an act of sin himself. He wills them for good. Now let's confirm this back to chapter 45. God, Joseph said, sent me. He uses the word sent for how God got him to Egypt. [00:07:27]

This selling as a slave was so governed by God, so meant, so planned, sorry, planned, that it's called ascending. One more text, this is so helpful to have that paradigm of you meant it for evil, God meant it for good because here we have God's action in the worst sin in the universe, namely the Cross of Christ. [00:09:15]

The murder of Jesus, the son of God, truly in this city Jerusalem they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, this is a prayer, gathered together against Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel so those are the four actors. [00:09:49]

May I commend for your serious consideration because it is so precious that when sin happens against you, for example, and you are deeply hurt by it, that you can write over the whole thing those sinners who hurt me, they meant evil against me, they meant it for evil, but you oh God, you oh God did not mean it that way. [00:11:19]

You meant it, that very same horrible thing that happened to me that was most evil and destructive, you meant it, you intended it, you planned it for my good. What a world of difference you can try to solve the problem of evil by saying God has no intentions and no plans for it, that's against the Bible. [00:11:55]

It will not comfort you in the end in getting his hands off of this by talking like this, only you take it out of his power so that when it moves forward it can keep doing all kinds of horrible things to you and you can't revert to God and say, oh God, do you have any good plan for me at all? [00:12:23]

God governs all things, even the sinful events of the world, but he never wills them as sin but always as righteous in his holy purposes. [00:12:59]

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God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good

Devotional

Day 1: God's Sovereignty in Human Intentions

Day 2: Joseph's Journey as a Paradigm

Day 3: The Cross as the Ultimate Example

Day 4: Comfort in God's Plan

Day 5: Rejecting a Passive God

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

God's Sovereignty: Turning Evil into Good

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