Grief and Assurance: Finding Hope in God's Promises

 

Summary

Genesis chapter 50 offers profound insights into the themes of grief, assurance, and hope. Today, we focused on grief and assurance, leaving hope for another time. The chapter begins with the poignant scene of Jacob's death, where Joseph mourns deeply for his father. This moment of personal grief is shared not only by Jacob's family but also by the Egyptians, who mourn for 70 days. This widespread mourning reflects the transformation in Jacob's life, from a man who once described his years as few and evil to someone who became a blessing to others, even those who did not know God. This transformation is a testament to God's grace, showing that He can make anyone a blessing to others, regardless of past difficulties or sorrows.

The second theme, assurance, emerges after Jacob's death when Joseph's brothers fear retribution for their past wrongs. Despite 17 years of reconciliation and Joseph's consistent kindness, they doubt his love and forgiveness. This mirrors a common Christian experience: despite being forgiven and blessed by Christ, believers often struggle with assurance, fearing that God might not truly love them. This doubt can persist even after years of experiencing God's goodness.

Assurance in Christ rests on four pillars: His love, authority, goodness, and promise. Joseph's response to his brothers illustrates these principles. He weeps because they doubt his love, reflecting God's sorrow when we doubt His love despite the sacrifice of Jesus. Joseph's refusal to take vengeance highlights God's authority, reminding us that ultimate justice belongs to Him. Joseph's perspective on his brothers' actions—seeing God's good purpose despite their evil intentions—demonstrates God's goodness, which can transform even the worst situations for His glory. Finally, Joseph's promise to provide for his brothers, unchanged over 17 years, echoes God's unchanging promises to us, sealed by Christ's sacrifice.

Key Takeaways:

- Grief is a natural and important process, as seen in the mourning for Jacob. It allows us to remember and honor the lives of those we have lost, fostering connections through shared memories. This communal grieving can be a source of healing and comfort. [04:29]

- Assurance in God's love is crucial for a peaceful Christian life. Despite past sins and failures, God's love remains steadfast, as demonstrated by Joseph's unwavering love for his brothers. Believing in this love is essential for spiritual confidence. [15:51]

- God's authority is the ultimate assurance for believers. Just as Joseph refused to take vengeance, trusting God's justice, we can rest in the knowledge that God is the final authority over our lives and circumstances. [19:09]

- God's goodness transforms evil into good. Joseph's life illustrates how God can use even the most painful experiences for His purposes, shaping us to be more like Christ. This perspective can bring hope and meaning to our struggles. [21:14]

- God's promises are unchanging and reliable. Joseph's consistent provision for his brothers over 17 years reflects God's faithfulness to His promises, offering us assurance and peace through the covenant of Christ's sacrifice. [26:49]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Genesis 50
[00:36] - Themes of Grief, Assurance, and Hope
[01:13] - Grief Over Jacob's Death
[02:11] - Mourning by Egyptians
[03:36] - Jacob's Transformation
[04:29] - The Importance of Grieving
[05:19] - Speaking About the Deceased
[06:14] - Jacob's Life Journey
[07:23] - Assurance After Jacob's Death
[08:34] - Joseph's Forgiveness
[10:11] - Common Christian Doubts
[12:34] - The Problem of Assurance
[14:22] - Assurance in Christ's Love
[17:39] - Assurance in God's Authority
[20:58] - Assurance in God's Goodness
[26:15] - Assurance in God's Promise
[27:06] - The Lord's Table and God's Promise
[29:01] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 50:1-21
- Romans 8:28-29

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Observation Questions:

1. How did Joseph express his grief over Jacob's death, and what was the reaction of the Egyptians? ([02:11])
2. What was the brothers' fear after Jacob's death, and how did Joseph respond to it? ([07:23])
3. What are the four pillars of assurance in Christ mentioned in the sermon, and how are they illustrated in Joseph's story? ([14:07])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Joseph's brothers have doubted his forgiveness and love even after 17 years of reconciliation? What does this reveal about human nature and forgiveness? ([09:30])
2. How does Joseph's refusal to take vengeance reflect God's authority and justice? What does this teach about our own responses to wrongdoing? ([18:15])
3. In what ways does Joseph's life demonstrate God's ability to transform evil intentions into good outcomes? How does this perspective affect our understanding of personal struggles? ([21:14])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced grief. How did communal support or shared memories help you through that period? How can you offer similar support to others? ([04:29])
2. Consider a situation where you have doubted God's love or forgiveness. What steps can you take to strengthen your assurance in His love and promises? ([15:51])
3. How can you rest in God's authority when faced with injustice or wrongdoing against you? What practical steps can you take to trust in His justice rather than seeking your own revenge? ([19:09])
4. Identify a challenging situation in your life. How can you look for God's goodness and purpose in it, even if it seems painful or difficult? ([21:14])
5. Reflect on God's promises in your life. How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness and provision, especially during times of doubt or fear? ([26:49])
6. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's love, authority, goodness, and promises in your daily life? What specific practices or habits can help reinforce these truths? ([28:45])
7. Think of someone in your life who may be struggling with assurance in their faith. How can you support and encourage them in understanding God's unwavering love and promises? ([29:01])

Devotional

Day 1: Grief as a Pathway to Healing
Grief is a natural and important process, allowing individuals to remember and honor the lives of those they have lost. In Genesis 50, the mourning for Jacob is not only a personal experience for Joseph but also a communal one, shared by the Egyptians for 70 days. This collective grieving reflects the transformation in Jacob's life, from a man who once saw his years as few and evil to someone who became a blessing to others. Grieving together fosters connections through shared memories and can be a source of healing and comfort. It reminds us that God’s grace can transform our sorrows into blessings for others. [04:29]

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is grieving right now, and how can you offer them comfort and support in a tangible way today?


Day 2: Assurance in God's Unwavering Love
Assurance in God's love is crucial for a peaceful Christian life. Despite past sins and failures, God's love remains steadfast, as demonstrated by Joseph's unwavering love for his brothers. Even after 17 years of reconciliation, Joseph's brothers doubted his forgiveness, mirroring a common Christian struggle with assurance. Believers often fear that God might not truly love them, despite experiencing His goodness. Joseph's response to his brothers' doubts reflects God's sorrow when we doubt His love, reminding us that Christ's sacrifice is the ultimate assurance of His love. [15:51]

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

Reflection: What past sin or failure do you struggle to believe God has forgiven? How can you remind yourself of His unwavering love today?


Day 3: Trusting in God's Ultimate Authority
God's authority is the ultimate assurance for believers. Just as Joseph refused to take vengeance on his brothers, trusting in God's justice, we can rest in the knowledge that God is the final authority over our lives and circumstances. Joseph's perspective on his brothers' actions—seeing God's good purpose despite their evil intentions—demonstrates a profound trust in God's sovereignty. This trust allows us to release our need for control and vengeance, knowing that God will bring about justice in His perfect timing. [19:09]

"Do not say, 'I will repay evil'; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you." (Proverbs 20:22, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are struggling to let go of control or desire for revenge? How can you actively trust in God's authority and justice today?


Day 4: God's Goodness in Transforming Evil into Good
God's goodness transforms evil into good. Joseph's life illustrates how God can use even the most painful experiences for His purposes, shaping us to be more like Christ. Despite his brothers' evil intentions, Joseph recognized God's hand in his journey, which ultimately led to the preservation of many lives. This perspective can bring hope and meaning to our struggles, reminding us that God is always at work, even in the darkest times, to bring about His glory and our growth. [21:14]

"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." (Genesis 50:20, ESV)

Reflection: What difficult situation in your life can you ask God to use for good? How can you begin to see His hand at work in it today?


Day 5: The Reliability of God's Promises
God's promises are unchanging and reliable. Joseph's consistent provision for his brothers over 17 years reflects God's faithfulness to His promises, offering us assurance and peace through the covenant of Christ's sacrifice. Just as Joseph's promise to provide for his brothers remained unchanged, God's promises to us are steadfast, sealed by the sacrifice of Jesus. This reliability gives us confidence to trust in His word and find peace in His unchanging nature. [26:49]

"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19, ESV)

Reflection: What promise of God do you need to hold onto today? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?

Quotes



Joseph fell on his father's face and he wept over him and he kissed him and the thing that is really striking in this intimate scene of personal grief and loss is that it is not only the family who are grieving over Jacob. We're told in verse three that the Egyptians wept for Jacob for no less than 70 days. [00:01:57]

Now here's a great encouragement if God can make Jacob a blessing to the Egyptians then God can make you a blessing to people around you whatever the difficulties or even Sorrows of your life may be. Now cultures of course have very different customs in regards to grieving. [00:03:29]

When a person is grieving the loss of a loved one you may sometimes hesitate to speak to them about the one who has died and you may hesitate because you think well now if I say something about him the one who is gone then I may grieve her. [00:04:41]

Almost always it is helpful to speak about the one who has died to their loved ones. Think about this is the one who has died is constantly in the mind and in the heart of their loved ones and when you are able to speak about that loved one who is no longer with us there is a bond that is formed. [00:05:19]

Joseph has provided their homes Joseph has provided their food he has done nothing but good for them in all of these years but now having experienced all of this blessing with all of this love that has been lavished over these brothers when the old man dies they're still not really sure that Joseph loves them. [00:09:14]

This is actually a very common experience in the Christian Life. Think about it you came to Jesus Christ maybe it was 17 years ago maybe it was seven years ago maybe it was 70 years ago and Christ forgave you and you were reconciled to him and since then he has guarded you and he has provided for you. [00:10:41]

The greatest sorrow the greatest greatest burden that you as a Believer can ever lay on God the Father the greatest unkindness you can do to him is not to believe that he loves you. It's a great statement that's a wound to the heart of God. [00:16:23]

Joseph says here look paying back that's something for God to do that's not for me I'm not God it's not my job to write the things that are wrong and done against me in this world and in this of course Joseph gives us a marvelous example pointing forward to how God calls us to live and to act as Christians today. [00:17:55]

You meant it for evil but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. You see what he's saying God's goodness has proved to be greater than all of these brothers sins and as often as the brothers thought about the terrible things that they did. [00:21:05]

Joseph while fully aware of all of the evils that were done against him you meant it for evil that was what was the case at that time but his mind is somewhere else he says look I know this and here's a greater truth God meant it for good in other words he looks beyond what the brothers did. [00:23:02]

Joseph is remarkably like Jesus. What God did was out of all of the stuff in his life God produced in Joseph a remarkable likeness to Jesus. We've been seeing it all the way through this series out of the pain out of the sorrow out of the loss is formed a man who looks remarkably like Jesus. [00:23:59]

The great purpose of God for your life and for mine the great purpose of God for us is not at the end of the day in this world that we're going to all be sort of healthy and prosperous and savoring all the joys of life in a trouble-free world. No that's not what he's about. [00:25:09]

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