By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis
Focal Passage: Genesis 50:15-21
When we see our lives from God’s perspective, His providence shines through the events that seem tangled or meaningless.
1. Providence revealed (vv. 18-19). After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid Joseph was holding a grudge against them and would punish them for the suffering they had caused him when they sold him as a slave years earlier (v. 15). That fear led them to tell Joseph that their father had commanded that he forgive their wrongdoing. Whether or not Jacob said that, they knew that the final wishes of their dying father would have a tremendous impact on Joseph.
Joseph shed tears because he knew firsthand of his father’s desires that his family stay united, and it crushed him that his brothers still feared him. He wanted to relate to them on their level in a familial relationship. It certainly grieved him that his brothers did not trust in his forgiveness.
To demonstrate their humility, the brothers bowed down before Joseph as slaves. Joseph was surely reminded of his dream that one day he would rule over his brothers. His brothers also were probably thinking of Joseph’s dream. God’s providence was being revealed to both Joseph and his brothers.
2. Providence expressed (vv. 20-21). Because the brothers were fearful of retaliation by Joseph, he reassured them, “Don’t be afraid (v. 19). Even if Joseph had wanted to bring judgment on his brothers, he knew he would be acting in the place of God. The Bible commands us to leave vengeance to God. If we take revenge, we are acting in God’s place. That is why we are to extend forgiveness, not retaliation, to those who have wronged us.
Joseph explained God’s providence to them. “You planned evil against me. God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people” (v. 20). Paul wrote about God’s providence in Romans 8:28 which teaches that since all things are controlled by God, then He works them for our good if we continue to love Him as our first love. Though we can’t see God working for our good in difficulties and trials, we can know by faith that He is.
God demonstrated that good truth by taking the greatest evil in all of history, the crucifixion, and producing the greatest good, the salvation of souls.
Dave Dravecky was a pitcher in the major leagues for seven years, playing as an All-Star and in two pennant races. In 1989, while following through on a pitch to Tim Raines in Montreal, his arm snapped between his shoulder and elbow. He collapsed on the ground in front of the mound. Because of cancer, his humerus bone had broken. To keep the cancer from spreading, his left arm was amputated in 1991.
That tragic end to his career became an opportunity for God to provide a platform for Dravecky to share his testimony around the nation. As a committed Christian, he has helped many people going through depression and hurt by sharing his hope in Jesus. Through his organization, Endurance, he provides free Christian resources to help people heal. In addition, he has led multitudes to faith in Christ by sharing his testimony.
What seemed like a dead end, God has used to open up a new season in Dravecky’s life for his good and God’s glory. B&R