Ever since the Garden of Eden, there have been those that question the existence of God. Many who acknowledge that God exist, will say that God is distant. He set the universe in motion and then stepped back to see what happens. A few years ago (1990) there was a popular song sung by Bette Midler – “From a Distance” – God is watching us from a distance. In essence, the song says things are not evil in the sight of God because He is only watching us and from a distance, things don’t look so bad.
The theology of that song is so wrong on so many different levels, and for starters, it is completely un-biblical. This belief is called Deism. This is not a new belief about God, It has been around for many centuries. Some of our founding Fathers of our nation were Deist, like Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson thought Jesus was an actual historical person, great teacher of morals, but he discounted the miracles that Jesus did.
Those that believe in a higher power often take a deist view of things. However, a belief that God exist does not make one a Christian nor does it imply that they are saved. Scripture tells us:
James 2:19 (NKJV) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
The fact is, God is involved in every aspect of human activity, and throughout all of human history and throughout all of time. This New Sermon series, “But God …” Looks at how God intervenes in the affairs of man. Ultimately, God Himself enters human history as man, a man we call Jesus. It is through Jesus we have salvation and we can know God. We will be examining how God intervenes in the course of our lives over the next few weeks. Despite the circumstances, God steps in. This where we are heading over the next few weeks:
God intervenes at the time of death.
Psalm 49:15a (NKJV) But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
God intervenes with the proud and arrogant in the world:
Luke 12:20a (NKJV) But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;
God will judge rightly because God knows our true motives:
Luke 16:15 (NKJV) And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Despite our sinful nature, God still loves us:
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Despite how smart we think we are, God chooses the simple and foolish things of the world to keep us humble:
1 Corinthians 1:27a (NKJV) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise,
Today, we are looking at evil in the world. People do bad things to us and others. However, all things are in the hands of God who can turn the bad around into good. We will be examining what has been called the "Romans 8:28 verse of the Old Testament."
Today’s message: “But God meant it for good” is from Genesis 50:20. To put this verse into context, we will read from the end of the story of Joseph in the last chapter of the book of Genesis.
Genesis 50:15–21 (NKJV) 15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 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. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
ILL: On May 11, 1996, Demingo Pacheco had a major problem. He was on a tight schedule to catch his plane out of Miami when the left rear tire of his car blew out on the Palmetto Expressway. For more than hour he sweated under that broiling Florida sun changing that tire. Just as he finished changing the tire, he got a call on his portable phone. It was his mother. She said, "Where are you?" He said, "I’m stuck on the freeway, having just hanged a flat tire, and I have missed my flight." She shouted, "Turn on your radio and thank God. The plane you that you were going to be on just crashed in the Everglades." Demingo Pacheco would have been aboard ValuJet Flight 592 except for that flat tire.[1]
A bad situation, or a undesirable set of circumstances are not always a bad thing when you are in the hands of God. We know the verse from Romans:
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) 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.
Let me clarify a few things this verse says and does not say.
It does not say everything is good. It does say God works it all for good, even the bad things that occur or are present.
This verse does not say everything works for good for everyone. It does say God work all things for good to those who truly love Him, those that are called according to His purposes.
Our verse from Genesis says much the same:
Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) 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.
Let’s put this verse into the larger context of the Genesis story about Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Joseph was the number 11 out of the 12 brothers. The story of Joseph I encourage you to read on your own and it begins in Genesis 37.
In context of this verse, when Joseph was 17, his older brothers hated him because Joseph’s was their father’s favorite and Joseph had dreams depicted him as their superior. Remember the coat of many colors? The older brothers faked Joseph’s his death and sold him into slavery to traders heading for Egypt. There in Egypt he was sold as a slave and ended up in prison. But God blessed all that Joseph put his hand to. As a slave he rose to high position or even when he was in prison, he was held in high esteem by the prison keeper. Because God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams he rose to prominence in Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh.
There was a great famine in the land and Jacob had sent Joseph’s older brothers to Egypt to buy food, and there they encounter Joseph but they did not recognize him. Joseph literally held their very lives in his hand. But after a time Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. But Joseph’s brothers were fearful of him that he might take revenge on them. Because of the famine, all of Jacob’s family, including Jacob, moved to Egypt and settled there. As long as Jacob was alive, the brothers did not worry that Joseph would repay them for what they did to Him. But after Jacob died, all that changed.
In verses 16-17 they send messengers to Joseph begging forgiveness, and in verse 18 Joseph’s brothers went to him in person and bowed before him, declaring themselves as his slaves, fulfilling the dream Joseph had when he was young. Joseph was truly a man of God for he told them:
Genesis 50:19 (NKJV) Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
At this point we can bring out the point that vengeance belong to God. But that was not where Joseph was going. He understood, as few do, that the events that happened to him, as terrible as they were, that God’s hand had been in it all the time.
Genesis 50:20 (NKJV) 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.
Knowing the whole story, it is easy to see that Joseph’s 10 older brothers wanted to do away with him, “but God meant it for good” and God worked that bad situation for the good of all and for His glory. Many lives where saved through that famine and the family of Jacob became the a great nation.. God brings triumph out of tribulation and misfortune.
But the question still comes up, even among Christians, why hardship, why pain, why misfortune on me? Joseph’s story teaches us that God’s plan is working on our behalf, even when we suffer. Joseph suffered under the injustices of his brothers. His circumstances could have caused him to lose faith, but his theology, his firm belief in God caused him to know that God is always good and always at work for our good.[2]
Joseph understood Romans 8:28 almost two thousand years before it was written! The focus of today’s message is not about getting through tough times, but rather not letting tough times or the existence of evil cause your faith to falter.
Let me explore five types of Christian suffering, three of which are beneficial to us, sufferings that God allows to come our way, sufferings that God means for good.
First is Beneficial pain. Physical pain, although uncomfortable and often difficult, pain can be very beneficial. What if we felt no pain? How would we ever learn that the stove is hot and can burn. How would we know what is harmful. Without pain, we would do many things that could bring great harm to us. If we were hidden from the consequences to sin, we would live in illusionary world, we would have the mistaken impression that we were fine with God and there would be no remorse or repentance. We would never be dissatisfied with our relationship with God.
Second type of suffering is Disciplinary Suffering. We know God corrects those He loves.
Proverbs 3:12 (NKJV) For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Jesus speaks of discipline.
Revelation 3:19 (NKJV) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
The pain of discipline is for our good.
The third type of beneficial suffering: Growing pains. We grow in the trials we face every day.
Romans 5:3–4 (NKJV) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
James 1:2–4 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
We all have learned by experience, and some experiences have been painful, but when we look back on it all, we can clearly see the hand of God at work in our lives, building Christian maturity, sensitivity, patience, and hope.
There is a fourth type that is hard for us to understand, but it is Suffering that brings God glory. This is often suffering unjustly. Suffering from things over which we had no control over. Joseph suffered unjustly. He was thrown into prison when he was falsely accused by the wife of Potiphar. Joseph explained to his cell mates:
Genesis 40:15 (NKJV) For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
Peter explains how our conduct should be when we do suffer unjustly:
1 Peter 2:19–21 (NKJV) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
Lastly, Suffering as a testimony. The Bible is full of examples. As follower of Christ, we will suffer as a testimony to Him. Jesus said:
Matthew 24:9 (NKJV) “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
Some of us will suffer precisely because we are a Christian:
1 Peter 4:16 (NKJV) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
And we know some will suffer and be martyred for their faith and for the testimony they hold:
Revelation 6:9 (NKJV) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
Yes God means it all for good. Even the evil in the word will proclaim His glory. And if we suffer with Him and for Him, we will also be share in His glory.
Romans 8:17 (NKJV) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Yes there will be problems and tribulation. But God means it all for good. For our good, for the good of others and His glory. When we are conflicted , we must keep our eyes on Jesus all the more. For many things, we may not understand this side of Glory, but we know all things rest in His hands, including all of us who truly belong to Him.
Do you belong to Jesus?
[1] SermonCentral: From a sermon by Ricky Nelms, Joseph, 7/16/2010 “A Flat tire Saves A Life” www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/78113/god-s-provision-by-sermoncentral?ref=TextIllustrationSerps
[2] Borrowed heavily from Paul Barreca’s sermon “Why Doesn’t God Prevent Evil” www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/why-doesn-t-god-prevent-evil-paul-barreca-sermon-on-problem-of-evil-177420?ref=SermonSerps
