It’s all a matter of perspective – The Hillsdale Daily News

Everett Henes| Hillsdale Daily News

Our perspective is always limited. We cannot know why certain things take place or even how long they will last. If we didnt have the word of God, philosophies such as existentialism (where there is no intrinsic meaning or purpose to life) and nihilism (the belief that life is pointless and human values are worthless) would be tempting ways to approach life. What we have, as Christians, is trust that God is in control. This is one of the biggest uses of Gods word for us. Scripture is inspired and shows us the consistency of our God. Nothing will get in the way of his plans as Job professed, I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2). This is clear here in the story of Josephs life. No obstacles will stand in the way of Gods saving work for he will work around them or, perhaps more often, through them to save his people.

Last week we looked at Genesis 42 and the first journey Josephs brothers made to get grain during the famine. When they came to Egypt Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. This was used to Josephs advantage as he was able to learn about their family and make certain demands upon them. But while Joseph could have used his knowledge to get revenge what we saw was that Joseph was leading them toward repentance and reconciliation.

In the story of Josephs life, we see Gods mercy in the salvation of the people and the provision of food for the entire region. It is a severe mercy. We know from other stories when Israel was hungry that God could rain down manna from heaven. He could supply the food they need supernaturally. God is doing more than merely causing them to survive. He is bringing them toward repentance and reconciliation. CS Lewis once wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

There are more obstacles than the famine. What happens in Genesis 43 is that Jacobs family is without food again. Jacob wants to send his sons to buy more from Egypt, but Joseph had told them not to return without their youngest brothers. Jacob doesnt want to let Benjamin go. Judah offers himself in Benjamins place. He pledges his life that Benjamin will return. This is more than saying he will die if Benjamin dies but rather, that he will give himself (and therefore all his family) to do with as Jacob pleases if Benjamin does not return.

Jacob prays for Gods mercy and then leaves it in his hands. He does not have our perspective. He cannot see that the famine is part of Gods overall plan. Its not just that Joseph is there to provide them with food in a bad time; its that the difficult time has a purpose in itself. What purpose can the famine serve? The famine is what drives them to Egypt. Why is it that the people must go to Egypt? In Egypt Gods people are despised and so they will be left to themselves to grow as a nation whereas in Canaan, they would mix with the people of the land and never become a separate people. And so, it is through sorrow and hardship that God brings the family of Jacob to the place where he can make them into a large nation.

God is removing the obstacles in the way of repentance and reconciliation. When we think of Gods work throughout history, it is always God who removes the obstacles. When they are in slavery in Egypt and need to be released from bondage, God will remove the obstacle of Pharaoh. When King David sins with Bathsheba, God will use Nathan to remove the obstacles in his mind and heart to move him to repentance. Sometimes God works slowly, over time, and other times he works immediately. We know this even in our own lives. God removes the largest obstacle to salvation as he takes our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh. We do not repent because we have decided to follow Jesus. We repent because God has moved us to repentance; he has removed all the obstacles in the way. He does this by sending Jesus to die in our place and sending his Spirit to draw us to himself.

Pastor Everett Henes, the pastor of the Hillsdale Orthodox Presbyterian Church, can be reached at pastorhenes@gmail.com.

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It's all a matter of perspective - The Hillsdale Daily News