God Working through Disobedience

 Genesis 45:1-11; Romans 11: 1-2; 29-32

 We’ve been studying the life of Joseph. Due to his brother’s sin of selling Joseph into slavery, God worked through this bringing Joseph to a high position where he could help people during the famine even his “disobedient” brothers. Here in Genesis 45 Joseph finally tells his brothers who have come for food and haven’t recognized him, who he is. Joseph realizes how God used this terrible act of his brothers to help preserve life during the famine which came. He tells them that God sent him before them to preserve for them a remnant on earth, and to keep many survivors. God has used their evil for good.

In Romans, Paul talks about how the Lord used the disobedience of the Israelites to bring salvation to the Gentiles. Paul starts our passage proclaiming that God has not rejected his people. He states that the gifts and callings of the Lord are irrevocable. They are said to be disobedient now in order that God’s mercy can be shown to the Gentiles and in turn they too can turn from their disobedience and receive mercy. By imprisoning all in disobedience God may be merciful to all.

Mercy is defined as: Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. God has the power to harm the Israelites who have hurt him in their rejection of Jesus and us Gentiles who continue in sin and disobedience. Yet God offers mercy otherwise known as grace to all.

Joseph had been given great power. He could have punished his brothers in revenge for what they had done. Though he does put them through their paces before revealing himself, he sees how God has worked through their sin of selling him into slavery. So instead, he grants them mercy – a place to live with plenty of food.

Can God work through our mistakes and our failures? I along with Paul and Joseph believe God can and will show mercy and forgiveness for our sins. When we feel imprisoned by our sin God can break us free and in God’s mercy something good can come out of it. Amen

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