Eternal Things: Part 1
“seeming detours” and “Spectacular Sins”1
Genesis 50:15--21
"When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him." So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died, "Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people [fn] should be kept alive, as they are today. "So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."
What am I saying: “GOD ordains spectacular sins for the global glory of HIS SON”---JESUS! (John Piper, Spectacular Sins, 105)
Sin might have seemingly “changed the course of history [but] never nullified the global purposes of GOD to glorify HIS SON and save HIS people.” (John Piper, Spectacular Sins, 97)
People’s “Spectacular Sins” might appear to have changed our circumstances, but their sins never stop GOD’s purposes!
What does it mean to us?
When “GOD’s sovereignty over sin take...place in [our] mind[s], they...have a profoundly practical effect in making you strong in the face of breath-stopping sorrows and making you bold for CHRIST....” (Ibid.)
First meaning, “seeming detours” most likely involve suffering. (v. 20)
Sometimes the suffering is long.
Genesis 15:13, 16
13 Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
Acts 14:22
22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
Joseph was “seventeen years old when they sold him into slavery (37:2). Now when he identifies himself, he is thrity-nine years old. (41:46, 53; 45:6).
Like Jamey Ragle said, it’s “like being “stuck in an elevator with the village people.”
Psalms 6:3
My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?
Second meaning, “seeming detours” come by some vicious and undeserved attack. (vv. 17, 20)
Our suffering seems to come through some “spectacular sin.” (Ibid., 77) I mean, what did we do to deserve it?
Genesis 37:8, 11
8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Why “jealous?”
2 Corinthians 2:15--16
15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
Third meaning, “seeming detours” are still in “GOD’s invisible hand....” (Ibid., 78)
What makes this all the more amazing, “They are utterly oblivious to GOD’s invisible hand in their action.” (Ibid., 78)
Two things they are “oblivious to....”
First, “They do not know that in the very effort to destroy this dreamer, they are fulfilling Joseph’s dreams....
They tried to get rid of the dreamer, and in getting rid of him, they fulfilled his dreams.” (Ibid., 77--78) See v. 18
Second, GOD “takes the very sins of the destroyers and makes them the means of the destroyers’ deliverance.” (Ibid., 78) See v. 20
In other words, the sin they committed became the way GOD delivered them.
“The suicide of satan” (Ibid., 97)
John 13:2, 27
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,
Luke 22:3--6
3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
Piper: “satan does not take innocent people captive.” (Ibid., 99)
“Therefore, [satan] resolved that if he couldn’t stop it [Matt. 4:1--11], he would...make it as ugly and painful and as heartbreaking as possible. Not just death, but death by betrayal. Death by abandonment. Death by denial (Luke 22: 31--34). Death by torture.” (Ibid., 101)
Application: In light of “seeming detours”...Commit to finish!
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