What does today’s passage teach us about God?
Three words came to mind this morning as I read these chapters:
- Providence
- Provision
- Reconciliation
The providence of God is defined as the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. (Read more on this by clicking the link). Obviously, we see this all through the Bible, but the story of Joseph and his brothers definitely is a great display.
Provision is how God provides for his people. It isn’t just about how God provided a source of food for Jacob’s family during a famine, though that is part of it, and it is what we clearly see in these passages. But I am reminded that God, being the Source of all things because he is the Creator of all things, cares for his creation. We, along with everything else in creation, are completely dependent upon him for everything – our very breath and heartbeat are dependent upon him. We know that he is the Provider of all that we need (note: this is not everything that we think we want) because he knows exactly what we need, and he provides for us beyond anything that we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
We see that God is the God of reconciliation. While we see in this story the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers, this should remind us of a much bigger truth. God reconciles us to himself through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18). While we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-6).
How do these passages either reveal or reflect the glory of God?
His providence, provision and reconciliation can’t do anything other than reveal / reflect his glory. In his providence, he chose us in him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). Through his provision he sent his son to redeem us (Galatians 4:4), thereby reconciling us to himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). And he didn’t do these things just to help us out of hell. He did these things for his glory. Everything that he has ever done, is doing or will ever do is all to his glory. He is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ordainer of all things. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13) All glory is due him.
Worth are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and are created.
Revelation 4:11
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