Seeing The Providence Of God In Everything Series

Providence, Rhode Island was settled in 1636 by a Christian. Not just by a Christian but by a man that would be later known as a Baptist Pastor. (Roger Williams) He believed in the separation of church and state and condemned colonists from confiscation of land from the Indians so he purchased the land to establish the city of Providence.

Furthermore, he believed in believers baptism and was persecuted for it and according to records he was beaten until his boots were filled with blood due to his deep convictions about baptism while inhabiting the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Because of his deep beliefs in freedom in 1652 Providence established an anti-slavery law there and interesting enough, if you visit there today, you can visit the First Baptist Church of Rhode Island that was established there in 1638 which is the oldest Baptist congregation in America.

This place in history was purchased from the Narragansett Indians and named “Providence” because Roger Williams wanted to preserve in history a verbal monument to remember the providence of God.

He said: “I named it Providence in thanks to God for providing a place for me after I was exiled from Massachusetts. God guided me here by His providence.”

Explanation:

As we meet Joseph again today he reminds us of something we need to remember in life through all the up’s, down’s, and turn-arounds; we need to be reminded of God’s providence.

As we join him in verse 1, we find Joseph ready to reveal his identity to his brothers. Before, he disguised himself as an Egyptian. Before he had spoken to his brothers through an interpreter. Yet, after discovering that his brothers had repented and listened to the appeal of Judah his brothers.

He weeps and suddenly says: “I am Joseph” which he spoke (obviously) in their language. (vs. 1-4)

From there, he reveals something wonderful about God; He reveals that God is a God of providence.

Transition: This morning, let’s allow Joseph to explain this concept to us. Let’s allow Joseph to reveal to us what it means that God is a God of providence.

Transitional Sentence: What does Joseph teach us about the providence of God? Because of God’s providence, we can be assured of the fact that:

I. No One is In Control But God

vs. 4-5- Then Joseph said to his brothers, Please come closer to me. And they came closer. And he said, I am your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Explanation:

Let me ask you a question? Who’s in charge of our world today?

That’s basically the question that Joseph had grappled with through the years he spent in Egypt. It would have been easy for him to say:

a) Other people are in control- After all, he did not chose to go to Egypt. He did not chose to

be subjected to slavery. Furthermore, he did not make the choices that got him to a better place

where he was Prime Minister of Egypt. He was just Joseph, a man who God gave a dream,

a colorful coat, and some evil brothers who sold him to slavery.

b) Fate is in control- Some could have said that Joseph’s story was a “good luck” story. That by

chance Joseph was at the right place at the right time. That by luck he somehow correctly

interpreted a dream and ended up on a throne. Yet, Joseph knew fate had nothing to do with

the future; God held the future.

c) We are in control- Has anyone ever told you that that you are the captain of your own soul?

The determiner of your own fate? If it’s going to happen; you have to make it happen.

Joseph might have been a Prime Minister, but the first words he spoke to his brothers in Hebrew revealed that he was more than a Prime Minister; he was a preacher as he said:

Vs. 5- “God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Vs. 7- “God sent me before you to preserve you for a remnant”

Vs. 8- “...it was not you who sent me here, but God...”

Vs. 9- “...God made me lord of all Egypt...”

Ask Joseph who is in control of the world, his answer is simple: God is in control.

God is completely sovereign which means that His rule extends over everything and everybody. His authority is supreme. If He wills something, there is nothing that can stop Him. You can challenge Him. All Hell can challenge Him. Yet, nothing will overpower Him. He is Lord of all.

Do you know what God tells us about in His Word? He says: “Everything in the heavens and earth is Yours, O Lord…. We adore You as being in control of everything” (1 Chronicles 29:11)