This week is the final sermon for the series I called Icebergs.  It was the story of Joseph as he navigated the minefield of complex relationships and events which could have caused him to throw up his hands and quit. As a review:

• Dysfunctional family
• Jealous brothers
• Betrayed by his brothers & sold into slavery
  
• Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife
• Thrown in prison
• Interprets dreams then forgotten
• Interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and promoted
• Sees his brothers make their way to him seeking grain
• Bargaining with them until he sees their changed hearts
• Reveals himself to his brothers and asks about his father.

Now comes the reunion and ultimate death of Jacob. Following Jacob’s death his brothers are filled with fear as to what will happen. The exchange is interesting. They use Jacob as a buffer in the sense of 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.’ ”  To that Joseph answers with the answer of all answers:

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 about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 50:19-20

In my mind those same words are spoken years later when Mordecai tells Esther “for such as this.”  God’s plan brought Jacob and his sons and the Israelite people to Egypt. It was His plan. That is good enough for me.

I’m also going to talk about forgiveness this week and close with this statement: Joseph was led by grace. If you have not forgiven someone, it is time. If you have received someone’s forgiveness, it is time. If you have been the recipient of God’s forgiveness, now is the time to truly believe it.

Your prayers for this weekend would be greatly appreciated.

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Jo & I leave Monday for our long-awaited trip to Alaska. I’m not taking my computer and will have limited access via my phone.  Please pray for our safety, but most of all, for our rest. Ryan is preaching next week for me as we start a new series I’m calling “Postcards.” He will be preaching about the church as a beginning to the Letters to the 7 churches in Revelation. I’m sure he would love to know you are praying for him.