Choosing to Sing of the Goodness of God

Read Genesis 45:1-15. Through his brothers scheming, Joseph lost his parents, his brothers, his culture, food, language, freedom and above all his hope, all in one day as he was sold into slavery in Egypt. Falsely accused of rape by his master’s wife, he was sent to prison and languished there for 10-13 years. His life was a tragedy. And yet, through it all, Joseph affirms the goodness of God, seeing his big, loving hand guiding him through all his pain and hardships. When he is finally reunited with his brothers in Genesis 45, he repeatedly tells him that everything that has happened to him is because of God, not his brothers. He sees it all as part of God’s plan and purpose for his life. Despite enduring years of darkness and obscurity, Joseph continues to believe he is in God’s hands. He believes God is big enough and good enough to work through human effort. That he can bring about his purposes for each person despite what humans do, sometimes working with them and sometimes working against them. He is sovereign.

You do not need to erase your past to embrace God’s purposes for you. God uses it all. Every mistake we’ve made, every failure we’ve chalked up, every detour we’ve taken. They’re all taken by God and made into a gift for our future of blessing.

I love your voice you have led me through the fire;

in darkest night, you are close like no other.

I've known you as a father I've known you as a friend;

and I have lived in the goodness of God.

'Cause all my life you have been faithful,

and all my life you have been so so good,

with ev'ry breath that I am able,

oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

Ed Cash, Ben Fielding, Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, and Jenn Johnson

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THINK IT OVER

•Can you see how God has used the mistakes and detours in your own life to bless you and others today?