God is Good (All the Time)

God is Good, All the Time

• What do we mean by this phrase? Even though life isn’t always easy, fair, or comfortable, God is always good.
• One person in the Bible who learned that lesson was Joseph (Genesis 37-50).

Joseph’s Background

• The favorite child out of the twelve sons of Jacob (Gen. 35:22b-26, Gen. 37:3).
• Given special abilities (dreams) and privileges (ornate robe) that made his brothers resent him (Gen. 37:3-5).
• Betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen. 37:28).

Joseph: Highs and Lows

• HIGH: Favorite child, special privileges
• LOW: Betrayed, sold into slavery
• HIGH: Success in Potiphar’s house
• LOW: False accusations from Potiphar’s wife
• LOW: Imprisoned despite his innocence
• HIGH: Success in prison
• HIGH: A chance at freedom
• LOW: Forgotten in prison
• HIGH: Appointed as ruler over Egypt

Clinging to God’s Faithfulness During Seasons of Lament

The question Joseph’s story raises: How can disciples of Jesus stay faithful to God during seasons of frustration and lament?

“Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness.” -Mark Vroegop

• Seasons of Lament: When nothing makes sense, God feels distant, and it’s hard to figure out what God is doing.
• When we know God is good and that he has a plan, but the circumstances of life don’t seem to mesh with the goodness of God and the promises of the Bible. What then?

Throughout the extreme highs and lows in Joseph’s life, the one constant was the faithfulness of God.

• God was still good, God was still with him, and God had still a plan. 

Eventually, Joseph was released from prison and given a powerful position in Egypt that he used to save people from disaster. 

• Unfortunately, Joseph had no way of knowing in the moment that God had a hidden purpose behind his pain.
• That clarity about God’s ultimate purpose didn’t come until much later in Joseph’s life.

“God Intended it for Good.”

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21

• After many years, Joseph realized God had a clear plan the entire time to bring something good out of all his suffering.
• God put the right person in the right place at the right time to save the world from a disaster they didn’t even know was coming.

The lesson for us: We won’t always know what God is up to in the moment. We need to trust him anyway. 

• “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” -Corrie Ten Boom

Romans 8:28 — God is at Work

Joseph’s Life is a powerful example of what Paul talks about in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

• God is at work in all things, not just the positive circumstances in life.
• God is working for our good. Not everything we want is good for our souls; God knows what we need better than we do.
• For those who love God, God knows who loves him, and he sees our sacrifice and devotion. But remember: God is committed to doing what is best for everyone who loves God (collectively), not just what is best for us as individuals. We might be called upon to sacrifice our desires for the good of others.
• We are called according to God’s purpose — not our own.

Two Ways to Read Joseph’s Story

1. Joseph’s story is a Gospel story. There’s a worldwide crisis, so God sends a rescuer. People reject the savior and subject him to suffering. The savior people rejected is exalted by God, but instead of seeking vengeance, he offers forgiveness. Through it all, people are saved when they admit their need for God’s rescuer. This points ahead to the Gospel message about Jesus.
2. Joseph’s story is a call to discipleship. It shows us what not to do (e.g. Proverbs 6:16-19) in our relationships, but it also shows the wisdom of what Jesus teaches about in the Sermon on the Mount. 

Conclusion: 

• Life isn’t always easy, but God is always good. And there’s often a hidden purpose behind our pain that God reveals in due time.
• We won’t always know what God is up to in the moment, but we can trust him anyway because we know he is a good God.

Study and Reflection

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Read: Psalm 31:1-20. As you do, think about all the highs and lows Joseph experienced.

1. What does it mean to you that God is a refuge and fortress? What are the things you need to take refuge from in your life?
2. What kind of example does David set in verse 5? Why is this something we need to consider? How do you typically handle the stress and worries in your life?
3. Take another look at verses 9-13. What similarities do you see between David’s words in Psalm 31 and Joseph’s life? 
4. Verses 9-13 emphasize how low David is in his life, but there is an abrupt shift in his attitude starting in verse 14. What does this teach us about trusting God in seasons of lament?
5. David seems to be wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness — If God is good, then why is he allowing David to suffer so much? How could you answer that in your own words?
6. Bryan mentioned in today’s sermon that we won’t always know what God is up to in the moment, but we still have to trust God enough to take a leap of faith. Why is it so hard for us to step out in faith when we don’t have all the answers?
7. What words or phrases from this Psalm seem especially important to you during this season of your life? Why do you think God drew your attention to those words?
8. What is something you plan on doing to put this sermon and this discussion passage into practice in your life?