Many of us, when faced with situations of turmoil, are filled with a great debilitating fear. As a sixth grader, I was bullied by a gang of young boys. They would wait for me outside of my classroom, and threaten me at every point of my day. At times I would sit in my seat well after the bell rang, just to escape the confrontation. It was in those moments that my heart was filled with a savage and intense fear–one which has seared my memory for many years. Most mornings–before school–I would plead with my mother not to send me. At that moment in time the fear of man consumed my young heart.
As I look back upon those days of fear as a young seminarian preparing for ministry, one thought comes to my mind–while in the moment my fear was great, it was never greater than the sovereign hand of God which guided me through. Throughout all of human history, the wrath of man has never moved the sovereign hand of God, even an inch. Looking back on past affliction, we are made aware of the faithfulness of our sovereign God. Never once will He forsake us, for not a leaf falls apart from His sovereign decree, and not a trouble afflicts us which He has not prepared us for. The sovereignty of God should be to our enemies a source of fear; but to us who are His own, the sovereignty of God is a source of immense comfort. As Charles Spurgeon once said;
“The sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which the child of God rests his head at night, giving perfect peace.”
Yet, what do we mean by the sovereignty of God? Simply put, to proclaim that God is sovereign, is to proclaim that He ordains all things–past, present, and future–in accordance with His will, for the purpose of His glory. The sovereignty of God quenches yesterday’s sorrow, provides today’s longsuffering, and fills tomorrow with the assurance of our salvation.
The Sovereign Comfort of a Sovereign God
There are few Biblical characters who encountered as much adversity as Joseph. Joseph was betrayed by members of his own family (Gen 37.12-36); sold into slavery (Gen 37.18-35); sold as a servant to the house of Potiphar (Gen 37.36); falsely accused of sexual assault, and thereby imprisoned (Gen 39.1-22). Yet throughout this chain of horrific events, the LORD was with Joseph (Gen39.23). While we desire the favor of God in comfort, few desire the longsuffering comfort of God in affliction. Yet, we see in the life of Joseph, he was aware that the LORD was with him. He did not seek comfort or question God’s motives. On the contrary, he silently obeyed the LORD despite facing trials of every kind.
As the narrative unfolds we begin to see Joseph rising to a position of perennial power in Egypt second only to Pharaoh. As such a prominent leader in Egypt, Joseph provides food for the house of Jacob in order that they may survive a great famine (Gen. 42). As Joseph is reunited with the very brothers who had betrayed him, they are fearful that he will seek revenge for the heinous betrayal (Gen 50.15). On the contrary, Joseph finds confidence and comfort in the sovereignty of God. In the midst of his betrayers he proclaims:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it
Rather than extracting revenge upon those who caused him insurmountable pain, Joseph provides for their needs. This is significant. Joseph is treating his brothers as the LORD had treated him. Just as God provided for Joseph through years of hardship, in order to fulfill His sovereign purposes, Joseph provides for his brothers despite the pain they caused him. Joseph is able to look upon the sorrow quenching hand of God and see that his affliction was never without purpose. The LORD who brought Joseph to situations of difficulty, was the LORD who saw him through; and even was with Joseph through it all. I pray that we as a church would allow the sovereignty of God to quench yesterday’s affliction, and fill us with peace and comfort.
The Sovereign Assurance of a Sovereign God
In the Apostle Peter’s first letter to the elect exiles of the diaspora, Peter seeks to assure a people facing great difficulty, that the God who caused them to be born again (1 Pt1.3) is the same God who will guard them through affliction (1 Pt1.5). Notice that Peter does not tell of an escape from trial, but instead, is hard-pressed to remind the believers that no matter what trials come their way, God is sovereign, and in Him we are assured of eternal hope. The text reads:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” – 1 Pt.1.3-9
Our inheritance is kept in heaven, and is guarded by God until the day that we are united with Him. Peter is not preaching an escapist sermon. He is not telling them to speak the correct words in order to “break” the struggles they are facing. Peter instead is reminding them that God is sovereign, and that while we face trials and struggles, perseverance through every trial is worth the eternal inheritance that is being stored for us. When trials come (and they will), remember that tomorrow is filled with the assurance of our salvation. Today we may face difficulty, but tomorrow is full of hope. This hope is that the same Lord who called us to faith, is the same Lord who will guard us through trial. Rest assured, no trial is greater than the promise of our eternal inheritance.
Reblogged this on .