Joseph3: God’s Goodness and Ours
Genesis 45:1-11
November 2, 2008

This is a sermon about goodness, about goodness that makes a difference in anxious times. It’s about the goodness of God who can wrench a blessing even from the damage the world does. More than that, the Joseph story tells us: God can actually be working goodness even where we experience hurt, loss and damage. And we are invited to be God’s partners in that work

In verse 5 of today’s lesson, Joseph reassures his brothers – the same brothers who long ago threw him into a pit to die and then changed their minds a bit and sold him into slavery instead – Joseph has this to say to them:

Come near to me...I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. And now to do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Now, this is a profound shift for Joseph. He has decided that when he was lost, there was God; and now that he is found, here is God as well.

Two things come from this shift. First, Joseph discovers something about God. God is capable of doing impossible things like making a Hebrew slave into Pharoah’s overseer in order to preserve life for all nations! That’s a good thing, but perhaps what we might expect from a biblical story. God is capable.

Here’s the second thing. Joseph discovers something about himself. He – Joseph! -- is capable of doing an impossible thing. Right out of his own experience of suffering and injustice, Joseph discovers he is capable of being just and merciful. And therefore God is able to use Joseph for larger purposes.

The powerful goodness of God always invites a powerful goodness in us. We always have a choice – to see the world as dark and threatening, God as somehow removed and ourselves as frustrated and helpless – or to see what we and God can pull off --together.

The lesson is that God doesn’t pull strings. We are not puppets doing good or evil (or nothing) according to a script. God works with our stuff: our lives, our choices. God provides the opportunities and tools for doing good work in anxious times. You might even say that God takes a chance on us. God wants partners in goodness, not puppets.

God wants partners in goodness. We are made for this! We have that in us – even in lives as chaotic and difficult as Joseph’s – which is good and capable of making a difference in the world.

Sometimes, it’s true, we don’t live up to our calling because our idea of God is too small. We don’t really think God makes a big difference in a crazy world. But more often, it seems to me, the challenge is that we see ourselves as too small. We diminish ourselves. We assume somewhere down in the depths of our being that God can’t do much with people like us. Yet listen to the Joseph story. Here he is, talking to brothers – the very people who sold him down the road! And what does he say? Does he say – See, I get to lord it over you just like in my dream back then? Does he say – See, all’s well that ends well? No! He says – God has had a bigger purpose for us all along! He says – now I see that God has been inviting me all along to grow into that bigger purpose!

You hear him? It’s a partnership in which a capable God invites Joseph to take over important work. But Joseph must hear the invitation and decide that God must be willing to take a chance on him!

So the lesson is not only that God is capable, but also that we are worthy of being God’s partners. Joseph weeps – if only his brothers could see what God is up to! They would forgive themselves and begin a new chapter in their lives! If only they could hear the invitation to bigger tasks – what might they and Joseph accomplish together!

What wonders could we do together? We are a small congregation, a funny outfit, faithful in some things, fearful in others. We have a good God, capable people, more money than most churches ever dream of, a building that needs work but builds dreams, music, praise, worship – what more could we ask for? And yet, how often do we proclaim that we at South Church at the invitation of God, are here to change the very atmosphere people live in so that we might all together make a big difference in bad times? How often do we proclaim that we are here to put God and people back together!! How often do we tell each other that a capable God is doing amazing things because of us??!!

I want to weep when I hear us saying the times are bigger than we are!

Is that ridiculous? Am I wrong in saying that whoever is elected president on Tuesday, it’s going to take people like us to make a difference in our nation’s future? People who are learning about the bigger tasks and an amazing God? People who refuse to diminish ourselves and get smaller when we’re afraid?

The big shift begins inside. The big shift happens when we hear God’s invitation to become partners in the work of goodness. I say to you that God is waiting for us to decide whether we are big enough!

I don’t ask us to save nations. I ask us only to make the shift into believing that we are worthy of God taking a chance on us. God will do the rest!

Let me close with a story I found on the internet, that is simply kind of fun. It’s about a little boy making the shift. He’s just a little boy wondering about ice cream, but he’s about to learn something about who God is and who he can be. After all, learning about what God’s up to in our lives begins very young.

The story goes like this. A mom took her kids to a restaurant one day. Here’s the way Mom tells the story:

My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, 'God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food , and I would even thank You more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!' 

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, 'That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!' 

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, 'Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?' 

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, 'I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.' 

'Really?' my son asked. 

'Cross my heart,' the man replied Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), 'Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.' 

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. 

He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, 'Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.' 

I believe God can do a lot with that little boy’s heart.

How about yours? How about ours together? What amazing thing can God do with our hearts?

Amen!