God Is Good

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen.
Genesis 43:17–18

After selling him into slavery, no wonder Joseph’s brothers were afraid when he called for them. “Oh, no!” they said. “He’s calling us to his table because he wants to send us away as prisoners.”

People still have this view of the greater than Joseph, Jesus Christ. People still say, “I’ve blown it so badly; I’ve erred so greatly; I know the Lord will yell at me and imprison me if I even come near His house.”

Not true! Even though these guys had sinned greatly, they will discover incredible grace and unbelievable mercy because Joseph is a picture of Jesus. And where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more (Romans 5:20). When you are aware of your failings, your weaknesses, your inconsistencies, your stubbornness, rebellion, and sin, there’s a tendency to say, “I can’t go to church because I know Jesus is mad at me. If I go, I’ll be bound with rules and regulations; I’ll be sent away to the prison of condemnation.”

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8–9

Through Isaiah, God says, “When someone offends you, is mean or nasty to you, I know that your ways and your thoughts center on one thing: revenge. But I don’t think like you do. Therefore, I don’t work like you do.”

We need to realize how much different the Lord is from how we are in our fallen condition, in our depraved nature. “God is good,” declares the psalmist (Psalm 73:1). He’s just flat out, plain old good. He looks for ways not to blast, but to bless.

(Borrowed from Pastor Jon Courson)