December 23
DebDay 284: Promises Fulfilled
Genesis 43-45 tells us the story of Joseph revealing his identity to his brothers; the same brothers who had sold him into slavery in Egypt in the first place. It's a sweet story.
But not without some intrigue. Joseph pulls some sleight of hand moves on his brothers, involving money and a silver cup. He takes some time to mess with them a bit.
Joseph has a purpose in all this. He's waiting for something that sounds like a confession.
The confession does come. From his brother Judah. Then, and only then does Joseph reveal himself to his brothers, and makes bountiful provision for his father's entire family by relocating them to Egypt.
The brothers' fear changed in response to Joseph's grace toward them. It became a holy reverence, instead of an overshadowing dread. Joseph gave them reason (aside from not throwing them into the prison he once inhabited himself, of course.)
He tells them that God had sent him "on ahead" to Egypt to preserve life. A verse or two later, Joseph clarifies what he just said by saying he was sent ahead to "preserve for you a remnant on earth."
This is partial promise fulfillment. God (through Joseph) was preserving life, because He was preserving His promises to Joseph's great grandfather, grandfather and father.
And this is partial promise fulfillment, because God always reserves for Himself a remnant. A "remnant" is a piece of something; not necessarily the whole thing. And we know this to be true. God does not save everybody. But He does save some.
Is this not a picture of God toward us? The story of Joseph in Genesis is intended to be a picture of something. A "partial fulfillment" does not mean faulty or incomplete. It means, instead, to be a foreshadowing, a preview, a visual aid.
God is as God is. And God does as God does. He protects and fulfills His promises. And these promises He extends toward people who do not deserve to be His people. This is grace.
And not unlike Joseph's brothers, we also, we who constitute the continuing remnant, the Church, have experienced a change in how we respond to God. It has become for us a holy reverence, instead of an overshadowing dread. But like the brothers, we also have to first confess our sins against the Sovereign.
Because God has granted to us forgiveness. And a new access to Him. No longer prisoners of our own deserved fate, but as His children, recipients of His imaginable grace.
So now, in addition to seeing God's greatness, we're also now able to see God's goodness. A view reserved for His remnant. A remnant to be the recipients of His promises fulfilled.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church Juneau
