February 27, 2005

Carlon Tschetter, Covenant Community Church, Yukon, Oklahoma

MESSAGE: “Providence Made Personal” Genesis 37:12-36

Big Idea: The details of life are in God’s hands. From the human viewpoint things may be bad. From God’s viewpoint, He is working all things for our good.

I. Review: Doctrine of Divine Providence

A. Providence is: God’s work of preserving and governing.

1. Creation = God’s originating work

2. Providence = God’s continuing work

B. Providence includes:

1. Everything – the significant and the insignificant

2. Everyone – it is personal and specific

3. Human responsibility

II. Who’s Watching Out for Joseph?

A. The Faithfulness of Joseph vs. 12-17

1. A father’s concern

2. A son’s obedience

3. The unseen hand of God

a. God’s providence extends to the free acts of man’s will

b. God’s providence extends to seemingly insignificant coincidences

B. The Treachery of the Brothers vs. 18-36

1. The brother’s hatred vs. 18-20

2. The guilty conscience of one vs. 21-22

3. The unseen hand of God vs. 23-36

a. God’s providence at times restrains the wickedness and sin of man

b. God’s providence at times allows sin to manifest itself

c. God’s providence at times permits the wickedness of man’s heart to manifest

itself to fulfill His own purpose and design.

III. APPLICATION

Our focus is on the immediate, while God’s is on the eternal.

Our knowledge is limited, while God’s is unlimited.

Our perspective is, this is “bad”, while God in His providence is working it for “good”.

God is in control; believe it and relax in His grace.