The destruction of bitterness — Joseph, Jenga, and Romans 8:28

From a sermon · Romans 8:28–32; Genesis 50:14–21

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

As the called of God, He works the things in our lives out for good. So the first question is, are you the called of God? If you've been saved, God has a predetermined plan for you — to make you like Jesus. And if God is for you and is working everything out, the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, then who can be against you?

Here's a second question. Are you happy with your life? I understand no one's perfect and we all have room to grow. But are you happy with where God has you — your spouse, your children, your job, your home? There's so much to be thankful for. And bitterness is what happens when we stop being thankful for the parts we didn't choose.

Joseph

Walk through his life. God gives him dreams about his family bowing to him. His brothers hate him for it. He's his dad's favorite (which has its pros and cons — I'd know). His brothers want to kill him and settle for selling him as a slave. He ends up in Egypt — no language, no culture, no friends, and no freedom. He does good work for Potiphar and gets falsely accused of a wicked sin. He goes to prison. He helps two men who get back into power and forget about him. Eventually he gets his chance before Pharaoh, and he's made second in command of the world's superpower. He steers Egypt through a fourteen-year plan and a devastating famine. He marries, has children, prospers.

Then his brothers show up needing food. He tests them, reveals himself, feeds them, and moves the whole family to Egypt. Years later their father dies, and the brothers panic — surely now Joseph will take his revenge. They send a message begging forgiveness and fall down before him. "Joseph said unto them, 'Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive'" (Genesis 50:19–20). It's the Old Testament's Romans 8:28.

Joseph understood that God had used everything in his life to bring about a good thing. And he treated his brothers well. He could have had them killed, enslaved, tortured — he was second in command. He fed them and their children instead.

What piece can you take out?

Try removing one piece from Joseph's story and keeping the ending. If his brothers don't hate him, how does he get sold? If he isn't sold, how does he get to Egypt? If he isn't falsely accused, how does he get to prison? If he isn't in prison, how does he meet the cupbearer? If he doesn't meet the cupbearer, how does he get before Pharaoh? If the cupbearer had remembered him sooner, would he have been there at the right moment to interpret the dream? If he doesn't interpret it, how does he become second in command? If he isn't second in command, how does he handle the famine? If he doesn't handle the famine, how does Israel eat? If Israel doesn't eat, how does Israel survive? And if Israel doesn't survive, how does Jesus come from the line of Israel?

Think of a Jenga tower. Our lives are like that. Some are harder than others, but each of us has things in our story that made us who we are and brought us to where we are. God uses those things for good — and we can keep Him from working good out of bad situations by getting bitter about them.

So what part of your story can you pull out and still end up where you are today? Where you were born. Your salvation. Your family — Christian or not. Being adopted. Your schooling. Neglect. Sports. Being bullied. Church. Marriage. Children. Divorce. A job. College. Friends. Betrayal. Rebellion. Jesus. What piece can you take out and still have your life?

His thoughts toward you

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee" (Psalm 139:17–18). The old songs get it right: "Though I've had my share of hard times, I wouldn't change them if I could — 'cause through it all, God's been good." And the newer one: "What if Your blessings come through raindrops, what if Your healing comes through tears... what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?"

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:2–4).

Let God work things out for good in your life. Don't hinder that work with bitterness.

The piece you'd pull

Some of you looked at that stack and found the piece you'd rip out no matter what came down with it. The betrayal. The divorce. The one who was supposed to protect you. I'm not going to pretend the verse feels good yet. But notice who it's written to. Those who love God, the called. If you've never been His, the promise isn't yours to stand on, and no amount of gritting your teeth will make it yours. It comes one way. Jesus took your sin, died with it, rose without it, and He saves everybody who comes to Him and quits trying to save himself. Come today. Then all things starts working.

If you're already His, you know the name. You've probably known it since the second paragraph. This week, say that name out loud to God and tell Him you're done holding it, and then do the small thing you've been avoiding. The text. The call. Showing up. Bitterness dies in specifics. It lives forever on vague.

Related: Romans 8:28–39 — if God is for us and James 1 — count it all joy.