God’s Sovereign Hand In The Future Of His People

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God’s Sovereign Hand In The Future Of His People

Genesis 49

Speaker: Pastor
Series:

God’s Perfect Plan Through Imperfect People: Lessons from Jacob’s Final Words

Have you ever felt like your past mistakes disqualify you from being used by God? Or perhaps you’ve wondered how your seemingly ordinary life fits into God’s Perfect Plan? As we explore Genesis 49 and Jacob’s final words to his sons, we discover a profound truth: God’s sovereign plan unfolds through imperfect people, using our flaws and failures to accomplish His purposes.

The Chess Master’s Strategy

Imagine a chess grandmaster playing against a beginner. While the novice reacts to each move, the master is thinking “5, 10, 15, even 20 moves ahead down the board.” In a far greater way, God’s Perfect Plan isn’t simply reacting to the moves of history or the events in our lives. As we see in Jacob’s prophetic words to his sons, God has “already written the story of redemption.”

This truth should give us confidence. As I often remind our congregation, “Because God is sovereign and because God has a plan for us, we should live with confidence in God’s Perfect Plan and providence.” We don’t need to worry or be anxious about the future – God’s got it under control.

God Uses Flawed People

As we look at Jacob’s words to his sons, we see a recurring theme: God doesn’t rely on perfect people to accomplish His purposes within God’s Perfect Plan. Let’s consider a few examples:

1. Reuben: The Unstable Firstborn

Jacob says to Reuben, “Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence” (Genesis 49:4). Why? Because Reuben had slept with his father’s concubine, a grave act of rebellion. Yet despite this failure, God still preserved Reuben’s tribe within Israel.

2. Simeon and Levi: The Violent Brothers

Jacob condemns their anger, saying, “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel” (Genesis 49:7). Their violent actions led to consequences, but God in His mercy still used them. The Levites, in particular, were later redeemed for priestly service.

3. Judah: The Unlikely Chosen

Despite Judah’s own failures (remember the story with Tamar?), God chose his line for the coming Messiah. Jacob prophesies, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him” (Genesis 49:10).

These examples remind us that “no failure, no sin that we could commit is above God’s ability to redeem us.” While sin has consequences, it “doesn’t cancel or stop God’s ability to use us in his redemptive work.”

The Promise of the Messiah

Jacob’s words to Judah point to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan in Jesus Christ. The imagery of abundance and victory finds its true realization in “the Lion of Judah, the savior of the world.” As Christians, this gives us “unshakable hope in the promise of the returning king who is going to come and who’s going to wipe away every tear.”

God’s Unique Plan for Each Life

As Jacob continues to speak over his sons, we see that God has a distinct role for each of them. Some, like Zebulun, would be involved in commerce. Others, like Gad, would face challenges but overcome. Joseph receives abundant blessings, while Benjamin is described as a fierce warrior.

This diversity reminds us that “not every believer has the same role, the same gift, or the same circumstances in your life that can be used for God’s glory. Yet your life, with all its distinctiveness, fits perfectly in God’s Perfect Plan.”

Putting It Into Practice

So how do we live in light of these truths? Here are some practical steps:

  1. Live in repentance, not presumption: Remember, “God is a very gracious God. He is a loving God. But more importantly, God is a holy God.” So, align with God’s Perfect Plan through your actions.
  2. Embrace your unique role: “Use our gifts wherever God has placed us in whatever capacity to faithfully serve him.”
  3. Trust God’s sovereign hand in community: “Instead of complaining or comparing or whining to God about the gifts that he’s given you or didn’t give you… we should encourage and support one another.”
  4. Live with gratitude for God’s mercy: Be thankful “that he continues to use us, that he chooses to use us with all our junk.”
  5. Anchor your hope in Christ: Remember, “our hope is not in earthly leaders or circumstances, but in the eternal king whom God promised so long ago.”

As we reflect on Jacob’s final words, let’s be encouraged that God’s Perfect Plan is unfolding, even through our imperfections. Your life, with all its ups and downs, is part of a greater story – one that ultimately points to the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

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