Let's apply this story to our own lives:
Like what Joseph’s brothers did to Joseph, our sin is evil done to God.
And what would it be like to stand in front of this holy God while we are covered in the filth and mire of our sin, especially considering He has the power to destroy us forever?
Yet, wonder of all wonders, Jesus speaks these words to us:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30). We who have pushed him away in our sin are invited to come near to Him and find rest in Him.
He says to us what Joseph said to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).
When the nation of Israel, the brothers of Jesus, put Jesus on the cross they intended to harm Him. But God meant it for good to accomplish the saving of many lives.
Turn just now, friend, to the cross; do you see Jesus hanging there? Evil people put Him there, yet God intended it for good. Jesus is hanging there in punishment for your sin, receiving all the hatred of a holy God against sin so that you can receive forgiveness and all the love of God.
The sin of Joseph’s brothers brought them grace. The sin of the nation of Israel in crucifying Christ brought them grace. Our sin, likewise, is designed to bring us grace. Do you see that?
Yes, God has bound everyone over to disobedience, that He might have mercy on them all. Yes, where sin increases, grace increases all the more.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us. We can’t earn it; it is a gift. And when we receive God’s grace it saves us, then it sanctifies (changes) us (see Titus 2:11-12).
Some people who read through this lesson might say “well if my slavery to sin brings me grace, I’ll just keep sinning to get more grace.”
This attitude shows a lack of understanding of what grace does. Paul anticipates this type of reasoning, and asks the question: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" (Romans 6:1) Then he answers his own question: "By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? "(Romans 6:2).
As Ephesians 2:8-9 shows us, grace saves us from sin, and as Titus 2:11-12 shows, grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. That’s the power of God’s grace! No will-power, no vows to change or promises to do better will ever accomplish what God’s grace alone does.
And that’s why God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He might have mercy (grace) on us all.