Let God Be God

It is Monday morning. You go to work and have some huge impossible project your boss has given you to do. When you protest or ask some question about it, your boss says, “Just make it happen.” What do you do with that?” Sometimes we do need to make it happen, but what about those times when you cannot do what you are told needs to be done?

Does God ever ask you to do something you can’t do? The answer is yes. He does it many times. In Exodus He told Moses to go before Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go. Moses protested and said, “Who am I?” Was Moses capable? No. Did Moses do it? Yes. So, what is the difference? The answer is God. God does ask us to do things we cannot do, but God will never ask us to do something He cannot do. That means the only way to negotiate life and follow God is by faith. That oftentimes looks like obedience, but the bottom line is let God be God.

A wonderful example of a man who did this is Joseph. In Genesis 50, Jacob, Joseph’s father, had died. Joseph’s brothers were afraid that Joseph would exact revenge on them for what they had done to him. When they expressed their misgivings, verse 19 says, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” That is a good question. Quite frankly, it is a rhetorical question. No, Joseph could not be in the place of God. He could try, but he could not do it. He did not know what God knows or have the power that God has. Really, it is more than a rhetorical question; it is a statement. “I am not in the place of God.”

Think about how serene Joseph was. He had been lied about, imprisoned, made a slave. There were so many injustices, yet Joseph is the least anxious, least aggravated person in this story. His brothers are concerned that Joseph is going to take revenge, and Joseph says, “I am not God.” Let God be God.

In Genesis 40 when Joseph had a dream that no one could interpret, Joseph didn’t say, “I can interpret the dream.” He said, “Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.” Well, why tell Joseph if God is the one? It is because God had a part and Joseph had a part. The same is true in your life. That is a contrast to Pharaoh. Many a Pharaoh thought he was God and was revered as God. Can you imagine how hard it would be to be God if you are not God? The only person for whom being God is not an impossibility is God Himself. For Pharaoh, a man, to think that he is God, he would have to eggshell his life. He couldn’t show any weakness, mistake, or frailty or the jig would be up. God doesn’t have to worry about such things. Let God be God. That is exactly what Joseph did.

First, let God be God in your past. In verse 20 Joseph says to his brothers, “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.” God took care of Joseph and God would take care of his brothers. I don’t know what judgments may have been visited upon his brothers. Joseph wasn’t saying, “I hope you get it!” Instead, he had a placidity, calm, and peace that came because he gave his brothers to God. Joseph continues in verse 21, “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” What a relief to give your past to God. Confess sin and leave those who have wronged you to God. Let God be God. Only He can resolve the issues in the past that we cannot.

Second, let God be God in your future. In verse 24 Joseph says to his brothers, “I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Verse 25 says, “God will surely visit you.” This is surety and confidence. It continues, “And ye shall carry up my bones from hence.” It would be hundreds of years, but Joseph knew what was going to happen because God had made a promise. Hebrews 11:22 says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.” Joseph knew because Joseph trusted God. So, your future is in God’s hands.

Exodus 1:8 says, “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” There came a time when Joseph didn’t empower because Joseph was dead and his family did not have power. Things had changed. There was a Pharaoh in power who didn’t even know Joseph. But this story is not about Joseph, nor is it about Israel, Jacob, or Abraham. It is about God and His working through flawed people as they lived in faith and accomplished God’s purpose.

Do what you should and God will do what you can’t. You strain your imagination when you say, “Can I do this thing?” You expand what is possible when you ask, “Should I do this thing?” Should can do things that can never could. The question is not, “Can I do it?” but “Should I do it?” What if you should do something you can’t do? That is called faith. Let God be God in your past and in your future. Do what you should and God will do what you can’t.

This story is God’s story. It is not the story of a nation, a man, or patriarchs. It is a story of God’s unfolding promise to provide a Savior to the world through the seed of Abraham. It is God’s story regarding God’s promise and God’s plan. That requires God’s providence, His providing, looking ahead and knowing what no person could. God is capable. He knows what I don’t and can do what I can’t. He has a love that I could never fabricate. Life is so much better when you just let God be God.