The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Joseph's brothers

Evangelical Universalism Arguments for Evangelical Universalism
#1

Philip Macdonald on the thread on predestination wrote about what Joseph said: “what you meant for evil God meant for good.”

this made me think of something. Joseph’s brothers betrayed and sold him off into slavery. Joseph was a type of Christ, a picture of the future plan. thus Joseph’s brothers and the Egyptians that further mistreated Joseph were symbols of the Hebrews AND the Gentiles.

there was a famine which threatened everyone in the area, and Joseph’s planning meant there was food for everyone that came. everyone DID come, and all benefited from this.

the point i think i’m seeing here is that no one had a choice…it was go to Joseph for food or starve. Joseph’s wicked brothers came, and he forgave them…they had no choice in the matter, they appealed, they expected to be judged and executed, and he showed mercy.

i think this is indicative of a universal restoration. everyone will come to Jesus, expecting judgement, but will be met with grace, forgiveness and lots of food!

#2

amen

#3

Yes, Amen, Amen

#4

I’d never thought of that. Thank you Corpselight.

#5

Nice, corpselight! It fits very well – the children of Israel reject him who belongs to them, the Gentiles treat him badly, yet afterwards raise him to a position of kingship, lastly Israel returns repentant and are welcomed and forgiven.

Sonia

#6

i like how the brothers’ attitudes may or may not have actually been repentant…they were going to starve otherwise, i think they were scared…a few were sorry if i remember properly, but it was only after the reconciliation that their love for their brother was there.

same with the Prodigal Son. he returned because he was starving and wretched, and even a servant in his father’s house had a better life…he didn’t return with love in his mind, merely survival. he was humble enough to admit he was wrong, but it took awful circumstances away from his father to force him to overcome his pride and return. these scenarios don’t make me think of change for the right reasons, but change because there is no other choice…
and then when they return, they are welcomed and cleaned and forgiven. a feast is given in their honour…they were dead, and now they’re alive.
alot of parallels between the two scenarios, and neither even HINTS that anyone would or could be excluded from this.

#7

Sweet. I had thought of something along these lines, but hadn’t formulated the idea clearly!

This is a great example of the stuff you start to see when God opens your eyes to the truth of UR.

#8

Amen Corpse and the other posts on this topic!

It seems whenever God came upon my life it was when I was at the end of myself (famine or eatlng the slop so to speak).The First time was when I was sixteen and my life was falling apart, and I found God for the first time ever. 13 years later I fell back into the pit, for 11 more years until a few months ago when God restored my faith powerfully via the understanding of UR.

Did I turn to God because of my circumstance each time, or was it him that came upon my life each time?

Jesus tells the 3 parables about the heart of the forgiving God. The lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son. In only the Prodigal son story do we see man initiating the return to God. Just as seen in the Joseph story. But in the lost sheep and the coin we see its all God initiating it. So which is it??? I believe it is God, he is in control of the story of our lives to bring us into the Love and Heart of God. I just think sometimes in scripture, God allows us to see what it looks like from Man’s point of view :slight_smile: Jesus said “No one comes to me unless the father draws him”. It’s all in his perfect timing in the lives of all. We are all the workmanship of God. He creates us and then when ready draws us to him to reveal his amazing Love for us!