Devotionals
Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Joseph's life had not been easy. His brothers hated him and threw him in a pit, sold him as a slave and then pretended that he had been killed (Genesis 37:12-28). He was taken to Egypt where, after a time of prosperity, he was falsely accused of fooling around with his master's wife and thrown into prison (Genesis 39) before a chain of events made him an honoured figure in Pharaoh's court.
When Joseph and his brothers were reunited you would expect he would have been sour with his siblings. In fact, they expected him to be angry with them (Genesis 50:15).
Instead, as the verse quoted expresses, Joseph recognised that the events, including the evil actions of his brothers, all worked together to achieve the purpose intended by God. Three times in Genesis 45 (verses 5, 7 & 8) Joseph tells his brothers that, despite what they might think, they didn't send him to Egypt - God did!
Joseph has a wonderful perspective on the experiences of his life. He was perhaps fortunate to be able to recognise clearly what God's purposes were in leading him through his negative experiences.
We do not always benefit from the same clarity and are obliged to rest on promises like, "the LORD will fulfil his purpose for me,” (Psalm 138:8). Or the memorable verse which says, "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Three final observations:
Firstly, this notion of the sovereignty of God is not an academic debate. There is comfort in the confidence that, regardless of our experiences, God is determined to achieve his purposes in, and through us.
Secondly, it's helpful to observe that this perspective of God empowers Joseph to forgive and show favour to those who had done him wrong. This is a very rare cure for bitterness in the human heart.
Third, note that Joseph understands that God’s purpose is not for his personal comfort but for the care of others. He says that God intended, "to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." We should expect a similar priority.
If we find all this difficult to comprehend (and we will) we can say along with Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)
Copyright Adam Bennett 2008. Additional articles and devotions are available at http://godward-thoughts.blogspot.com/
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