God Meant It for Good

Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10 Throughout our lives circumstances and situations occur that we just do not understand. For example, I have been praying this week for two dear saints of the Lord who have been stricken with cancer. They both love the Lord with all of their hearts, and yet they are facing a severe test of faith. Why would God allow such a thing to occur? I often see how we blame God for our troubles, but we have to remember the “trouble maker” is not God. The “trouble maker” is Satan, and his plan is to destroy us. God’s plan is to give us life and give it to us more abundantly. My husband had two heart attacks, and during that time, he held on to the scripture in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (KJV).

Joseph did not have this verse of Scripture to hold on to when he went through many severe testings of his faith. He was almost murdered by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused falsely and imprisoned, yet Joseph never became bitter. He only became better. In this passage we see how afraid his brothers are because now their father was dead and they expected Joseph to seek retribution for their sin against him. After all, they were the ones who sold him into slavery and started his cycle of suffering. Some of the most amazing words in the Bible are recorded as Joseph talks with his brothers: “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 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. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them” (Gen. 50:19-21, KJV).

Joseph knew his place, and he knew God’s place. It was not his place to bring retribution upon his brothers. He released all judgment of them to God. He forgave them, and he even encouraged them and promised to nourish and take care of them the rest of their lives. Joseph understood the sovereignty of God. He knew as long as he was faithful to God and loved God with all of his heart, God would ultimately work everything for good in his life. Joseph knew this in his spirit, but we have an advantage over Joseph. This revelation that God works everything for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose is clearly written by Paul to us in Romans 8:28. If we love God with all of our hearts and know we are walking in the calling of God, we can have the deep assurance that whatever trial we face in this life, God’s ultimate plan is to work it for good in our lives.

READ: Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6