God’s Providence

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.  Genesis 50:20

Joseph is the one who uttered these words to his brothers.  If you haven’t read the story of Joseph, it is a must read!  It is told in Genesis chapters 37-50.  The general plot is this: Joseph was one of twelve sons of Jacob.  Jacob’s tree is the family line that Jesus comes through.  Joseph’s brothers didn’t like him and sold him to slave traders from Egypt. Despite the bad set of circumstances, Joseph had dreams from God that kept him trusting that there was somehow a plan.

He ended up being put in prison unjustly.  While there Joseph interpreted some very important dreams.  When he interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams about times of plenty followed by times of famine, Joseph was placed as second in command of all Egypt.

When famine struck, his brothers came to Egypt asking for food.  The same guys that wanted to kill Joseph and seemingly wrecked his life were asking for a favor.  Once Joseph revealed who he was, they were no doubt thinking they were in for pay back once their father Jacob died.  In Genesis 50:20 Jacob is dead and they think trouble is ahead.

Then Joseph speaks these profound words of forgiveness and trust in God’s providence: you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.  He used it to save your lives, and our whole family’s lives.  Joseph must have had words from God to lead him to this conclusion and not be bent on revenge.

There are so many ways this truth of God’s providence applies to our lives.  God does have a plan that He is working out for each of us.  We don’t have to resort to a victim mentality or give up on God when things don’t make sense.  Hold on.  God is good and He loves those He calls and adopts as His children.  That’s us.  That’s you.  Take hope in that today.  Trust God, obey Him and regardless, follow His footsteps in the dark.