God Meant it for Good: Genesis 50:15-20

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28, NASB).

First, it was Donald Trump the president of the United States. According to many people the country was in a terrible state heading in the wrong direction. The president was unstable, a liar, a racist with policies that favored the rich and abused the middle class and the poor. He was the Antichrist sent straight from the devil. Before the term of the president was completed the world was struck with the coronavirus, COVID-19. It was an unknown virus that was one of the most deadly viruses to ever hit planet earth. It too was sent by the devil. The first devil, president Trump caused hundreds of thousands to die from the virus because he did not respond the way that he should. Since March 2020 the world has been battling this virus that has seriously disrupted the lives of millions of people. Who caused it? You just read it. It was the devil working in his evil president and through his sent virus. So, now we are struggling to get things back to normal.

There is a lot of debate about what should be done and what ought not to be done so that things can return to normal. Frankly, I do not know what people mean when they say “back to normal.” There is one thing that I have noticed. People say that the devil caused these problems, but I don’t hear many people saying that God can fix these problems. This is unfortunately because the Christian community should not be taking sides with the various political and special interest groups. Rather, the church should be declaring that regardless of what happens God is in control. Even when evil was intended, God meant it for God.

That God meant it for good is a declaration of the providence of God. The word “providence” means that God manages and directs activity in the world. This means that whether we believe something is caused by the devil or God, God directs and manages and directs everything for the good of those that are called according to His purpose. The scriptures have many examples of God’s providence. God controls the weather (Job 37:11-13). God controls the lions so that instead of them destroying Daniel they lie down and go to sleep (Dan. 6:16-23). I have a personal affinity for the story of Joseph the son of Jacob (Gen. 37-50 except chap. 38).

The story of Joseph is an interesting and entertaining drama. Twelve chapters tell the story of the main character. It gives a lot of details about the highs and lows of the young man Joseph. Ultimately, its purpose is to show us how God uses a despised brother to save Egypt, the surrounding nations, and his family from starving. The story tells us how God allows Joseph to suffer so that his family will be brought to Egypt, and the descendants of Jacob are made slaves in Egypt as seen in Exodus 1:1-22). The story lets us know that regardless to what is taking place in our life God meant it for good. Let us summarize Joseph’s story.

In the story, Jacob is the grandson of Abraham. He agrees with his uncle Laban to work for seven years and Laban will give his daughter Rachael to be Jacob’s wife. At the end of the seven years the trickster Jacob is tricked by uncle Laban. Laban substitutes Leah his older daughter for Rachael. Jacob agrees to work an additional seven years to marry Rachael. Joseph is the first son born to Rachael and by now Jacob is an older man. Jacob loves Joseph and shows his favoritism to Joseph by giving him a coat of many colors that signals his authority over his brothers. Joseph has a dream and tells it to his brothers along with his mother and father. The brothers are angry with Joseph. At first they debate killing him, but while they are debating what to do they see an Ishmaelite caravan comes by and they decide to sell him. When Midianite traders come by they sell him. The merchants take Joseph to Egypt where an official named Potiphar buys him. Potiphar makes Joseph the overseer of his household. Potiphar accuses Joseph of attempted rape and Joseph is put in prison. The chief jailer makes Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. In jail, Joseph interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants. Now, in the story, the writer lets the audience know that God is involved in the life of Joseph.

First, when Joseph is purchased by Potiphar, the writer says, “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man” (39:2, NASB). After Joseph is in jail the writer says, “But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer” (39:21, NASB). The writer lets us know that Joseph is promoted in Potiphar’s house and again in the jail house because God is managing and directing the activities in Joseph’s life.

The cupbearer and the baker each have a dream and Joseph interprets their dreams. He tells them that he can tell them the interpretation of their dreams. “Do not interpretations belong to God” (40:8)? The baker is sentenced to death, but the cupbearer is restored to his position. Pharaoh has two dreams and he demands that his diviners interpret their dream of be killed. The cupbearer remembers Joseph and he tells Pharaoh about Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams. Joseph interprets the dreams that mean in seven years a famine will come upon the land. Pharaoh makes Joseph second ruler in Egypt, and Joseph is in charge of directing the food program.

Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. They do not know that the Egyptian official is their brother Joseph. They are still telling the same lie that they have been telling all these years. Their brother is dead. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and sends for his father and his whole family. Jacob dies, and he is taken back to Canaan and is buried with his family. This brings us to the text for this article.

Joseph’s brothers are afraid that Joseph will seek revenge because of what they have done to him. They send messengers to Joseph asking for mercy. Then they come themselves and ask for mercy. They bowed before him just as it was seen in Joseph’s dream. “Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants” (50:18). Joseph assures his brothers that they do not need to fear him. He will do them no harm. Joseph has had good experiences and bad experiences. Joseph never has a victim’s attitude about what is taking place in his life. No doubt, Joseph struggles with his emotions, anger, separation from family and home, rejection, loneliness, and many others. Yet, Joseph is able to have a positive attitude in all circumstances. How did he do this? Let Joseph tell you in the words that he said to his brothers that are knelling before him. “Do not be afraid, for I am in God’s place? As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (50:19-20).

Are you struggling with the events in your life? Are you overwhelmed with fear? If you believe in God you have no need to worry. Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6, NASB). We can be confident that we will be able to endure through every situation that we are faced with. God meant it for good. Paul writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6, NASB). We can be confident that we will be able to endure through every situation that we are faced with. God meant it for good.