By Staff
"God intended it for good to accomplish . . . the saving of many lives." These are the words of Joseph spoken to his brothers, recorded in Genesis, chapter 50, verse 20.
More than thirty years had passed since Joseph's brothers had treated him spitefully and harshly. Joseph's words to his brothers set a pattern for all of us as we process the results of life circumstances and the actions of people who have actively harmed us.
It started back in Canaan. Joseph was seventeen years old, the eleventh son of Jacob, and highly favored by his father over his brothers (Genesis 37:3). One day when Joseph was away from his father, his brothers plotted to kill him (Genesis 37:18). Some of the brothers were opposed to murder, so they did not kill Joseph, but did sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:21, 27).
Joseph was carried away captive to Egypt, and his brothers lied to their father and said a wild animal had killed him. Joseph would have to live with the fact that he had been deeply wronged, and his brothers would have to live with the guilt of their hatred and malice toward Joseph.
Joseph was a slave, but obviously handled his situation well, and rose to a position of power and influence (Genesis 39:2-5). Once again, people and circumstances came against Joseph and he ended up wrongly accused in prison (Genesis 39:20a).
As a prisoner, Joseph once again made the best of circumstances and rose to a position of power in the prison (Genesis 39:21). After a few years in prison, God orchestrated circumstances that worked in favor of Joseph. He interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh accurately and was put second in command in the entire land of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-43).
A famine spreading over the whole country and the need for food brought Joseph's brothers before him in Egypt (Genesis 42:6-7). The tables had turned. Now Joseph had power over his brothers, but he was not consumed with bitterness toward them.
He did not seek vengeance against them. At first Joseph's brothers did not recognize Joseph, and when Joseph made himself known to them, they were filled with fear for their lives (Genesis 45:3).
When Joseph now had the upper hand and the power to hurt those who had wronged him, we see the depth of the work of the grace of God in Joseph's life, and the wisdom that God had given him.
Joseph's brothers were at his mercy, but he evidenced a perspective that was rooted in his belief that God was sovereign and in control of all events, and was working everything for His purpose and glory. Joseph said to his brothers, in Genesis, chapter 45, verse 5, "Now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."
Some of our stories may not turn out as well as Joseph's, but all of us have to process the actions of people and circumstances that hurt us. We must be like Joseph and believe that God is in control, and He is working in our lives for His purpose and glory.
By having that perspective, we can look past the people and circumstances, and trust God through anything and everything.
We must believe that what hurt us, "God intended for good," and will someday prove to advance God's kingdom and glorify Him as we respond in faith.