"You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." – Genesis 50:20
One of my favorite characters in the Bible is Joseph. He was a man of tremendous spiritual strength.
He endured problems with his parents, an attempt on his life by his brothers, a false arrest for rape and 13 years in a prison for the crime he did not commit. But when he was released from prison, he was given a position of prominence in the king’s palace. From his parents, to the pit, to Potipher’s place, to prison, but then on to the palace.
And at no point in his life does Joseph seek revenge against those who harmed, hurt or harassed him. Instead, he uses his trials and tests as accomplishments. What a perspective!
Even at a point when he is at his emotional lowest — the death of his father — Joseph does not use his moment of grief as an incentive to get even with his brothers who tried to kill him.
His brothers felt at that point that because they had been evil to him, he would be cruel, too. But he assured them, even at that critical moment, of his merciful forgiveness of them.
The one major lesson for Joseph was, and remains for us is this: When God has a plan for your life, the path may be rugged but, in the end, the manifestation of God’s purpose will bring Him glory and blessings for you.
God will probably not use the events of our lives to accomplish such amazing things in our own lives. It is not likely that He will use the trials and tragedies we face to save nations and accomplish His redemptive plan. However, we can be sure of one thing: As we pass through this life, we can count on the fact that every valley and every victory is a part of His perfect plan for us and that He will use them all for our good and for His glory.
How does God use our problems to bring us to His place? Well, we learn how he directs us, how He discerns us, how He defends us and how He develops us.
We can say, like Joseph, “You thought you had killed me but God brought me back.”
Another way of saying that is: “Although you talked about me, lied on me and you said I would never, ever, amount to anything, I am blessed to bless.”
I call it recycled evil.
It turned out all right for Joseph, so, remember, no matter what kind of pit you are in now, God has a perfect plan and a prepared place for you.
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