God Redeems Evil for Good

"Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

Genesis 50:19-21

Joseph is one of many awesome biblical examples of one who chose to place his faith in God.  No one could say he had it easy.  The preferential treatment he received from his father ostracised him from his ten older brothers.  Their envy gave birth to fierce hatred.  When Joseph went to check on his brothers at his father's command, they stripped him of his coat and sold him into a life of slavery.  After catching the eye of his master's wife, Joseph ran from her sexual advances.  He was then thrown into prison for attempted rape and assault!  Life for Joseph was rough.  But God was with him even in prison.  Two years later not only was he released, but promoted by Pharaoh to second in command of all Egypt.

Many books and movies today revel and glory in "sweet revenge."  "The Princess Bride," "Gladiator," "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "Law Abiding Citizen" come to mind.  I have myself relished the moments when the good guy slowly plots his revenge on the one who has hurt him so deeply, robbing him of all he loved.  The lives of the protagonists are utterly consumed in trying to pay people back who have done them wrong.  Joseph had a perfect opportunity to do just that.  He had gone from being a favoured son to being slave and a prisoner.  Then the big day came when he was made a powerful prince with the authority of a king in his realm.  When his brothers came before him begging to buy bread, he could have made them to suffer.  Joseph had them completely under his control.  He could have made them squirm and beg for mercy.  The movies would have had Joseph gloating secretly as he plotted an intricate trap to painfully, slowly, kill each person who hurt him.  But that couldn't be further from the truth!

The brothers of Joseph were afraid that he would snap his fingers and make them pay for their great sins with their lives.  Under the guise of speaking for their late father they said, "Please forgive your brothers for the hurtful things they did to you."  Joseph said in so many words, "God forbid!  You did great evil to me but God meant it for good.  You hated me and sought to hurt me, but God used it to save countless people."  Verse 21 says, "Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."  Instead of using his position and authority for revenge, Joseph used it to bless, comfort, and provide for his brothers and even their children!  This Christ-like love only comes from God.  It is not of this world.  What faith in God Joseph had, knowing that even in brutal circumstances God had plans to use them for good.

Many people cannot accept this word.  There are also some who refuse to receive God's love and grace.  It is only those who have placed their trust in God who can affirm the words of Romans 8:28 as unshakable truth:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Our God is a redeeming God.  Notice that there is a condition attached to all things working together for good:  it is for those who are God's.  Christians need not flippantly throw around the phrase "Everything happens for a reason" when we can say "I KNOW God makes all things work together for good" even in the midst of a trial.  We can see this proved true in both the life of Joseph and Jesus Christ among others.  Evil men falsely accused Jesus and sent Him to the death of the cross out of envy.  Being beaten, whipped, mocked, humiliated, and crucified was a very bad thing.  Yet what they meant for evil God meant for God.  Through the death of the perfect Lamb of God and His resurrection after three days God made a way for every sinner to be saved from death and given eternal life.

Jesus is our risen King.  He speaks kind words of comfort to us, even to those who have sinned against Him:  "Do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones."  It is His perfect love that casts out all fear.  What an example these men of faith provide for us!  Our so-called heroes and heroines in movies are often cast in the place of God, dishing out vengeance and judgment.  It should not be so for us.  Vengeance is the LORD's:  He will repay.  Let us thank our Saviour through freely forgiving even as we have been forgiven, offering comfort and kindness even in the face of evil.  What Satan means for evil God means for good.  We can comprehend this only through faith with our eyes focused upon our Redeemer!