God Meant it for Good

I find the life and character of Joseph son of Israel in scripture inspiring.  What I find more amazing than God's divine favour to promote him from imprisoned slave to second in command of all Egypt is the heart of love and forgiveness he showed towards his brothers who hated him and caused him great suffering.  The faith in God Joseph demonstrated when addressing his painful past was a gift from God he received with relish.  When he had the power to punish and persecute his brothers for their transgressions and remain bitter, his contrite heart remained humble before God and men.

After Israel died, the brothers of Joseph suspected he was like them after they had been wronged:  murderous, vengeful, bitter, and held grudges.  They made up a story about what their father supposedly said to them concerning Joseph, that he ought to forgive them for their sins against him.  They played on his raw emotions, and with a desire to turn away any thought of vengeance they brought out the "God" card:  "forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy Father."  At these words Joseph wept.  Genesis 50:19-20 records his response:  "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."

Joseph had the power to do unto his brothers as they had done unto him, but the impact of Joseph's faith in God and fear of God was far more powerful.  He did not deny his brothers did evil unto him.  His focus, however, was not on his painful past or years of feeling abandoned but upon His good God who meant all his suffering for good.  With eyes of faith he was able to perceive God's hand upon him working for ultimate good and the salvation God wrought through him.  Joseph's brothers wronged him in the past and suspicion caused them to wrong him with deceit and lies, yet Joseph humbled himself before God.  Joseph viewed the good God did as greater than all the wrongs his brothers did.  Should he have entertained suspicion of his brother's deceptions it would have been confirmed:  what then?  Would stewing or lashing out in revenge cleanse his heart of bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness?  No.

I am convinced the work God does in a person can be as great and even greater than the work He does through that person.  The God who made man out of the dust of the ground can do everything, and all He does is marvelous beyond reckoning.  So often we are motivated to tolerate or forgive others because of the vain hope of people changing for the better, but it is God who washes away our sin, heals our broken hearts, and opens our eyes to perceive His redemptive purposes in everything.  Don't allow the pains of the past to blind you to the goodness of God, for even things meant for evil against us God means for good.  May enduring humility, grace, and fear of God demonstrated by Joseph be evident in my life and in all God's people.