Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Turning Bad into Good

“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.  OK you Bible trivia people, who spoke these words, and to whom?  (Insert Final Jeopardy tune here) If you answered Joseph, of the many-colored coat fame, speaking to his shame-filled brothers, you would be correct.

Everyone is familiar with Joseph’s tale of woe, having been sold into slavery by his brothers, but how much do you know about his time in Egypt? There is quite a bit of juicy stuff that occurs, before this verse is spoken. Refer back to Genesis, beginning in chapter 37, for the full account, but I will try to summarize for you.  Blah, blah, blah, Joe irritates his older brothers with his prophetic dreams, of them bowing down to him, so filled with jealousy they sell him.  To cover the dastardly deed, they tell dear old dad, Jacob, that a wild animal has devoured him. As the years pass, Joe rises up through the ranks in Egypt, because of his ability to interpret the  Pharaoh’s dreams.  Unbelievably, the very thing that got him into trouble with the family, became the key to his success.

Fast forward to the famine that had spread all the way to Israel. Joseph wisely predicted it from one of said dreams, and instructed Egypt to set aside crops in anticipation of it.  Desperation and hunger forced Jacob’s entire family to leave home in search of provisions in Egypt.  Unaware that this important man was their brother, they came before him on bended knee,  asking for his help; and he gave it, thus fulfilling the long ago dream.  That long ago, almost tragic, episode  was brought on by hatred and jealousy, and it could have smoldered in Joseph, justifying him, in human terms, to send his needy brethren away, but he didn‘t.  Just the opposite, he welcomed them, and provided for them.  That sure had to be God at work! Yes indeed, his brothers had meant to harm Joseph, but God took the evil deed and worked it into his good, and the saving of a nation, Israel.  Maybe some of you are feeling persecuted, wronged, oppressed, spiritually, mentally, or physically, even as you read this. Take heart,  even when you feel like you‘ve been run over by a steamroller, when we keep our focus on God, and not those “pressing” issues, or people causing them, He will reveal the good that He has intended through it all.  


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