THEY MEANT IT FOR EVIL BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD

PROCLAMATION

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones.  And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”  Genesis 50:20-21 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After the death of his father Israel, Joseph directed the physicians to embalm him, a process which took forty days.  Joseph mourned his father for seventy days then he asked permission of Pharaoh to bury his father in Canaan according to his dying wish. (Genesis 50:1-5)  Joseph and his brothers and his servants were accompanied to Canaan by all of Pharaoh’s officials with chariots and horsemen. (Genesis 50:6-9)  After burying his father Joseph returned to Egypt.  His brothers were worried that he would mistreat them for what they had done to him, now that their father was dead.  So they sent word to Joseph that their father left instructions before he died that Joseph should forgive his brothers of their sins against him.  When Joseph heard this, he wept. (Genesis 50:15-17)  His brothers came to him and threw themselves at his feet and said that they were his slaves.  He told them not to be afraid.  What they did to him was meant to harm him, but The Lord God meant it for good.  God used it to put him in a position to save the lives of many people, and he was put in a position to provide for them and their families. (Genesis 50:18-21)  Joseph stayed in Egypt and lived to be one hundred and ten years old.  Before he died, he made his brothers promise to carry his bones out of Egypt when God led them into the promised land. (Genesis 50:22-26)

 

APPLICATION

Some people, including family members and “so-called-friends,” will do things to us which are meant to do wrong to us.  The things that they meant to harm us, The Good Lord can use to our benefit and for our good. (Genesis 50:20)  Remember, The Bible says, “… All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  Nothing that is formed against us shall prevail, and every lie which is told on us shall be refuted. (Isaiah 54:17)  We are protected by God because we are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)  So, fear not, we belong to Him and we are in His hands, and not one can take us out of His hand. (John 10:29)