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 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)

KEPT SAFE AND PROTECTED FROM HARM FOREVER

Proclamation:

“You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked …”  Psalm 12:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  He begins by talking of a time when there appear to be no godly men.  He appeals to The Lord God for help because he feels alone and that all of the faithful men have gone through death or desertion.  Only the corrupt men remain who would lie and plot against or take advantage of their fellow man.  Then he prays or prophecies that The Lord God would put an end to all such men. (Psalm 12:3)  In contrast to the vanity and lies spoken by man, (Psalm 12:2) the words of God are true and pure. (Psalm 12:6)  The people of God, who are always in need either spiritually or physically, will be protected by The Lord and kept safe from the wicked who will boldly exalt their own.

Application:

We live in a time when the wicked are prosperous and occupy positions of authority.  True God fearing leaders are hard to find.  Corruption and deception abound in governments, institutions, and in leadership at all levels.  However, believers are not to worry about, be envious of, or try to imitate those evil doers for they will soon be cut down. (Psalm 37:1-2)  We are to trust in The Lord and not depend upon our own limited understanding and abilities. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  The only safe place for us is in the hands of The Lord.  For not only is there safety in His hands, no one can take us out of His hands. (John 10:29)  During the reign of the wicked, only The Lord God can give us the safety and protection that we yearn for. (Psalm 12:5)  

FEAR NOT

Proclamation:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Explanation:

These are the words of The Lord God as written by the prophet Isaiah under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Isaiah, the greatest of all of the prophets, wanted the people of God to know that The Lord God said that He would be with them and that He would protect them. (Isaiah 41:11-12)  God also said that He would provide for them. (Isaiah 41:18-19)  He was with them in the past, He was with them at that moment, and He would be with them in the future. (Isaiah 41:9)  God said that He would take care of them and help them. (Isaiah 41:13)  

Application

The prophet Isaiah was telling the people of Israel of God's promised help, but as a believer and a child of God that promise applies to us today also.  We are commanded not to be afraid and not to be dismayed or discouraged.  Our God promised to strengthen us in our weakness, to help us when we are overwhelmed, to protect us when we are attacked, and to lift us up when we are down by holding us in His hand.  Bad things can happen to good people.  You can lose your job, develop a serious illness, or a loved one can die.  These things, and others like them, can test our faith in God.  However, all we have to do is to trust Him and believe in Him.  Our God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present.  He is an all-sufficient God and He can help us even in the worst of times and situations.  Fear not, for God can control our enemies and our circumstances.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalms 46:1)

WE ARE IN GOD'S HANDS

Proclamation:

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.  I and The Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He answered the Jews who had gathered around Him in the temple courtyard when they asked Him if He was The Messiah.   Jesus told them that they did not believe Him because they were not His followers. (John 10:25-26)  After He said that He and God, The Father, were one, they picked up stones in order to stone Him for claiming to be God.

Application:

There is safety for us by being in God and having God in us.  We may feel the ill wind as it blows past us, but we still have God's protection constantly.  Once we are in the hand of God we are protected and no one can take us out of His hand.  No matter what is happening in our life, once we are in God's hand, no real harm can come to us.  God’s permissive will may allow for us to be tested by the devil but no real harm will happen.  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)  So when the storms of life are raging, don't worry, God's got us.