“God Meant it unto Good”
“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. “ – Genesis 50:20
These were some of the last words ever spoken of this great man. As Joseph stood before his brethren they fell to their knees and cried out as fear ran through their bodies. Now that their father was dead who knew how Joseph would react? Who knew how they would be treated? What comfort must have come upon them as they heard the words, “God meant it unto good!”
If anyone had a rollercoaster of a life it would have been Joseph. His life is characterized by ups and downs. The beloved son became the sold slave. The trustworthy servant became the innocent prisoner. The helpful friend became the forgotten man. Valley after valley came into this man’s life. It is during the hard times that we are faced with a decision. We can give up, either partially or fully, or we can press forward. Joseph chose to press on.
Joseph become the Prime Minister of Egypt, quite possibly the second most powerful man in the entire world. He could look back over his life and realize that the things he went through allowed him to become the man that he was that day. He was despised by his brethren but “God meant it unto good.” He was sold as a slave but “God meant it unto good.” He was falsely accused but “God meant it unto good.” He became a prisoner but “God meant it unto good.” He was forgotten by man but “God meant it unto good.” We must not quit when things don’t go our way. We must allow God to work in our lives.
Isaiah 55:9 says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God is so much higher and so much greater than I. I might not understand why I am going through the situation I am in now. You might not understand why you are facing something difficult today. Know this that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Grow stronger through your trial so that you can look back and see that “God meant it all for good.”
