What You Meant for Evil

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” 

—Genesis 50:20

Today’s verse is taken from the story of Joseph that is found in the book of Genesis chapters 37-50. If you are unfamiliar with the story, let me set the stage. Joseph is one of twelve sons born to a man named Jacob. He is favored highly by his father, leading his brothers to be jealous, and eventually resulting in a horrific act whereby they sell him into slavery and then tell their father that he had been killed by some wild animal. Joseph becomes a slave, makes his way to Egypt where he becomes a house slave to an Egyptian governmental official named Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife has the hots for Joseph and tries to seduce him into having an affair with her, which he refuses. Angered by being spurned by a slave, she pretends that Joseph tried to have his way with her when no one else was around. Furious at the thought of being taken advantage of, Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison. After some time, Joseph meets two of Pharaoh’s staff, a baker and cupbearer who had been sent to prison for angering Pharaoh. One night, both of the men had separate but very disturbing dreams. Seeing they were troubled, Joseph asked to know the dreams, explaining that dreams and their interpretations belong solely to God. Both men described their dreams in great detail with Joseph explaining to each man the meaning of the dream. The cupbearer’s dream showed that he would be restored to Pharaoh’s staff, but the baker’s dream revealed that he would be killed. Both of the dreams came true. The baker was killed while the cupbearer was reinstated to his post.

Two years passed when Pharaoh had two dreams and was unable to understand their meaning. Reminded of his own dream and Joseph’s interpretation, the cupbearer told Pharaoh about Joseph, which resulted in Joseph being brought to Pharaoh. Joseph explained the meaning of the dreams—there would be seven years of unbelievable bounty which would be followed by seven years of horrid famine. He then explained that Pharaoh should appoint a wise man to prepare for what was bound to come to pass. Seeing Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed Joseph to the task.

The seven years of bounty passed with Joseph erecting storehouses to hold all of the excess grain. The years of bounty gave way to the years of famine, but Joseph had successfully prepared for it and was ready when the time came.

It is at this juncture in the story where his father and brothers enter in. The famine was widespread, affecting not just Egypt but the surrounding region, including Joseph’s family. Hearing the news of food in Egypt, Jacob sent a contingent to acquire some food, which they did. To make a long story short, Joseph ends up reuniting with his family and supplying for their needs. He invites them to live in Egypt, which they do.

Joseph’s experience has the make-up of a truly amazing story. What is perhaps most amazing is Joseph’s perspective. Sold by his brothers into slavery and falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, he is vaulted to the position of Pharaoh’s number two man in Egypt. But what does he say to his brothers after reuniting with them? Does he condemn them? Does he seek revenge? No. He says, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Joseph had a divine perspective in the midst of personal tragedy. He was able to see the hand of God behind his circumstances. Only if we could have such a perspective! To see the hand of God in the midst of our trials! To see Him moving in the midst of our tragedies!

What about you? Are you at all like Joseph? Do you see the hand of God in your tribulations? Perhaps you weren’t hurt as Joseph was—perhaps your pain came from the choices you have made. I have met many a believer who has made some horrid choices in his or her life which resulted in some very difficult and very painful consequences—having sex before marriage which resulted in a baby, getting arrested and put in jail, engaging in adulterous and illegal behaviors, all of which man used for evil intentions, but God used for good. The baby born of an illicit union caused the mother to reassess her life and rededicate her life to the Lord; the man put in prison came to know Christ while there; the adulterous and illegal behaviors brought those who did them to the end of themselves whereby they saw their need for Christ and His forgiveness. What man meant for evil, God meant for good.

Hopefully, if you are reading this, it will cause you to reassess your life. You may be going through trials and tribulations because of your own actions or the actions of others. Whatever the case may be, I would ask you to go to God. Humble yourself, get down on your knees and offer up your life to Him, asking Him for His perspective on your situation. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a believer for many years or few; we all need to look for His loving hand directing our lives. And whatever He reveals to you, whatever changes you need to make, whatever attitudes you need to change, make sure to praise Him for it. Amen.