FROM EVIL TO GOOD
Susan Murray
Today’s Scripture: “‘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. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:20-21, ESV
Theme: When God turns your dreams into reality, never forget there is more to come.
EVIL WORDS FOR GOOD
Several years back, someone complained to my boss about me. The facts of the complaint were valid, and I did not deny it. Yet the attitude and tone of the complainant was harsh. My boss met with me, and his words were not kind. I felt horrible. As I left the office, I cried, feeling more sorry for myself than remorseful that my mistake had caused discomfort and trouble for another person. Genesis 50:20 came to mind: What they meant for evil, God meant for good (my paraphrase!). The complaint was not made to help me do better but to tear me down. That was evil, yet God meant it for my good.
Since I am a people pleaser, having someone unhappy with me shatters my dream of being good at what I do in order to know I’m an okay, acceptable person. God wants me to do my work with excellence. But to rely on being seen as excellent in order to know I’m an “okay” person is what the Bible calls idolatry, and that gets in the way of my relationship with God. This evil situation ended up being for my good because it first showed me an area where I needed to improve my work. Yet more importantly, it was an invitation to repent of people-pleasing and to believe more in the Good News that I am “okay” because Jesus had died for me to pay for every failure, giving me not an excellent record, but His perfect record, the great exchange.
HARD WORDS FOR GOOD
During another difficult time in my life, I frequently called my sister, who was always willing to listen and provide support. Unfortunately, the only time I would call her would be when I needed to talk about this ongoing difficulty. Eventually, she had the courage and the love to say that she needed me to call for more than just problem-solving. She also wanted to just chat and connect. I had become so self-absorbed in my problems that I was not loving her. Her honest, lovingly spoken, corrective words stung. In my heart, I felt defensive; but by God’s grace, I apologized. I knew she did it for my good and out of love for me, which helped me to hear her and to change, drawing our relationship closer.
Joseph met his brothers’ needs. He loved his enemies, yet he also put them through a series of tests (Genesis, chapter 44), revealing their repentant hearts. These tests also showed how they fiercely protected their younger, favored brother Benjamin, instead of envying him or selling him off as they did Joseph.
JOSEPH, LIKE JESUS
Joseph’s dreams were a prophecy of the future, but young Joseph had become spoiled by his father’s favoritism. So, God first humbled Joseph, but did not leave him, before placing him in a powerful position to bring about saving many from famine. Once in power, Joseph did not use his power to get revenge on his older brothers. He loved and forgave them, and in that love they repented.
The story of Joseph—as every Bible Story—is ultimately a story that points us to Jesus. As Jesus said about Himself: “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44b, ESV). How exactly does Joseph point us to Jesus? I believe that Dr Timothy Keller said it best, “Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the King, forgives those who betrayed and sold Him and uses His new power to save them.”
Make It Personal: Has God given you a dream? Are you discouraged that your life is going in the opposite direction of its fulfillment? Consider that God is possibly humbling you but remember that God has not left you. He is with you.
Pray: Our Father, You are all powerful and all-knowing. You have known everything about us before You created the world and despite our sin, You love us. In Your perfect love, You humble us, protect us, and lift us up, never leaving us. Jesus, You didn’t have to be humbled, but You humbled yourself, dying for our sins so we could be saved. We give our dreams to You to do with as You see fit. Forgive us for our pride when we dream dreams for our own glory. And when our dreams come true, point us to how we can serve others and bring You glory. Amen
Read: Philippians 2:1-11, 4:13; John 15:4-5; James 4:6-10
Weekly Memory Verse: “...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 6:1, NIV