Genesis 50:20 “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.” (ESV)
Story time! If you don’t know the story here, Joseph when he was a teenager was one of twelve sons of Jacob, and one of two from his favorite wife (he had two and some concubines) Rachel. With this being said, he was his father’s favorite son, which means while his other brothers were out working hard in blood, sweat, and tears, Joseph was being educated and spoiled. His mother even made him his famous beautiful coat of many colors. The more favored he became by his father, the more arrogant he became, and the more his other brothers hated him. Joseph also started having strange, prophetic dreams, and he would tell his family these dreams. His brothers would hate him more as some of these dreams foretold of his leadership. One day he went to go check on his brothers; when they saw him from a distance, they plotted to kill him. His oldest brother Reuben refused to do such, so they decided they would sell him into slavery instead. So they mocked him and pushed him around, took his coat, tore it, and threw him in a pit and left him there. They sold him to some slave traders, where he was taken to Egypt. They took his coat, killed an animal and dipped his coat in its blood and gave it to their father saying his son was killed by an animal. Jacob was beyond devastated as his favorite wife was already dead as well. Joseph got to Egypt and one of the Pharaoh’s officials, Potiphar, took Joseph as his slave. He took quite a liking to Joseph and really admired and respected his hard working attitude and wanting to please his God. However, Potiphar’s wife took a liking to him for other reasons as well. Joseph was very handsome. One day while Joseph was working, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. “Come sleep with me!” Joseph refused, “you are my master’s wife, I cannot do such!” She persisted and then grabbed his clothes, in which he fled - literally fled. She knew this did not look good for her, so she framed him. She screamed and cried crocodile tears and accused him of trying to rape her. Potiphar was furious and believed her instantly and threw Joseph in prison unjustly. Joseph was stuck in prison for a long time. Then he met two other prisoner, the pharaoh’s cup holder and his baker. He overheard them talking about their dreams and he mentioned God could help him interpret their dreams. So first the cup holder tells of his dream, and Joseph reveals the pharaoh will pardon him and put him back in his position and favor in three days. The baker excitedly from hearing his positive interpretation asks for his, and Joseph sadly gives him his; in three days the pharaoh will have him executed. Just as Joseph interpreted the dreams correctly, they happened exactly. When the cup holder was leaving, Joseph told him to tell the pharaoh his gift and his story how he’s innocent. However, the cup holder forgot, and Joseph was left behind again for more years. Things seemed hopeless, like he would rot in prison unjustly. Then the pharaoh was plagued with dreams, and the cup holder remembered Joseph. The pharaoh called for Joseph to interpret his dreams, and with humility, Joseph gave God the credit and interpreted them. There would be several good years of harvest, then several years of terrible famine. Then he advised pharaoh how to handle this. The pharaoh was so impressed, he released Joseph from prison and put him not just in any leadership position, but second only to him. He was in charge of taking care of things so Egypt would survive the several years of famine. In that time Joseph got married and had a couple sons. When the famines came, it not only affected Egypt, it affected Canaan as well, Joseph’s home country. His brothers went to Egypt to get food. When he saw his brothers, he was overcome with emotions, how could he not be? All of the trauma this poor man experienced, all started because of their jealousy of him. They did not recognize him, and he did some tests with them, and then framed his younger brother Benjamin by sneaking one of his cups in the bag with food. Benjamin was caught and accused of stealing. Joseph said as punishment he would keep him and make him a slave. The brothers begged him to let Benjamin go and make them his slaves because if their father lost the last son of his favorite wife, it would kill him. They also said they felt remorse for what they did to their brother Joseph. Joseph once again was overcome with emotions and eventually revealed he was their brother whom they had sold into slavery. He told them what they had meant for evil towards him, God meant for good, and was going to use that to save many people - including them and their families, which he did!
This is truly a beautiful picture of how God uses even our worst circumstances in our lives, where odds are stacked against us and people turn their backs on us and betray us. They may even try to kill us. God uses all of those circumstances. Those circumstances not only will help build us in character and holiness, but also help others who are watching. You have an important story to tell, and people need to hear it, no matter how difficult out it may be. Even if people attack you for your story, the Lord will use it all for His glory, for your good, and for the good of others. Do not lose heart in how dark your circumstances appear in the current moment, or how dim the future seems or how grim the past was. As Jesus also said “take heart for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) in the midst of the darkness in the shadows, trust the Lord and allow Him to give you strength. Keep fighting the good fight! Your story is worth listening to! Allow God the grace to use it for good!
