God meant it for Good
The Christian life does not provide us with a magical bubble that protects us from all evil; remembering we live in a fallen world, with fallen people (including Christians). We, as people of Christian faith, deal consistently with consequences of the fallen world at every level of society -therefore, we will be affected by “things meant for evil.” There are several references in the Bible to people affected by what has been “meant for evil against them.” Most notably was Jesus, who was unjustly accused in a fake trial, received a guilty verdict despite no corroborating evidence and was given the death penalty of crucifixion.
Crucifixion was, perhaps, the most horrific and humiliating form of capital punishment in history. The details of the crucifixion of Jesus paint a picture – the beating/whippings were enough to cause death (heart attack, organ failure). The convicted was paraded through town naked while carrying the cross where they would hang until death. Once at the very public execution spot, the criminals were attached to the cross with large nails driven through their hands and feet. Once raised on the cross, the condemned were as vulnerable as possible, with no way to defend themselves from predatory birds seeking an afternoon snack. Death would happen by asphyxiation or exhaustion causing heart failure.
Of course, the most famous crucifixion was that of Jesus, crucified with two common criminals for the crime of being “King of the Jews.” While the evil deeds of man were conducted in the death of Jesus, we know that God meant it for good – and by good, we mean otherworldly, supernaturally good, as in the best thing ever. The innocent blood spilled that day at place called Golgotha, would forever change the relationship between God and His people. The final and perfect sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of humankind, meaning no more annual animal sacrifice to temporarily satisfy the Holy God’s wrath against sin. Praise Jesus!
Rewind close to 1700 years or so and look at the life of Joseph, son of Jacob, grandson of Isaac and great-grandson of Abraham. In Genesis, we see the linking between the life of Joseph on the ultimate death on the cross by Jesus. Despite the evil done against Joseph, God meant it for good!
Jacob had twelve children from four different mothers; the second youngest of the twelve was Joseph, who was the clear favorite of Jacob. His birth order gave Joseph no special significance, but I believe one of the reasons Jospeh was the favorite was because he was the first born by Rachel, Jacob’s true love. Among the extraordinary gifts bestowed upon Jospeh by Jacob was a “coat of many colors.” (Genesis 37:3). We are told the favoritism was clear and obvious, thus bound to cause some problems with his brothers.
I think of the scene where you have a highly blended family, with twelve siblings by four mothers and one clearly favorited; though, in the minds of his other siblings, there is nothing special about him. The bitterness was there but hateful vitriol grows to plotting the evilest of things when Joseph reveals two dreams to his family – in both Joseph is ruling over them. The brothers have had it, in their minds the only choice is to kill “the dreamer.”
Once the brothers get their chance to kill Joseph, they concoct a story that wild beasts devoured Joseph and all that remained was his blood stained “coat of many colors.” Ah, but for Rueben, the eldest brother, who convinced the brothers to simply place Joseph in an unconquerable pit. For this reason, as told in Genesis, “of returning Joseph to his Father.” Now we really do not know what Rueben’s motivation was but, perhaps, it was to gain favor with Jacob – “Dad, these guys, your sons, wanted to kill Joseph but I rescued him . . .” Again, we do not know the motivation but we do know God’s sovereign purpose kept Joseph alive.
As the brothers casually eat a meal, the entrepreneur of the group steps forward with a new plan – profit from Joseph by selling him into slavery. What I love about this plan is it came from Judah, through whose line would come Jesus. It is a picture how God works restoring brokenness as Judah would soon be the most remorseful and transformed!
Now that is boat load of evil perpetuated against primarily Joseph, but also Jacob as the brothers lied about what happened to Joseph.
But all that evil led to the following sequence of events. Joseph is sold the Midianites on their way to Egypt; in Egypt Joseph is sold to Potiphar; Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of rape and Joseph is thrown in prison; in prison he meets Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker; he interprets the dreams of the two officers of Pharaoh; which leads to interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh (seven years of prosperity, followed by seven of famine), which leads to Joseph becoming Pharoah’s second in command.
In this position, Joseph is trusting that his dreams are part of God’s providential plan and judiciously prepares for the seven years famine by rationing during the seven years of prosperity. Had he not prepared for the famine, his family in Canaan would have died, which would have included Judah, who from his line would come the Messiah. If the Messiah did not come, then Jesus would not have either. And without Jesus we are all dead in our sins and without hope in this world!
Joseph never let his eyes be fixed on anything but God despite the evil prevailing all around him. “As for you, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about many people.”
I pray we will all have the heart of Joseph, confident in God’s good plan regardless of the circumstances and if God means everything for good – we should be marked, like Joseph, as people that supernaturally forgive.
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