“…as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” – Genesis 50:20

Scripture reading: Genesis 50:15-21

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel often found themselves in trouble. There were famines, plagues, wars and exiles. In these times of crisis, however, God repeatedly raised up saviors for His people. There were great leaders who ruled wisely or fought battles with courage. 

The first of these “national” saviors was Joseph. An unlikely candidate, Joseph was a younger brother and disliked by his siblings. His brothers were so evil that they even sold him into slavery, to be taken into a far-away land. Then, things got even worse for Joseph: he was falsely accused and thrown in prison! Yet the Lord blessed him and made him a wise counselor and an interpreter of dreams. Joseph eventually became the prime minister of Egypt, preparing that nation for a famine. His wisdom was used so that his own family could be provided with food! His brothers, however, began to fear Joseph. They expected that after their father died, now-powerful Joseph might take revenge. But Joseph understood that God meant his trials for good so that he could save his family. God had taught him, and was now teaching his brothers, that they needed a savior. They needed one who would suffer for them and have wisdom that was greater than theirs. They needed a savior who could feed them and “save many people alive.”

What a privilege it is to know the Saviour Who went to a lower place than Joseph did for sinners, Who is perfectly merciful and patient, and Who nourishes our souls!

Suggestion for prayer

Pray for grace and patience to forgive those that have wronged you in the past. Pray for the wisdom to see that God’s difficult providences will work for the good of His people.

Pastor Robert VanDoodewaard currently serves the Free Reformed Church in Powassan, Ontario, Canada as a minister of the gospel.