Joseph to his brothers, “You meant evil against me—and that is what you did. But God meant good for many others beyond me and our own family—because that is who he is. Is it now a ‘payback’ time for me? No. You don’t have to be afraid, for I will provide for you and your little ones.” (Paraphrase of Genesis 50:20-21)
Heavenly Father, the story behind the story in this passage is dark, ugly, and horrifying. Joseph’s brothers first threw him into a pit to die slowly, before they trafficked him to pagans to extend his suffering before he would surely die as a slave. This story doesn’t end with a bow on it, but with mystery written all over it—so help us.
The good you brought out of this evil was exponential—life-giving provision for multitudes in and around Egypt. But the evil did not become good or acceptable. You sent Jesus to destroy evil—not to make lemonade out of lemons. Joseph’s brothers weren’t excused; they were convicted, humbled, and forgiven.
They, along with thousands of others, experienced the wonders of your sovereign power and the greatness of your mercy and grace—just like we do every day in the Gospel. Whether our deepest hurts and hardest stories were generated by random accidents, by people we should be able to trust, or by lamentable choices we have made—there is always a bigger Story in play. But you never call us to simply find a “moral in the story,” but eventually to see Jesus in every story.
You are always at work for our good and the good of others through us (Rom.8:28). The devil is always at work for evil knowing “his time is short” (Rev.12:12). Both are true because the Gospel is true. Father, we don’t understand the outworking of your sovereignty over all things, and the difference between things you plan, allow, use, and things you redeem—but we count on it and rest in it. Help us, Father. Show us more and more of Jesus. So Very Amen.
