But God

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good... Genesis 50:20 NIV

That little word ‘but’ must be one of the most used and abused in our language, and we all know that children use it to full advantage when ‘negotiating’ with their parents to get what they want. We did it ourselves, didn’t we, and not always for the right motives. We know the story behind this Bible verse. Joseph is in a position of power and authority some years after his brothers threw him into a pit, and then sold him to a passing caravan, never to see him again. Or so they thought.

Fast forward and those same brothers are facing a brother they don’t recognise, and Joseph has the power to make their lives miserable, or even end them altogether. But something had happened to Joseph in those dark years. God had to do a work in his life first, and then come the words of our text! If you want a great read and full insight to this story, I would recommend that you read the book “God Meant It For Good” by R T Kendall.

The lesson and application are clear for us today. Times come along in our life when all we see is the harm, but in later time, sometimes years, we can see that all along our gracious God intended it for good, but also along the way He had to teach us some tough lessons to get our heart just right for that good time in the future when it eventually came in God’s time. One Bible commentator calls this verse: “The classic statement of God’s sovereignty over the affairs of men”. Couldn’t have said it any better!