"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
Genesis 50:20
Part 4
Yesterday: His Brothers have an Evil Plan
“Ye thought evil against me.”
Joseph did not downplay their sin. His brothers had murder in their hearts!
Today: God Plans for Jacob’s Needs
“But God meant it unto good.” (a)
On the one hand, the brothers thought hard and tried their best to do evil to their brother. But on the other hand, God used their evil for good…
“Oh, that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:8-9).
Believers, praise God! He is loving and caring for His child! As with Joseph, our heavenly Father still wants what’s best for us even when we face adversity. Our affliction is never out of His control. It’s given us for our good and His glory. Here is God’s promise to His covenant people, Israel.
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17).
There is no question that Joseph’s brothers had great evil planned for their obnoxious dreamer. But thankfully, God had the big picture in mind! His plan was far greater than the brothers’ piddling scheme. His sovereignty overruled their evil purpose. Joseph understood that God had used his brothers to get him into Egypt and establish him there. Now Joseph can protect Jacob’s family. Yes, their sin was evil, but “God meant it for good.”
After the famine threatened Jacob and his family in Israel, he sent his sons, minus Benjamin, to Egypt in search of food. From the moment he saw them,
“… Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him” (Genesis 42:8).
Joseph remembered his dream and pondered. And so that he would not give his identity away, he “treated his brothers roughly,” and incognito, he spoke to them through an interpreter. He accused them of being spies. Of course, they said they were not spies and told this ruler their story. Initially, they were 12 brothers, one dead already (Joseph), one was left at home with Jacob (Benjamin), and the rest of the 10 were here before him. Joseph knew that his life was back full-circle, here are his brothers bowing before him.
Although the brothers did not know it at the time, Joseph was gracious to them. He filled their request for food. Then had his men put each of the brother’s payments into their bags of grain. Before Joseph let the boys leave, wanting to make sure they would return to him with Benjamin the next time, he did this. He demanded that one brother stay behind in prison until the others returned with the lad. They elected Simeon to remain behind, and Joseph had his guards bind him and take him away.
Imagine their surprise as they opened their bags. There, on top of the grain, they each found the money they had paid for their food. They had no earthly idea what was going on and why their money was in their bags. This really made them fearful of the ruler who helped them. When they got home, they had to explain all this to their father, Jacob. When they told Jacob that Benjamin must accompany them the next time, his heart broke.
“But Jacob said, ‘I won’t let my son Benjamin go down to Egypt with the rest of you. His brother is already dead, and he is the only son I have left. I am an old man, and if anything happens to him on the way, I’ll die from sorrow, and all of you will be to blame’” (Genesis 42:38, CEV).[1]
And so, their lives went back to the “new norm” brought on by the famine. God’s sovereignty is written all over the pages of Joseph’s story. If the boys had not cruelly sold their brother into slavery, Joseph would never have made it to Egypt in the first place. There would’ve been no compassionate ruler there in Egypt to help them in their time of need. Up to this point in the story, Jacob and his sons have no idea that God’s good hand is working out the details of their lives.
One thing they were sure of, though, the famine is getting worse!
“And the famine was sore in the land” (Genesis 43:1).
The food shortages showed no signs of letting up. In fact, scarcity was increasing. Their family food was getting low again. Without more food from Egypt, Jacob’s family will starve to death. It was time for the men to begin making plans for that next trip to Egypt.
Will Jacob allow Benjamin to go with his brothers to Egypt? How will that rough Egyptian ruler treat the boys this time? Will he think the boys stole their money last time? Come back tomorrow as God’s sovereignty unfolds a little more in their story.
Quote: “One of the greatest evidences of God’s love to those that love Him is, to send them afflictions, with grace to bear them”[2] (John Wesley).
[1] CEV is the Contemporary English Version.
[2] Wesley’s quote Downloaded: Saturday, March 20, 2021. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-affliction/.