Has someone ever committed a lowdown, dirty, or evil thing against you that God turned into something good?
Joseph’s brothers plotted against him, but their hateful deeds didn’t prevent the fulfillment of God’s purpose for him.
No one, even an enemy, can upend God’s plans for our lives as called for his purpose.
People do what they do (good or bad), but God is always righteous. Therefore, believers must trust God every step of their journey, whether rugged or smooth.
Envy and hatred consumed the brothers, who thought Joseph was a snitch and goody-two-shoes who told his father everything.
The Bible says God was with Joseph.
Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son, proudly wore his father’s coat of love, described as a coat of many colors. His brothers hated him for being the favorite son and for his dreams or prophetic visions of the family bowing down to him.
Instead of killing him as some of the brothers had planned, they threw Joseph into a pit and later sold him to merchants. The merchantmen then sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian.
The brothers’ selfish and hateful actions landed Joseph in Egypt, where his visions and dreams told his family would come true.
Joseph became Potiphar’s supervisor and head of his household until Potiphar’s wife’s advances resulted in Potiphar putting him in prison. While in prison, Joseph’s skill as a dream interpreter led him to be summoned by the king to interpret dreams that others could not.
Joseph revealed the king’s dreams and their meanings. The king’s dreams spoke to seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. Joseph advised the king to store food during the years of plenty to save lives during the famine.
The king rewarded Joseph for his wisdom, and Joseph became second to Pharaoh.
The seven years of famine devastated many nations and lands, even Canaan, where Joseph’s family lived. During the famine, Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin, the youngest, to buy grain in Egypt.
The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph, their feign-dead and long-lost brother. Joseph sold them grain and kept Simeon as leverage for them to bring Benjamin to Egypt. After Joseph detained Simeon and tested his brothers in various ways, Rueben persuaded his father to send Benjamin as Joseph demanded. Jacob never got over his grief of losing Joseph, and he feared for Simeon and Benjamin.
The uncertain future of Simeon and Benjamin led to the brothers feeling heavy-hearted and guilt-stricken about Joseph and their actions.
Because of God’s plan for Joseph, famine-stricken nations, including Canaan, could buy food in Egypt.
Joseph wept tears of happiness and revealed himself as their brother. Joseph told his brothers. “Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Jacob’s family was now whole, with two additions: Joseph’s two sons, who were born in Egypt.
This timely story reminds us that if we trust and obey God, he is with us wherever we are: in the poor house, White Houe, or prison.
God is with us, regardless of who is in charge: a president, manager, warden, or supervisor.
Romans 8:28 states, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
God changed what the brothers meant for evil and channeled the circumstances for Joseph’s good.
Even though everything worked out for good, the brothers didn’t do God any favor.
The same is true today; God provides an escape and blessings for persecuted servants.
Be well.