Straight Up Truth…and Mercy

The last eight chapters of Genesis finish up the story of Joseph. After Joseph’s family arrives in Egypt, and after a very emotional reunion, Joseph’s father dies. The bible says that Joseph’s brothers fear that Joseph will now take his revenge on them for selling him into slavery. Then Joseph utters what I think is one of the greatest verses in the Old Testament recorded in Genesis 50:20: 20 But 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.

Joseph doesn’t pull any punches here. He lets his brothers know that he knows that they meant evil toward him. They left him for dead as they sold him into slavery. They hated him. But God loved him… “but God meant it for good”. In truth, that is the only way God can ever “mean it”. God used Joseph’s brothers’ evil for His good purpose. In this world there will be those who desire to hurt you. There will be those who mean evil toward you. But they are not stronger than God. God’s sovereignty never runs out of “sovereignness”. And what a powerful testimony it is for us to be able to acknowledge the evil but to celebrate God’s goodness and love. Maybe there is someone in your life today that has acted in an evil manner toward you but now you can see God’s goodness over time. If so, make sure you have forgiven them and extended them mercy. And then ask God if there is a way to talk to them about it…to have a redemptive conversation with them about it…to see if God could use your words in their life.