The Jesse Tree: Day 7
GOD'S PROVIDENCE
As a teenager, Joseph imagined a bright future for himself. He was the youngest of 11 brothers, but his father loved and delighted in him the most. In displaying his affection, his father even gave him an expensive and fancy, colorful robe. And adding to it, Joseph received these dreams of sheaves in a field and stars in the sky bowing, both implying that his brothers would one day bow to him.
Joseph was destined for greatness, and he couldn’t wait for what was ahead.
However, these dreams and colorful coats came with unexpected consequences:
Joseph was destined for greatness, and he couldn’t wait for what was ahead.
However, these dreams and colorful coats came with unexpected consequences:
“But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.”
Genesis 37:4
Genesis 37:4
Jealousy was aroused in their hearts and it burned like red hot coals of hatred in their chests.They detested their colorfully-dressed, arrogant little brother. And they decided to do something about it. They decided to kill him.
When the opportunity actually arose, they hesitated. And at that moment, a caravan traveling to Egypt came passing by—their solution. Instead of murdering Joseph, they sold him as a slave to these traders. For 20 pieces of silver, they sold their own flesh and blood.
The sinful actions of his brothers had a drastic effect on Joseph’s life. He didn’t see his father for decades. He never did see his mother again. And he was a slave and a prisoner; forgotten.
But at the end of the story, we see that God’s hand never left Joseph. God was always orchestrating the events of his life, taking the evil done against him and bringing good out of it. As Joseph himself says:
When the opportunity actually arose, they hesitated. And at that moment, a caravan traveling to Egypt came passing by—their solution. Instead of murdering Joseph, they sold him as a slave to these traders. For 20 pieces of silver, they sold their own flesh and blood.
The sinful actions of his brothers had a drastic effect on Joseph’s life. He didn’t see his father for decades. He never did see his mother again. And he was a slave and a prisoner; forgotten.
But at the end of the story, we see that God’s hand never left Joseph. God was always orchestrating the events of his life, taking the evil done against him and bringing good out of it. As Joseph himself says:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Genesis 50:20
Genesis 50:20
Joseph was eventually elevated to second in command over all Egypt, and tasked with overseeing the Egyptian economy. And when a great famine struck, food was provided through his administration, not just for Egypt, but for people from all over, including his older brothers and father. When they traveled and met with this high-ranking Egyptian official to buy grain, as was the custom, they bowed before him; unknowingly, they bowed to their little brother.
What they intended for evil, God meant for good.
And in the same way, Jesus was sold into the hands of his murderers for pieces of silver. The crowds who cried out for his crucifixion, for his brutal death, intended evil against him. But he went willingly, giving his life, dying in our place and for our sins, to bring about good. When we sought his death, he allowed it. And in doing so, he brought us life.
What they intended for evil, God meant for good.
And in the same way, Jesus was sold into the hands of his murderers for pieces of silver. The crowds who cried out for his crucifixion, for his brutal death, intended evil against him. But he went willingly, giving his life, dying in our place and for our sins, to bring about good. When we sought his death, he allowed it. And in doing so, he brought us life.
Pause to reflect
Sometimes it’s hard to understand why God lets us experience the difficulties we do. For years, it wasn’t clear how God was working in Joseph’s life. Have you ever been in a similar season, maybe even this past year, where it was hard to understand how God was bringing good out of what you were going through? How is it helpful to know that even when we can’t see it, God is working?
Has anyone ever meant evil against you? How has God turned that for good in your life and in the lives of others?
Has anyone ever meant evil against you? How has God turned that for good in your life and in the lives of others?
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