God Intended It For Good

God Intended It for Good

Q: Joseph’s brothers were afraid that after their father’s death Joseph would do what?

• a. get revenge on them for selling him
• b. move back to their homeland
• c. raise the price of grain

Joseph’s family moved to Egypt, where he continued working for Pharaoh during the great famine. Jacob was happy to find out Joseph wasn’t dead after all, and Jacob was able to spend his last years with Joseph before dying.

Joseph’s brothers were getting nervous, though. Everything seemed to be going well, but they were afraid that after their father died, Joseph would get revenge on them for selling him. They couldn’t believe he’d really forgiven them and wasn’t planning to get even.

Many events in his life could have caused Joseph to be bitter and unforgiving. His brothers sold him into slavery, Mrs. Potiphar lied about him, he spent time in prison, and there was a famine taking place. Joseph trusted God and continued to do right in spite of the things that happened to him and around him. That allowed God to work in amazing ways. Joseph became an important man in Egypt and made plans that saved not only his own family but countless others who would have died during the famine.

People may do evil to others, but God can overrule the wickedness and use bad circumstances for his own good.

For You

Romans 8:28 says, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” God uses hard times for his own good. How is God using hard times in your life right now?

Answer: a

After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.   Genesis 50:14-15

(The Whole Story: Genesis 50:14-26)