From unfair treatment to blessing

"20But 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".    Genesis 50:20  NKJV

Perhaps you may be thinking that you are hard done by at the moment. Everything has gone wrong and life has no good prospects for the future. Just browse over the experience of Joseph and see how he suffered for many years. He was gifted with dreams and interpretation and this, annoyed his brothers because he was intimating that the dreams meant that one day, they would have to bow down to him. To add to this, he was his father's favourite son and he could do no wrong in his eyes He was also given a beautiful coat of colours by his father. They were jealous and very irritated by all of this and, plotted to kill him. In the end, they sold him to some traders who were passing by and Joseph ended up in Egypt. He was given a job in a high officials house but this ended when he was accused of attempted rape. He was sent to prison and spent some time there, before he was released to interpret some dreams that Pharaoh had. He was eventually made the Governor under Pharaoh of the whole of Egypt.  (Read Genesis 37-50)

After many years, as foretold by Joseph, there was 

a famine across the whole world and Joseph showed great talent and skill in handling this which made great profit for Egypt by selling previously stored seed to families. Eventually, Joseph's brothers came for food and he recognised them and eventually all of them were reunited and dwelt in Egypt.

Now when Joseph saw his brothers, he could so easily have done them some harm, after-all, he was in charge. But, he told them:

'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 not only saved many lives with his talent and gifting but, he also testified to the goodness and power of Almighty God. We could think that he must have wanted revenge for what they did to him. But, there was no sign of this, only love and emotion for them. He could have had them executed but, all he wanted was to forgive them and bless them.

This is very hard to comprehend. Possibly we would have handled the situation differently, or would have wanted to. But handling things this way is how God works and blesses. Instead of completely destroying his family through revenge, Joseph sealed them back together again. And this, is what we are here for. Do you need to forgive and bless someone?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

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