“God meant it for good”

If you have been in the church for a few years, you have probably heard this statement a time or two. It comes from the story of Joseph, and is only part of a statement he made to his brothers in regard to their selling him into slavery. It is found in Genesis 50:20:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

When you really stop to think about the circumstances surrounding this statement, it is truly amazing. In spite of his pleading with his brothers, Joseph was sold into slavery as a young man of about 17 years of age. There, he would spend the better part of the next 13 years in prison, deprived of his father, mother brothers and all the normal experiences associated with young adulthood. And yet here we see him, upon the occasion of his father’s death years later, telling those very same brothers that sold him into slavery that, “God meant it for good.”

This was not the first time Joseph had done this either. In fact, several years before, just moments after he revealed himself to his brothers for the first time, Joseph reassured them with these words in Genesis 45:5-7:

“Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me… God sent me before you… It was not you who sent me here, but God…”

With amazing insight, Joseph saw the plan of God being accomplished through his brothers’ evil plot. It is important to point out that Joseph was not in any way saying that what his brothers did was right; it most certainly was not. But he did understand that God was behind the whole thing, accomplishing His purpose – “to preserve many people.” Unfortunately many Christians often overlook this important distinction as they seek to apply the principles found in this story to their own lives and circumstances.

In John 9 there is a story of Jesus healing a man born blind. Upon being asked by his disciples why the man was born blind, Jesus responded that it was not as a result of his or his parents’ sins, as they had suggested, but rather, “It was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus then proceeded to heal the man, proving what he meant by his statement. He was certainly not saying that the man’s condition was good or right, for if that were the case he would not have healed him.

Another example of this principle is found in the story of Lazarus, found in John 11. Having been told that Lazarus was sick, Jesus responded by saying that Lazarus’ sickness was “for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Some people have interpreted this verse to say that sickness is glorifying to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. Like with the blind man, Jesus proved exactly what he meant by this statement when he raised Lazarus from the dead.

The same God who was working in Joseph’s life to accomplish his good will is working in our life today. I hope that, like Joseph, you will be able to see the hand of God at work in your life in spite of what others may intend to do. May you have the assurance today in whatever circumstance you may encounter that, “God meant it for good!”