Mar 30

Genesis 50:1-26
Memorise Genesis 50:20
“Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good”

As we come to the close of our study of the book of Genesis, we realise that we have only but brushed the surface of what is God’s amazing and magnificent unfolding drama of His perfect plan of redemption for us. From creation to Jacob’s entrance into Egypt spans a time period of about 2000 years. Through this, many significant events in the history of man occurred, of the creation of the world, the fall of man, the judgment through a global flood, the confounding of languages, and the calling and covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet through it all, what we can see is really a comprehensive display of God’s goodness, as demonstrated through His faithfulness and sovereignty. God, in His grace and mercy, had arranged all things for the good of man, in order that His plan of redemption might succeed. Despite man’s sin, weaknesses and propensity to rebel against Him, yet He never gave up on man, and continued to work out all things for good – for their good, that they might be saved.

This is what Joseph realised through his times of affliction, and also times of plenty. This is what he told his brothers when he first revealed himself to them in Genesis 45, and this is what he again reaffirmed to them after their father’s death. His brothers were still afraid that he wanted to take revenge on them, and now that father had died, maybe Joseph would not treat them as kindly anymore (Genesis 50:15). Thus they sent a message to him again asking for his forgiveness, even invoking the name of Jacob in their plea. Joseph was grieved upon hearing this, perhaps due to the memories it evoked, but probably more so because his brothers still could not understand the spiritual significance of what had happened. Thus he again assured them “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20). We must understand that the ‘good’ mentioned here is not man’s understanding of what good is, but really according to God’s perfect judgment of goodness. God alone knows what is best for mankind, and so he will certainly bring it to pass. It may seem that 400 years as slaves in a foreign land is not good, at least in man’s eyes. But yet in God’s plan, it is certainly good, for through their time there, they will grow and multiply, and then see their need for God to cry out to Him. Then He would come and save them with a mighty hand, and craft a nation out of them.

Thought: Is my understanding of good different from God’s?
Prayer: Lord, may I fully know and appreciate Your goodness to me.