| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this verse from Genesis, Joseph is speaking to his brothers who had betrayed him years before. They sold him into slavery in Egypt because they were jealous of him, but, through a series of trials and miracles, Joseph had risen to second in command of all of Egypt.
When a famine strikes, Joseph's brothers, not recognizing him, ask for grain. When he reveals himself, they are overwhelmed. Joseph tells them that although they meant to harm him, the Lord had used their actions to bring about good--he was able to save his family when the famine hit. This encourages us that the Lord brings good out of everything.
Joseph walked a very difficult path. He was abused by his brothers, enslaved at age 17, rose through the ranks, was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison for many years, and finally, after interpreting a dream for Pharoah, was appointed to his high post in Egypt, where he flourishes and saves the land from ruin during a famine.
When Joseph sees his brothers asking for grain, he gets a glimpse into what the Lord's plan had been all along. He could see that the trials he faced were not random, but were instead handpicked by the Lord to prepare him for his future. The Lord had planned everything for good.
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If you have ever felt like your pain and suffering were random and pointless, remember the story of Joseph. Nothing he endured was wasted; everything was leading to a specific point in time when he would save the line of Israel. You do not know what the Lord is preparing you for, but you can trust that whatever was meant for evil will be turned around for good because of how much He loves you.
Joseph was faithful to the Lord during so many years of trial. Even in a foreign land, he never forgot his God, and he continued to worship Him even if no one around him did. He tried to be excellent right where he was--he was even a model prisoner and was appointed manager of the prison.
For the Lord to work things out for the good, we have to be willing to remain faithful. In the midst of whatever we are facing, we can trust that God will use it for good, just as He did with Joseph.
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