The Word

God Meant It for Good

Gen. 50:15-21

Once Israel died, his sons feared Joseph’s retaliation. While Joseph had been hurt by their evil, he viewed his suffering role as critical in the good God was doing.

CONTEXT

• Genesis portrays God’s promise coming true through Abraham’s growing family.
• Abraham’s great-grandson, Joseph, was favored by his father and yet despised by his brothers.
• Though Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, God’s favor promoted him in Egypt to the second-in-command.
• A great famine caused Joseph’s brothers to approach him for aid while being unaware of his identity.

CONTENT

• Unconfessed sin increases a guilty conscience and maintains a fearful suspicion.
• The God-focused believer is able to accept the role of sufferer for the benefit of others.
• God kept his covenant through the suffering of the innocent.

CONCEPT

• Holding a grudge reveals that I believe God should forgive my sins against him but not others’ sins against me.
• God is far more capable than I am to determine the appropriation of justice.
• God is so completely sovereign that he can even use the sinful actions of others for good.
• One of the most challenging steps in discipleship is learning how to embrace your suffering for the glory of God and for the good of others.