Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 50:20 (New Living Translation)

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

This is part of the (hi)story of Joseph and his brothers. The brothers planned to kill Joseph and lie to their father about it (Murderers and liars, and you thought your siblings were mean to you as a kid?). Instead, “all they did was just” sell their brother to some passing merchants who would use and abuse him for the rest of his life. Again, your siblings were mean to you? Ha!

Anyways, years later, Joseph confronts his brothers. Joseph had the power to snap his finger and the brothers would all be executed—a just outcome for their treachery. And note that in many places in the Bible that is what happened. Kings snapped their finger and many others were executed.

Instead, Joseph tells his brothers what we read in the verse above. “You intended evil, God intended good.”

And guess which came to pass? The intentions of man or the intentions of God? Well, duh, God ruled. God overruled man. Nothing new to see here. Keep moving.

Well, let’s pause a moment and observe the obvious. God’s intentions always come to pass. God’s intentions may not agree with my schedule. I doubt Joseph was thrilled with God’s ways during 13 years in a filthy Egyptian prison. Nevertheless, God’s intentions come to pass.

Rats! Why can’t God abide by my schedule? Probably because my schedule is short-sighted and wrong. Just like the intentions of Joseph’s brothers were short-sighted and wrong.

God, grant me patience and humility to accept Your intentions and Your schedule.