God is Good

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Scripture: Genesis 50:19-20 (NRSV)

19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.

Devotion:

            In today’s scripture we see Joseph reassuring his brothers that no harm would come to them because God took their evil actions and turned them around for the salvation of their very lives. God’s ways are mysterious to us mortal human beings. We see only what is immediately in front of us. Just as God knows us from our mother’s womb, he knows how and when our lives will end. He can see more than we can. His intention is to love us and bring us to salvation and eternal life in heaven.

            I encourage you to read the end of Genesis when you have time. Joseph’s story is inspiring and challenging for us today. Because we can see the evil all around us and imagine that God has forsaken us, abandoned us to the pit of hell. We must study the Bible and we will find that God always rescues his people from their distress. If not in this life, then in the next. We are God’s creation, and we are so precious to him that he sent Jesus to live, die, and live again that we might know the way to salvation.

            Lest we think that God’s attitude toward us has changed since the days of Joseph, I want to challenge you with these words from Paul in Romans 8:28-30 (NIV):

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

            God’s promises are true, and full of mercy and grace toward us. God through Jesus has secured eternal life for those who will believe in him. We can be assured that through Christ we will always be protected from the evil one who would seek to destroy our souls. Indeed, God wants to give us all the things we ask of him according to his will. And his will is that we would be his children and live for all eternity to praise him. So, glory be to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit may we live to bring him praise.

            

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