Genesis 50:20 - "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers back in Genesis Chapter 37, but God in His providence manipulates the circumstances and Joseph becomes ruler over all Egypt, second only to Pharoah himself. God also gave Joseph the wisdom to store enough food to carry the people through seven years of famine.

This passage of scripture is taken from the section where Joseph has already brought his extended family to Egypt to save them from starvation, and his father Jacob is about to die. His brothers are worried that once their father is gone Joseph is going to deal treacherously with them for selling him into slavery. Joseph tells them, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” God used this evil act of Joseph’s brothers to save and preserve His messianic line. Without Jospeh doing what he did for his family, regardless of what they had done to him, his entire family would have likely starved to death including Judah from whom the Messiah was to come. We see here a perfect example of the New Testament passage found in Romans 8:28 - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose". Joseph was definitely called by God and we know he loved God. So, God used this situation not only to save the twelve tribes, but to providentially preserve the Messianic line that was to come through Judah.

By the way, if you look back at Genesis 37 and read the whole story of the ten brothers dealing with Joseph, you will find one brother that saved him from death – Judah. God’s plan is intricately detailed and gradually unfolding throughout history.

My prayer is that you will have the wisdom to be able to recognize when God is using some seemingly evil perpetrated against you and turning it into something good. May the presence of the Spirit be with you!