God Uses It For Good

03 Mar God Uses It For Good

Read: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 (NLT)

Thought for the Day: God brings good out of bad situations.

In the book of Genesis, we read about Joseph who had everything going for him in life. God had blessed him with visions and he was one of his father’s favorites. However, his world was turned upside down – his jealous older brothers kidnapped him, faked his death, and sold him into slavery. Somehow Joseph refused to lose hope and trusted that God would redeem his situation. He remained faithful to God and ultimately rose to a position of great authority in Egypt. When famine came and threatened the lives of everyone in the surrounding regions, Joseph had a surprise encounter with the same brothers who had wronged him. They had no option but to come to Joseph and ask for help.

Joseph didn’t see this as a “gotcha moment” where he could get even. Instead, he helped his family and brought them to Egypt where they could live in safety. Then as things were turning around, Joseph’s brothers were filled with fear. They imagined that Joseph was simply waiting for his father to die before getting even. For many people with power, this might have been the case. But Joseph knew God and understood that He was more powerful than his brother’s deception. Joseph was willing to see things from God’s perspective. He realized what his brothers had meant for harm God used for good!

We have all experienced times when we have been wronged. Joseph’s story asks us to trust that God is greater than our worst experiences. If we are waiting for gotcha moments to get even, we will never experience the abundant life that Jesus promises. When we find ourselves tempted to harbor a grudge, let’s pray. As we trust God, we experience His grace. Today, we invite you to start reading The Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah. One important lesson to look for in this passage is how God brings good out of even the worst situations.

In Christ,

Pastors Stan and David