Providence in Joseph's Life

God provides for His people through means which often seem evil when they occur. In today's Bible reading, I saw this evident in Joseph's life. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Gen 50: 20 NASB)

What was Joseph referring to? Why, to his brothers' sordid mistreatment of him back in Dothan (Gen 37). They had cast him into a pit, sold him for a slave, and begun a chain reaction of misery and sadness that followed Joseph throughout his adult life. We often forget this as we see his victory over his woes coming in second in command of Egypt.

Imagine, if you will, how it felt to go from the favored son of a wealthy man to the status of a slave. Imagine being put in that position by your own family members, who only sold you because they would rather make a couple bucks off of you than kill you. Imagine working your way to the top of the slave pile, only to be slandered by your master's wife, and cast into prison for protecting what little honor she had. Imagine your status as a slave giving you no recourse for trial or appeal, with probably your only hope being the master selling you to someone else. Imagine all this, and then imagine trying to see God's hand in it all.

I think we often forget the humanity of Joseph's story. He didn't have Romans 8:28 for his comfort. He didn't even have a scrap of Scripture down in Egypt. He probably only had (literally) his dreams to go on. I'll bet those dreams grew more and more dim as his life wore on. Yet he persevered by God's grace.When the time came for vengeance he did not wreak it upon his tormentors. He merely said "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?" (Gen 50:19 NASB) He knew that judgment belongs to the Lord. Besides, as he continued in verse 20, though they meant it for evil, God meant it for all their good. To cap it off, he went on to assure them of his good intent and to provide for their families! (Gen 50:21)

Joseph's example is set for us to follow. We also have the words of the Apostle Paul to the Romans for our comfort and edification. When, as William Cowper wrote, "Behind a frowning providence/ He hides a smiling face," we can look to the Scripture:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:28-31 NKJV)