Genesis 50:18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
Verse 20, along with Romans 8:28, are two of my favorites when life doesn’t work out the way *I* had planned. God gives us free will. Free will plus messy humanity equals mistakes and missteps, pain and often heartache. But God is sovereign and good, merciful and compassionate. He can and will and does work all things for our good and His glory.
Genesis 50:19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
I could write out a looong list of things that didn’t turn out the way *I* wanted, times when people acted selfishly, times when I could not for the life of me figure out how God could use a situation (whatever it was) for my good or for His glory. Yet, He does IF we let Him, IF we trust Him, IF we let go of our hopes and desires and trust that even if it doesn’t make sense, somehow, our merciful Savior will work this for our good and HIs glory.
Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Precious Savior, Thank You for my rock solid faith that if I allow, You WILL work all things for my good and Your glory. Help me to let go of my will, of the way I think things should go, and to trust Your mercy and compassion. Always. Help me, Jesus. Amen.
Genesis 50:21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Have a blessed day.