Love That Never Fails

10. God's Great Purposes

When bad things happen to us and our loved ones, we can be tempted to wish that things had been different. Regret causes us to dwell on the 'if onlys' but this is not a good place to stay. Sometimes a whole series of events are changed just because a seemingly negative circumstance happens.

Just think of the story of Joseph, starting in Genesis 37. He went from being his father's much loved and favourite son to being rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt! It's great to read of the events for yourself and then to see how God's plans for Joseph's life begins to unfold, leading up to his final reunion with the very brothers who had shown him nothing but hate. By this time, Joseph had been elevated to a role of leadership over Egypt and was now in a position to be able to prevent a huge death toll due to a famine in the land. Joseph was able to see that God had used the most terrible event of his life to bring good for many, including his own estranged family.

In Chapter 45, we read of the most amazing reunion:

"Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭45:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It's certainly clear that everything that happened to Joseph was for a purpose. God lovingly used each circumstance in order to preserve Joseph's family and provide conditions that would lead to them becoming a nation.  As a descendant of Abraham, God's covenant or promise to make a great nation was now in track, even in the midst of a famine! Yes the story of Joseph's life did look like he was a victim of men, but God turned it around for His glory. None of it was for a loss! Be sure to set aside time to read Genesis 37-50, in order to see God working in all the details of Joseph's life. It certainly is a powerful testimony of how God lovingly uses evil and turns it around for good!

Reflect over the circumstances of your life in recent years and months. Perhaps things like the Covid-19 pandemic and the many different wars raging in our world has brought many changes —illness, loss of loved ones, loneliness, loss of income and great uncertainty for the future for you and your family.  This may be in addition to many other everyday events in your life that have proved difficult, but remember the story of Joseph and how God turned things around.  We can all have great hope that as we trust our loving God, He will bring good out of what was meant for evil! Get ready to see things turn around —God's great purposes will prevail!

Let's pray:

Dear Lord,

I am so thankful for Your Word and the recount of Joseph's life. You truly do turn things around in a big way! Thank You for loving me and wanting what is best for my life. You see the big picture of my life from beginning to end and I'm thankful that You allow me to go through situations in order to bring about good. Give me patience as I trust You through all the challenges I am facing.

I pray for all who are suffering as a result of evil in our word. Please help them to hold onto hope that good things are coming and You are with them even in the darkest night!

Amen.