You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Few experiences hurt more than when another person tries to harm you in some way. Most of us have been victims. Conversely, most of us have intentionally at some time tried to do damage to someone else.
One thing is for sure. The closer we’ve been to those who have tried to harm us, the more painful the experience.
Take Joseph. Out of jealousy, his brothers sold him into slavery. It was a cruel and vicious action to take against their own flesh and blood.
But this story takes an amazing turn. Joseph eventually winds up in Egypt working for the top leadership in the country. When a famine occurred, Joseph had already made provisions to provide enough food for the people of Egypt and for Joseph’s father and entire household who had come from Israel.
Talk about perspective! Joseph could have chosen you punish his brothers, but instead he forgave them. Joseph realized that God’s sovereignty had prevailed. What his brothers had meant for evil, God meant for good.
