Man’s Plans; Satan’s Plans; God’s Plans

SCRIPTURE:  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20 ESV

THOUGHT: Sometimes we just need to sit down and be astonished at the work of God. Just how does he do what he does?

His work can either look truly wonderful, as in “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20 NIV),” and it can also look incredibly terrifying, as in, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told (Habakkuk 1:5 ESV).” That passage is about judgement.

Both ends of the spectrum are important to the work of our incredible God: great love and final justice, and he brings about both in truly amazing ways.

I’m about to begin teaching a study on the life of Joseph, and in that story – like many of the stories of our lives – we see the clash between good and evil, God and his archenemy, life and destruction, mercy and sin.

Where many people get caught in Joseph’s story (and his conclusion from our verse above), is whether to find God responsible for evil so that he can get to his good purposes of keeping many people alive. I say a hearty “no,” but there are many theologically astute people who will disagree with me.

There’s a distinct difference in my mind between God using evil and God causing evil. I do not doubt that God knows the thoughts of each human heart but I also do not doubt that God can make a way where there seems to be no way – that is part of why God has won my heart and respect. God saw the evil Joseph’s brothers were thinking and feeling toward him. Scripture records that they hated him, and God was watching. Yet, at every turn: the plan to kill him, the plan to sell him into slavery, the plan of Potiphar’s wife to undo his integrity and likely get him killed, the plan of the enemy to steal, kill and otherwise destroy young Joseph, God stepped in, using the evil of humans and Satan to accomplish his own will. Jesus, who knew the secrets of God, put it like this: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

The larger question becomes do we believe God is good when the chips are down? Can we trust him in the dark (Is. 50:10)? Will we assign evil to him (Ps. 5:4), or will we keep trusting that what someone else means for evil, God can use for good?

PRAYER: Oh God, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Help these words to ring deeply in my heart and soul, trusting that you are bigger and more amazing than any weapon formed against me.