You Meant Evil Against Me—But God Meant It For Good

“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.”

This passage of Scripture never fails to move me. The entire life of Joseph is full of God’s dealings, with Joseph, his brothers, and others. He stands out as a supreme example of someone committed and yielded to God. He is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is staggering to read this verse and not see the incredible work of grace in Joseph’s life. His life is lived out in submission to the will of God. He understands the power of temptation and the evil of sin when running from Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:6b–12). He is not motivated by his position of prestige and power in Potiphar’s house. It is not even his reputation that motivates him. Rather it is God’s reputation that he treasures above all: “But he refused and said to his master’s wife, ‘Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’” (Gen. 39:8, 9).

Joseph’s brothers, by contrast, are arrogant, proud, and self-sufficient men. They consent together to do evil to their brother (Gen. 37:18–28). The leader of the pack was Judah. He is utterly cold-hearted toward Joseph and feels nothing in selling him to Ishmaelite traders, who then take Joseph as a slave to Egypt where he is sold. Joseph’s life in Egypt (a foreign land to him) is exemplary. Potiphar recognizes his abilities and rewards him with absolute responsibility. The prison warden also recognizes them, and puts him in charge of every prisoner. In whatever he did, the Lord was with him and blessed him (Gen. 39:1–5, 20–23). This all points to the fact, that if we are very serious about God, he will do great things for us and by us. The many years of slavery could not have been easy for Joseph. He speaks of those years as bitterness and difficulty when his children were born: “Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. ‘For, he said, God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.’ The name of the second he called Ephraim, ‘For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction’” (Gen. 41:51, 52). God made him forget and God made him fruitful. He attributes everything to God. It was this relationship with God that drove his life.

It appears quite often in Scripture that the blessing of the Lord is preceded by hardship and trouble. The battleground of life is a training arena designed to focus our minds and hearts on God and how he works in our lives. As with all training, it is painful. All discipline is painful, but it yields fruitful and beneficial results (1 Cor. 9:27, Eph. 6:4; Heb. 12:5–11; Rev. 3:19). All discipline by God springs from his love and affection for his people. Joseph’s rise to power is ordained by God. It was necessary for God to have him in the prison to meet Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (Gen. 40:1–23). He interprets their dreams for them and the result turns out exactly as he interpreted. In all of his interpretations of dreams, Joseph ascribed the interpretation to God (Gen. 40:8; 41:16, 25, 28, 32). Daniel would do the same many centuries later (Dan. 2:19–30; 4:8–18, 24, 27; 5:11, 13–28). Joseph is eventually remembered by the cupbearer when Pharaoh dreamed his dreams, and he is called to interpret them. His elevation to power in Egypt is so startling that we recognize God’s hand in it. This is the place that God has designed for Joseph. All the years of sorrow have now brought him to the pinnacle of power in Egypt. Pharaoh must have been a remarkable man to grant absolute power to a slave but he recognizes something unique in Joseph, and thus promotes him from the pit to the throne. Yet we recognize the hand of God in dealing with Pharaoh as he did with Potiphar, the cupbearer, and the baker. On the other hand, Joseph’s brothers have been living their lives conscious of their guilt and sin against Joseph, but have no idea of where he is. In fact, they probably thought that he had died and that was the end of it. But God had plans for them and for Jacob. They are driven to seek grain in Egypt because of the severe famine that had come. The famine came from God, according to Pharaoh’s dream as interpreted by Joseph (Gen. 41:25, 28, 32).

The arrival of Joseph’s brothers in Egypt sparks a series of confrontations initiated by Joseph. He is seeking to determine what character his brothers have. Are they still like they were when they sent him off into slavery? Have they changed over the years? Joseph uses the absence of his brother Benjamin as his excuse for being harsh with them. He accuses them of being spies as they bow down before him (Gen. 42:9). This is prompted by his recollecting all the dreams he had back in Canaan about them. He also seeks information about his father, Jacob. The brothers are dismal over Joseph’s harsh treatment of them and respond by referring to their treatment of him many years ago as the cause for their current treatment (Gen. 42:21, 22). Reuben calls it a “reckoning for his blood.” The brothers do not know that Joseph understands them as they acknowledge their harsh treatment of Joseph. Joseph weeps as he listens to them. It is interesting that Joseph imprisons Simeon (Gen. 42:24). Perhaps he was the more violent with Joseph all those years ago. He was a violent man (Gen. 34:25, 30; 49:5).

The ultimate confrontation occurs when Benjamin is brought to Egypt. The brothers are made to feel comfortable as they eat with Joseph who then sends them on their way with his cup in Benjamin’s sack of grain (Gen. 44). This is now the test for the brothers. What will they do? The surprising result is that it is Judah who steps forward to offer his life as a substitute for Benjamin’s (Gen. 45:14–34). Joseph sees evidence here of a change and finally reveals himself to his brothers (Gen. 45:3). They are utterly shocked and afraid, but Joseph treats them kindly and they reciprocate (Gen. 45:3–15). Jacob is sent for and the reunion is happy in Egypt (Gen. 46).

Our verse in Genesis 50:20 is concerned with the brothers. It is many years later. Jacob has died and they are afraid that Joseph is going to exact revenge upon them (Gen. 50:17, 18). How little they understood the character of their brother. Joseph’s reply is a masterpiece of theological understanding. He says that it was God who ultimately meant their evil for good. Joseph so wonderfully understands the providence of God. The whole purpose of being sold into slavery in Egypt was so, many years later, Joseph would be able to provide for and take care of his brothers (vs. 20, 21). This was God’s will for Joseph and for the brothers. How sad the brothers did not understand this, even after reconciliation with Joseph. Joseph’s mind and heart were solely fixed on God. If he brooded over his brothers’ treachery he would have had thoughts for revenge, but he did not.

The only effective remedy for anger and revenge is this: if the Lord has willed something, then I must bear it. Not because I might contend against it, but because God’s will is always for my good. When we are unjustly accused and wounded by others, let us overlook their sins, which will only worsen our pain and suffering. Rather let us learn to believe that whatever is wickedly committed against us was permitted and sent by God’s mercy and kindness. If we suffer because of our own negligence, then let us also acknowledge that it is God dealing with us and impute the guilt to ourselves. This is how Joseph thought. He lived above the world with devils filled. Let us do the same.