"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 When my brother and I were growing up he used to tease me a lot... OK, he STILL teases me a lot! He would make some wild comment to scare, startle or amuse me. Typically it was something outrageous as the only thing he was looking for was a reaction. My eyes would get wide like saucers... and then he would say 'psyche!'. In other words, he was just kidding. The slang definition of psyche is 'to fake someone out, to lead someone on and then immediately decline an ending." This happened a lot growing up. Now my brother's teasing was usually all in good fun... but as we read in Genesis, Joseph wasn't so lucky with his brothers. Jealousy, poor communication, and mistrust was abundant in Joseph's family. For a time he was the youngest and favored of his brothers.... and then it seemed to go down hill. Joseph was sold into slavery, accused of things he didn't do, put in jail, and didn't see his father for almost 25 years... he was just 17 when his brothers stuck him in a pit and sold him off. That is some significant resentment! The story concludes with famines, a reunion and finally restoration. God not only used the horrible things that happen in his life for good, but also to point to the great deliverance and promised blessing. "Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” Genesis 50:24-25 NIV God will surely come to our aid! He calls us in the waiting to look for the good! When life seems cruel... look for the good. When bad news and heartache come... look for the good. When diagnosis and loss arrive... look for the good. When you feel overwhelmed... look for the good! "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 As we look back on the story of our life, it is as if God calls 'psyche'. Our lives were meant to end a different way, but God stepped in and changed the ending to our story. He will step into our marriages... our finances... our relationships... our souls. He will surely come to our aid. What Satan meant to harm us... God will use for good. Friends, keep looking for the good in your situation. Know that God will come to your aid and that he will use it for good to accomplish the saving of lives!
