Genesis 50:20: What Genesis (and the Bible) is All About

"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 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

This morning as we conclude the book of Genesis, we take a look at one verse tucked in the very end of the book. If you have not heard this verse before, you should memorize it. It's truly an amazing verse that speaks of God's sovereign plan over all of eternity, and as we will find today, it is not merely the theme of the Joseph narrative; it's the theme of the entire book.

In Genesis 50, we find the death of the great patriarch, Jacob. After his death, all of Joseph's brothers fear that he might put them to death for what he had done to him by selling him into slavery. Fearful of their prosperous brother, they bow before him, pleading for mercy. The logical response for Joseph would have been to put them to death for what he had done, or at least throw them in prison to pay for their actions. However, he had a better solution, God's solution. Rather than condemning them, he states in verses 19 and 20: "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 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." In other words, what Joseph is saying here is that he is not God. He, as a mere mortal, does not have the right to have vengeance on those who have wronged him. But how so? Well, ultimately, because God is over the situation, not Joseph. And since a loving, powerful, and sovereign God is over the situation, we find that even though his brothers meant great evil towards him, God meant it all for good in his sovereign plan. Joseph's brothers meant for him to be sold, imprisoned, and even killed because they hated him so much. Yet God used that great evil for the greater good of using Jacob to save a nation from starvation.

Furthermore, let us realize that this is not only the theme of the story of Joseph but the theme of the entire book. In Genesis 3, we saw the fall of mankind. However, amidst that fall, we found God using the great opportunity in his own sovereignty to reveal his mercy to mankind. Although Adam and Eve meant it for evil, God meant it for good. Next, we wickedness of humankind, where God had to flood the earth to destroy all of mankind--except for Noah. Yet amidst this great and horrendous flood, God meant it for good as he was purifying the world from its sin. Furthermore, let us remember how we looked at the story of Jacob and Esau, where Jacob tricked Esau into obtaining both the birthright and the blessing. However, although Jacob meant this for his own selfish gain, God was using it all for his good as he planted Jacob as the inheritor of the promises to Abraham. Many more examples could be given, but let us realize this great theme throughout the book of Genesis, that amidst man's great evil and wickedness, God has his sovereign hand behind every turn, using even the things that they mean for evil for good.

Yet, let us take this all a step further and observe how this can apply to Christ. Thousands of years after the story of Genesis, we find men murdering Christ on a cross. At first glance, we might view this as great and outrageous evil, and don't get me wrong, it certainly was. But whereas men meant this for evil, God meant it for good. Just as Joseph's persecution would ultimately lead to the physical salvation of the world, so did Jesus' persecution leads to the spiritual salvation of the world. Upon that cross, we saw the most wicked deed that men had ever accomplished, yet upon that cross, God's sovereignty shouted out: "you mean this for evil, but I mean it for good."

Likewise, in our own lives, let us realize that God often uses the great evil in our lives for great good. Whether it be a brother sinning against us or any other trial, God has his sovereign hand in our circumstances. And although this is something that is often said, let us take it to heart this morning. Dear brother and sister, are you fearful? anxious? depressed? Let me encourage you with Genesis 50:20 this morning. Even though Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused, put into prison, and neglected, God was using it all for good. And although he could not see what God would bring out of the situation, you probably can't either--it's called living by faith. So, let us do that this morning. Let us live by faith, as we realize that what men often mean for evil, God always means for our good, as he has proved to us by putting his son on a cross. Amen!