May 4 | Genesis 37:9-11

Dave Mann
4 days ago
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Transforming Evil into Good

By Dave Mann

I believe that there is no more effective way to destroy society than to cause deep dissension within families. Today’s text includes just a few verses from early in the famous story of Joseph in Genesis. Jacob was the unwise father who showed favoritism toward Joseph, the firstborn of his favorite wife, Rachel. Joseph was unwise to share openly his dreams with his brothers and father. These dreams predicted his supremacy over his brothers and even his parents. The family strife was so divisive that his brothers eventually sold him as a slave to a passing group of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt. How awful! But even worse, once in Egypt, Joseph was thrown into prison on false charges.

Our lives are full of difficulties, hurt, and pain. Some of these horrific situations are thrust upon us by others. For some of them, we share the blame because of our own bad decisions.

But God showed his love by redeeming his people from the hand of the Evil One and even from the foolish behavior of the leaders of his people. In the end, even with Joseph sold into slavery, and his suffering, the Lord worked out his own plan. His brothers’ evil decision to sell him as a slave resulted in Joseph being placed in Egypt. Joseph’s unjust imprisonment resulted in his being introduced to Pharaoh. Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams paved the way for Joseph to be elevated to the position of preparing Egypt to be saved from seven years of famine. This in turn, resulted in the feeding of Jacob and his entire clan to be moved to Egypt.

After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers feared for their lives, assuming that Joseph would expand the family pain by seeking vengeance. Nevertheless, Joseph had learned the lesson that all of us need. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph states, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

For our part, we can recognize that our God specializes in redemption. He knows how to take what looks like failure, disaster, and evil and transform it into something beautiful, especially in our families. In the face of brokenness, we can learn to ask the question, “I wonder what God will do with this mess?”

Look for ways to live self-sacrificially, like Jesus.
Know that difficulties, even ones that you helped create, can be God’s workshop.

PRAYER

O Lord God, you are a master of changing evil into good. When I find myself in the midst of pain and hurt, please help me to look for your hand at work in my broken life. After all, you took the worst that the world could give you – crucifixion – and you turned it into the greatest saving event of all human history. May your Cross and Resurrection transform my life so that people can see your transforming power, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.