Genesis 37:14-28 and 50:15-20 (The story of Joseph)
Romans 8:28 -
“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.”
Some people misquote this verse by saying; “God works all things together for good.” But, that leaves out some very important words: And we “think?”…no…we “hope?”…no…we “pray?”…no…we what? “WE KNOW!” We know that God “works all things?”…no…“IN all things God works”…In how many things?...“ALL THINGS”….For everyone’s good?…no,…“for the good of those who LOVE Him.” Do you think words make a difference? Yes they do! Is it important to quote scripture correctly? Yes it is!
Most often, we don’t know or understand why certain things happen to us, or how God makes those things work together for our good, but this promise doesn’t depend on our understanding, we just have to KNOW that it’s true! As Christians, we don’t wonder or hope that God is in control, we ought to know it!
The Apostle Paul, who penned these words to the Roman Christians, didn’t say; “I have been beaten, persecuted, stoned, and imprisoned , and to tell you the truth I don’t see how any of this is for my good, but I sure hope God knows what he’s doing!”…No, he said “And we know!”
Even though Paul didn’t know what the readers in Rome were going through, nor what you and I would be going through today, he makes a universal statement of truth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that “we know” God is in control.
In my book “By His Hand” I write about how life is like a jig-saw puzzle. God can see the completed picture, (like the picture on the box) but we only see one piece at a time. The key to having peace in our lives, is trusting God to fit all the pieces together.
We also need to understand that God does not cause all things to happen…but, He can cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, because He is God! Satan may cause things to happen; we ourselves may cause things to happen; God will allow things to happen; and we don’t have to understand it, just believe it.
Not everything that happens is good, nor is everything that happens God’s will. Some people have no problem believing Satan can take something good and turn it into evil…but, they have a hard time believing God can take something bad and turn it into good.
A perfect example is the story of Joseph. His brothers hated him. They sold him into slavery. He was falsely accused by Potipher’s wife. He was put into prison for two years. From the time his brothers threw him into the well, to the time he was released from prison was 13 years! Now, if you closed the book at this point, you would think that God had abandoned Joseph. But, in fact, God was just putting the pieces of the puzzle together. And, even Joseph himself came to realize that everything that had happened, was God working to bring it all together for good.
It’s a question that is as hard to explain as it is to understand. But, think about this; If you ate a raw egg, or a big spoonful of shortening, or a big mouthful of flour, or gulped down a spoonful of baking soda, you might not think they were very good…but, when you blend them together, they can become a delicious cake! That’s how God takes the ingredients of our lives; both good and bad; and works them together for our good.
God doesn’t do this for everyone, but for “those who love Him”…“who have been called according to His purpose.” And what is that purpose? “to be conformed to the likeness of His Son”…God’s purpose is not to make us happy; or to keep bad things from happening to us. If that were true, everyone would want to be a Christian! His purpose is Christ-likeness. God uses our trials and difficult times to chisel away our rough spots and develop our character, and make us stronger and help us grow.
Because Paul knew God was in control, he wrote to the Thessalonian church in 5:16 - “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES”…not because of…but IN… And, to the Philip-pians he wrote; “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”….And, finally in Ephesians 1:11 - he tells them of the one “who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” All these are saying the same thing.
I know what many of you are going through right now in your lives…I know the pain, I know the struggle, I know the disappointment, I know the challenge, I know the doubt and even disbelief, I wish I had all the answers, but I don’t…I’m going through things in my own life that I don’t know if I will ever understand this side of heaven…but I ask you to find peace and rest in this fact; “I KNOW that “in all things” whatever it is, “God works for the good of those who love him.” Don’t question it or try to understand it … just believe it!
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