"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. "
Genesis 50:20
GOOD OUT OF BAD
Read It: Genesis 45:1-15
What would you do if you were the second most powerful person in Egypt, holding the power of life and death, and had the guys who caused all your pain standing in front of you? It would make a great movie script, but for Joseph it was real life as we jump ahead to his reunion with his brothers in today's study. Once again we see that all you have to do is be successful, and people will call! Joseph was on top now. He was alone with his brothers. Would he kill them himself, make them suffer first, or just throw them in prison and let them rot? Of course, Joseph chose none of the above. He didn't forget what they did (vv. 4-5). He just saw what God was doing with what they did. See, God knew what you were going to go through at five years old. He knew how people were going to mess you over at twenty-five. None of that can keep Him from taking you where He wants to take you today. Joseph was about thirty years old by this time. We can figure out that he was seventeen when he was sold into slavery. That means he had thirteen teen years of a confused life, not knowing whether he was up or down, in or out.
Yet he maintained his commitment, so God was able to use his negative circumstances to produce good. God can do the same for you. Maybe your mother or father took part of your life away, but God can give it back to you. You don't have an excuse for not doing anything. Joseph didn't forget what happened. Anyone who tells you, `Just forget get it," is not living in the real world. It happened, but God can do something thing about it. Later we read that God gave Joseph his own family. He had new relationships to replace the old ones. One reason old relationships may be destroying you is that you haven't replaced them with new relationships. You are hanging out with the wrong reminders. God helped Joseph to forget the pain of what happened. pened. He still had the memory, but it no longer hurt. Think About It You may not be able to forget your past. But it doesn't have to control or dominate you anymore
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