God Meant - on Following.

"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

You know the story of Joseph well I imagine.  He was a mouthy youngest child who was hated unjustly by all his brothers.  Joseph's brothers hated him so much that they faked his death and sold him to a group of traveling merchants.  Joseph would up being unable to control his life, he was a gifted leader and administrator so he rose quickly to prominence where ever he was only to be 'crushed' by the weight of other people's decisions.  Joseph ran a political leaders household, only to be accused falsely of inappropriate advances toward his master's wife.  Joseph was thrown in prison and ended up running the place, only to be forgotten by people he helped along the way.  Joseph finally made it out of prison and ran Egypt's entire food distribution system in a time of famine making him the second most powerful person in the country.   Joseph finally stood before his brothers, the same brothers who sold him over 20 years earlier, the same brothers who now were on their knees before him begging for mercy when they found out who he was.  Joseph says these words,  "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."  

I long to be able to understand God in this way, to be able to see the events of my life completely in God's direction.  The word 'meant' in the Hebrew has a couple very textured meanings.

1.  Meant gives us the picture of a builder walking into a building and with inspired creativity taking gold, silver and brass and intricately detailing the structure with beauty, creating a place of awe. 

     What others meant for evil against you, God is creatively designing beautiful, intricate patters to create a story of awe.

2.  Meant also gives us a picture of an accountant or bookkeeper on a project who is very meticulous and detailed.  This bookkeeper records every transaction, every cent is accounted for noted and ultimately balances out so that the project is completed as designed.

     What others meant for evil against you, God is meticulously keeping records of, noting everything that happens and balancing out so that your life, what God tends to build in and through you is completed.

God today, allow me to follow you through thick and thin, good and bad, blessing and what seems at times to be a curse.  God help me to understand at the depth of my soul that you are aware of my life, my circumstances and are beautifully crafting a work of grace. Amen

    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28)