What Does It Mean That “What You Meant for Evil, God Meant for Good”?

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

Can God bring good from something harmful? Why does God allow the harmful to ever happen in the first place? Why do innocent people suffer, and why does injustice have such a firm grasp on society? Can any good come of it?

These are questions we see addressed through the life of Joseph. What his brothers intended for his personal harm, God used not only for Joseph’s good, but for the good of nations. 

Genesis 50:20 documents the astonishing conclusion of Joseph’s amazing life. Fittingly, Genesis 50 is also the final chapter of Genesis, and succinctly concludes the book of beginnings while setting a template for all that is to come, both immediately afterwards and through our present day. Just like we see in the life of Joseph, God still takes that which is meant for harm and uses it for our good and his glory.

Intended to Harm

“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more” (Genesis 37:5).

The relationship between Joseph and his brothers seems to have been rough one from the beginning. Their father clearly favored Joseph above the rest of them, as he was the only son of his favorite wife, Rachel (Genesis 29 explains how this man ended up married to two sisters). 

This hatred intensified when Joseph declared to them his dreams that he would one day rule over not just his brothers, but his entire family. This little brother telling his older brothers that they would one day bow down to him was more than they could stand. They stopped regarding him as a brother and more as an enemy to be reckoned with. The brothers were offended and angry that “enough was not enough” for this spoiled little brother.

A Deep Hatred Had Formed

“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams” (Genesis 37:20).

This hatred for Joseph led them to the point of considering murder. They ultimately did not kill him, but instead sold him into slavery. They then covered Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood, telling their father that they found it, and he must have been killed by a wild beast. Their hatred, intended to harm Joseph, had led to a series of lies and deception that would haunt them for many years. 

Many of us have felt things similar to what Joseph was experiencing at this moment: he had done nothing blatantly wrong, but was suffering pain regardless. The dreams God had given him would prove to be accurate – his family would indeed one day bow before him, as God used the life of Joseph in ways that no one could have foreseen. He must have asked God why this could happen? Why would he have to suffer such pain because of speaking the truth? 

At the same time, how many of us have experienced what it is like to be Joseph’s brothers? We have likely not sold a brother into slavery in Egypt, but we have likely been swept up in emotion to commit acts that we regret. Many of us have harbored anger and resentment towards others for various reasons, leaving that anger to fester and create guilt in our lives that need not be there. 

We don’t know how soon the brothers felt regret for their actions, but we know it was tearing away at them for years until it was eventually confessed. 

Intended for Good

“Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36).

If we were to read the book of Genesis straight through, with no idea how it ended, we could easily assume that this was the end of Joseph’s story. Chapter 37 ends by seeing him off to slavery, then there is no mention of him in chapter 38. The narrative simply moves on without him. Of course, Joseph reappears in Chapter 39, where we learn a great deal about his struggles and continued faithfulness to God; even through slavery, false accusations, prison, and abandonment. 

In deep distress, Joseph remains faithful in believing that God had not forgotten him, even when everyone else seemingly had. In this time, there is no evidence that Joseph ever had another dream or utilized his ability to interpret dreams – until one fateful day in captivity. When that day came, Joseph was ready when God began to use him for an amazing work. 

A Dream Interpreted

“’We both had dreams,’ they answered, ‘but there is no one to interpret them.’ Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams’” (Genesis 40:8).

As Joseph was imprisoned, we see him once again interpreting dreams through the power of God. His dreams foretold that one of Pharaoh’s servants would be restored to service, and another would be killed for treason. As these dreams proved true, Joseph hoped that the one who was restored would remember Joseph, and tell Pharaoh about this innocent man who suffered in prison. Sadly, he did not. At least not immediately.

It was two years later that Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret, and then the man remembered his humble friend in prison who interpreted dreams accurately. After years of waiting, things begin to rapidly change, and good begins to come from the intended harm.

The Saving of Many Lives

“And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere” (Genesis 41:57).

Joseph was now brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dream. The dream foretold of a famine, Joseph interpreted it, and presented a plan to survive it. Pharaoh was impressed, and Joseph was placed as second in command over Egypt. Because of him – or more specifically, God working through him – many lives and many nations were saved from what could have otherwise been a global catastrophe.

His brothers came seeking food, and as predicted, they all bowed before this royal leader of Egypt.   

What his brothers meant for harm came to a greater good than anyone could have dreamed possible. Joseph’s faith and wisdom had led to saving the lives of many people. Joseph would have never chosen this journey for himself, but it was clear that God was leading each step to a place of redemption, healing, and restoration.

In these moments of deep pain, Joseph never ceased to give God the glory for his ability to interpret dreams. As we endure all kinds of pain in this world, let us remember that God continues to work in ways that we may or may not ever see, and let us continue to give him the glory for who he is, knowing that all things, eventually, will work together for good.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Luis Alberto Sanchez Terrones

Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.