Ye Thought Evil Against Me, but God Meant it unto Good

YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME,

BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD

To save much people alive

May 17, 2001

I gleaned our title from where Joseph assured his brethren, who had sold him into Egypt; “As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:20

Those are the words of Joseph to his brothers that had sold him to the Midianites while he was yet in his teens.

Starting from the beginning, Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob, and that was obvious to Jacob’s other sons. Joseph was a person of character and the son of Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachael.   Perhaps another reason Jacob rated him high above his other sons was that Joseph was a responsible person.   That was one of Joseph’s traits.   Oft times God appeared to Joseph in his dreams and for that his brothers hated him and called him a dreamer and they sought to rid themselves of him.

On a certain day Jacob sent Joseph to check on the welfare of his brothers. 

“And when his brothers saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”   “And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.   Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”

“And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;  And they took him, and cast him into a pit:  and the pit was  empty, there was no water in it.   And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked,  and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.”   “And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?  Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.”   “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”   “And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.” Genesis 37:23-36 

Then, through an untrue accusation of Potiphar’s wife, Joseph ended up in prison.   While in prison Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of his fellow prisoners, Pharos’ butler and his baker. Both interpretations came true.   Then it was published throughout the land of Egypt that Joseph was an interpreter of dreams.

On a certain night Pharaoh had a dream and sent for Joseph.   Pharaoh dream went like this;  There came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:  And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:  And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:  Genesis 41:18-20 

Here is a nut shell account of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream.   Joseph told pharaoh; “Behold there shall come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:  And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;” Genesis 41:29-30

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?   And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.   And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.   And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;  And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:38-43

After the famine became grievously sore, Joseph brought Jacob to Egypt, with his Dynasty in tow.  The scribe said; “All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six.” Genesis 46:26

However, after many years had past Jacob their father died.   Those bartering sons assumed that Joseph had held his peace for the sake of their aged father.   Then Moses said; “And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.   And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,  So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.   And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.   And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said,

Behold, we be thy servants.   And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?   But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.   Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” Genesis 50:15-21

THE JEWS THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST PAUL

BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD

The Jews brought an evil indictment against the Great Apostle Paul before Festus:

 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.   While Paul answered for himself, He told them Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.   But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?   Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.   For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.  Acts 25:7-11    

Paul appealed to Caesar rather than to take a chance that he would be improperly judged by the supreme council and tribunal of the Sanhedrin.

The writer continued; “Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.”  Acts 25:12

Paul left Alexandra on an embarking ship that was destined for Rome. While in route, they were shipwrecked by a violent storm; “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.   And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. Acts 28:1-2

“In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.   And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.   So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.” Acts 28:7-11

(Now here is an interesting factor; even though Paul healed all that was sick on that island, he would say later; “Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.”) 2 Timothy 4:20

GOOD NEWS!

When Paul arrived at Rome; “They said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.   But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. Acts 28:21-22

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, [31] Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”  Acts 28:30-31  

Yea, THE JEWS THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST PAUL BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD for when Paul checked in with the Church at Philippi, his salutation was to; “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.” Philippians 4:22

Sounds to me like the Apostle won the household of Caesar to Christ.

I believe that we can agree that, “The Jews meant it for evil against Paul, but God meant it for good;  to save much people alive.   The life being eternal life. May God bless amen!

YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME, BUT GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD; TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE”

Our title brings with it more meaning when it applied to our Lord Jesus for the Jews did mean it for evil but GOD meant it for Good.

Matthew said that at His mock trial, their Juries decision was unanimous; “Put Jesus to death.”   Here is that account;  “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:” Matthew 27:1

Yes, they did put Him to death.   Paul verified that, He wrote; “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:” 1 Thessalonians 2:15 

When the Jews decision was to destroy Jesus, little did they realize that when they said away with Him that they had wavered their rights to the New Covenant, God took them seriously. 

Listen to this; The Heavenly Father said through the pen of Isaiah; “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;”  Isaiah 42:6

Paul said; “What then?  Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.”

Romans 11:7

The suffering of Jesus that was brought on by men was prophesied in the law and the prophets. The Spirit of Christ that was in David

Prophesied; “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22:16 

Then another predicted; “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:21

Then the apostle John quoting; “They shall look on him whom they pierced.” John 19:37

(Those prophecies were of the affections brought on by men, but God also punished Jesus in our place.)

The Spirit of Christ that was in the prophets, said through Jeremiah:

“From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.” Lamentations 1:13

Then He said through the patient man, Job:

“He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.” Job 16:14   

Then adding to what Isaiah wrote; “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10

Amen and Amen!!