GOD WORKS THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD
The Bibles says: “The Lord is good to all” (Psalm 145:9). “ He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Furthermore, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:9).
GOD WORKED THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
In the Old testament we can see God using Joseph as an example of the Lord working things together for the good of many:
1. Joseph believed in god; however, he was sold into slavery by his eleven brothers. They were jealous of him because their father, Jacob, loved him most. After selling their brother into slavery, they convinced their father he was killed by a wild animal. Jacob mourned a great deal for Joseph (Genesis 37:11-35).
2. Joseph ended up in Egypt and became the servant of an Egyptian official. However, the wife of the official wanted to go to bed with Joseph. When he refused, she falsely accused him of trying to rape her. As a result, Joseph was put in prison (Genesis 39).
Sometime later, the cupbearer and the baker of Pharaoh offended him, and they were put in prison where Joseph was confined. While in prison both of Pharaoh’s servants had troubling dreams, which can to the attention of Joseph. He told them to tell him the dreams, for his God could interpret them. They told Joseph their dreams. According to the interpretation of the dreams God gave Joseph, the baker would be hanged; but the butler would be reinstated to his former position. It happened just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. (Genesis 40).
3. Later, when the Pharaoh had a dream of seven fat and seven lean cows which no one could interpret, the reinstated butler told him about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh. Joseph let Pharaoh know he could not interpret dreams, but his God could. God interpreted the dream as meaning there would be seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine. The King of Egypt believed Joseph.
Pharaoh made Joseph second in command of all Egypt. With his God-given wisdom, Joseph stored up food in the years of plenty to feed the people in the years of famine (Genesis 41).
4. The famine spread to the land where Joseph’s family lived. Joseph’s father, sent his sons (except for his youngest son, Benjamin) to Egypt to purchase food. When the bothers who had sold Joseph into slavery came to him to purchase food, they did not recognize Joseph; but he recognized them. However, Joseph made several maneuvers before making himself known to them. Later, Joseph sent for his whole family to come to Egypt to live with him so he could take care of them. (Genesis 43-45).
After their father died, the brothers who sold Joseph into slavery feared Joseph would take revenge on them. But Joseph told them: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
“God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance”– the saving of many souls (Romans 2:4
GOD WORKED THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus, appearing In the New Testament, is the perfect example of God working things together for good for his people.
For reasons of jealousy and power the Bible says the Jewish Sanhedrin and Pilate, Roman governor, had Jesus crucified. The Lord told them “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). Although the ones who crucified Jesus meant it for evil, God the Father meant for good.
“The goodness of God leads you to repentance”—the saving of many souls (Romans 2:4)
GOD IS WORKING THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD TODAY
As people of God, we may be tested and tried with many things that the devil intend for harm, but God works them together for our good (Revelation 2:10). God works all the trials in our lives for good, including temptations, and other hardships related to financial, family, health, social and many other problems.
The Holy Spirit strengthens, helps and encourages us with God’s Word:
- Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
- For those God foreknew would repent and believe in his only begotten Son, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
- 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).
For all who respond to his goodness and love him, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ has in store “a crown of righteousness” in heaven where we will live with God forever (2 Timothy 4:8; John 14:3).
