Mon., 2/17/20 Devotion (Gen. 50:20)

Today's encouragement comes from Genesis 50:20, which finds Joseph say-ing this, to his brothers:

"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." (ESV)

What trials or afflictions has God brought our ways lately? Have we ever con-sidered that perhaps, without them, we would lose out on a lot of good? None of this is meant to diminish the fact that actual evil is perpetrated on the church’s saints, by wicked men. But it puts it all into perspective, in light of a the love and government of a Sovereign God.

Does this mean that we are to necessarily "enjoy" our tribulations, any more than Joseph did all his time in prison, etc.? No. But it does mean that we are able to see, by faith, that without these troubles we would never become more like Jesus.

[AUGUSTINE quote of the day: “We . . . have the support of divine authority in the history of our religion.” —from, “City of God,” Bk. 18.]