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.
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
According to an old saying, "If life deals you a lemon, make lemonade." The amazing story of Joseph tells us that God does exactly that for his people. In the words of Paul, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).
Joseph grew up the favorite of his father, but the nemesis of his brothers, who sold him to a Midianite trader. He was dragged off to Egypt as a slave. In Egypt he won the favor of his master, Potiphar, but Potiphar's wife managed to have him sent to prison. There he won his way into the hearts ofhis jailers. He correctly predicted the future of a fellow prisoner; but was forgotten.
Finally, the former prisoner remembered, and Joseph got the chance to interpret Pharaoh's dream. Thereupon he was elevated to the highest position in the land next to Pharaoh himself. In that lofty role he managed to save his whole family. His brothers meant to harm him, but God worked it for good.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Have you ever felt that life had dealt treacherously with you? Have you ever wondered what good could possibly come from your life? If you have ever wondered, you are not alone. The story of Joseph is such a wonderful story of life. Being loved and hated at the same time and being betrayed by your brothers shows that life will not always be good to you. But we can use life's bad experiences to redeem our fortune. The Apostle Paul said, "All things work together for good. . . ." Many have misunderstood this by thinking "all things are good." We certainly can see that treating Joseph cruelly was not good, but as we read the whole story, we see that this hatred and abuse was used by God to bring about good things.
It is impossible to look forward and see how tragedy or adversity will bring about a good end; however, we can look back and see how God worked in our adversities to bring about something good.
So wait with a heart that is patient for the goodness of God to prevail. For never do prayers go unanswered, His mercy and love never fail.
