What did Joseph mean when he said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20)?

Answer

After being despised by his brothers, left for dead, and sold into slavery, Joseph managed to forgive his brothers, acknowledging that God’s supreme goodness surpasses all. Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” «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. », (Genesis 50:20). He could have this perspective because of how God had worked after the hateful act of his brothers.

It all began when Joseph was seventeen years old, and he brought a negative report about his brothers to his father, Jacob «These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. », (Genesis 37:2). Jacob favored Joseph over his other sons and even gave Joseph a coat of many colors to express his love «Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. », (Genesis 37:3). Additionally, Joseph had a dream in which his entire family would bow down to him «And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. », (Genesis 37:5). Joseph’s brothers reacted poorly to these events, harboring great hatred towards Joseph (Genesis 37:4-5) and becoming envious of him «And his brethren envied him; but hisFather observed the saying. (Genesis 37:11). They plotted one day to throw him into a pit and tell their father that a wild beast had killed and eaten him (Genesis 37:18-24). After doing the deed, they decided that, rather than leave him in the pit to die, they would sell him to Midianite and Ishmaelite traders who were going to Egypt. Upon arriving in Egypt, those who had bought Joseph sold him to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain “And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.”, (Genesis 37:36).

God blessed Joseph, and Joseph grew in influence and prominence, until Potiphar put Joseph over his whole house “But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;”, (Genesis 39:8). Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph (who fled to avoid the situation), and then she lied to Potiphar, accusing Joseph of trying to take her by force (Genesis 39:17-18). Joseph was thrown into prison, but even there God looked after him (Genesis 39:21-23). Even while imprisoned, Joseph prospered, and God gave him the interpretation of dreams. When Pharaoh had a troubling dream, Pharaoh’s cupbearer remembered that Joseph had interpreted the cupbearer’s dream accurately, and he told Pharaoh (Genesis 41:9-13). Pharaoh had Joseph released from prison, and after Joseph told him the interpretation of tHe dreamt—that there was a famine coming—Pharaoh promoted Joseph over all Pharaoh’s house (Genesis 41:38-41). In the seven years that followed, Joseph led the preparations for the famine, and when the famine finally arrived, Egypt was prepared (Genesis 41:46-49) and people from all over the world traveled to Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 41:56-57).

Joseph’s brothers were sent from the land of Canaan to Egypt to buy food, and when they encountered Joseph, they did not recognize him, but Joseph recognized them. After some elaborate investigation and planning (Genesis 42—44), Joseph revealed to them who he was (Genesis 45:1-5). His brothers were terrified—Joseph was alive, and he had the power to kill them for what they had done to him. But Joseph understood and explained that God had sent him to Egypt so that he could preserve their lives, not seek judgment against them «Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. », (Genesis 45:5,7) «And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. », (Genesis 45:5,7). Even years later, after Jacob had died, the brothers still had some fear of retaliation, but Joseph again spoke kindly to them and reminded them that what they had intended for evil, God had used for good so that many lives could be preserved «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.” (Genesis 50:20).

This historical narrative is significant as it teaches us two things. First, God keeps His word, regardless of how seemingly impossible the fulfillment might appear. God had promised that the sons of Israel would be blessed and would become a mighty nation (Genesis 12, 15, 49, etc.). If the sons of Israel had perished in the famine, as they surely would have without Joseph’s deliverance, then God’s covenant promises would have been broken, and God would have been considered a liar. God kept His word, even utilizing the unrighteous deeds of some to fulfill His plan. What they intended for evil, God intended for good. God is in control, and He is reliable.

A second crucial lesson from this narrative is evident in the personal example of Joseph, who, because he trusted in God, was able to comprehend God’s overarching plan and pardon his brothers. Despite the significant harm they had caused Joseph, God did not forsake him. Instead of reacting with hatred and anger, Joseph responded with love and forgiveness, becoming a blessing to those who had sought to ruin his life. Joseph came to understand that what his brothers had planned for evil, God intended for good.

God provided for Joseph’s brothers, even though they had acted wickedly. If God operates in our lives in a similar manner, caring for us even when we are behaving unlovingly, then we, like Joseph, should also care for those who are unloving towards us.