Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Jeremiah 29:11
Good out of Evil
If Joseph had not been thrown into a pit to die, his brothers wouldn’t have sold him to slave traders. If Joseph hadn’t been sold to slave traders, he wouldn’t have been sold to Potiphar’s household. If He hadn’t been sold to Potiphar’s household, he wouldn’t have been unfairly accused and thrown into prison. If Joseph hadn’t been unfairly accused and thrown into prison, he wouldn’t have interpreted the two prisoner’s dreams. If Joseph hadn’t interpreted the two men’s dreams, he wouldn’t have had a chance to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and if he hadn’t interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he wouldn’t have been put in second command of all Egypt and if not for that, the great seven-year famine that came would have caused millions to die including Jacob and the nation of Israel, so when Joseph finally saw his brothers, he said, “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” (Gen 50:20).
Plans for a Future
I can make this a very easy part of the devotional and still write about God’s plans for our future. All I have to do is to quote the Apostle John who wrote, “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:3-5). The word for “dwelling place” actually means “tabernacle,” so really, “the tabernacle of God is with man,” and interestingly, this is the same word John used in speaking of Jesus, where “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and “dwelt” in this verse also means “to tabernacle.” So it is; Jesus lives in us and He tabernacles or dwelling all believers.
A Future with Hope
I have heard it said that when all hope is gone, life is meaningless, but for the Christ follower, we have a hope that’s unlike anything the world has ever seen. Some people might “hope” to get a better job, or buy a better car, or find a spouse, or hope their team wins the championship, but that’s a hope-so, hope. We who believe have a surer hope than that. It’s not a hope-so but a know-so hope. That’s because our hope is anchored on the Rock, Jesus Christ, and He’s not going anywhere my friends! He’s got plans for us and offers us hope unlike anything that the world could ever offer.
Conclusion
Just think about this my brothers and sisters; God can use evil to bring about good (John 3:16), God has planned to dwell or tabernacle with each of His children some day; and we have a hope so incredible that it’s indescribable. That alone should give you hope today.
