“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him into slavery in Egypt. God was with him, however, and rescued him from all his troubles. The grace and wisdom he gave Joseph were recognized by Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over his whole palace. A famine came upon all Egypt and Canaan, and great hardship came with it. Our ancestors had nothing to eat. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there for the first time. During their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives—seventy-five in all—and invited them to live with him. So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had purchased for a certain sum of money from Hamor’s children, who lived in Shechem. (Acts 7:9-16, CEB)
This is Stephen telling the history of God to those who were persecuting him. And here we have the story of Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery. They wanted him gone because their father loved him the best. So they sold him off.
But the thing they intended for evil was used for good to save not only Joseph but them and all of Israel. Now yes it did end the nation up as slaves of Egypt but they all survived the famine…
You see God doesn’t stop evil from happening but is present in all things to work good for all.
Bad things don’t happen because God wants them to. Bad things happen and God works through them.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 