Devotion

Have there ever been times in your life when it seemed like nothing could go right for you? When you tried to do the right thing, but it ended up going wrong? Or when you thought you were on the correct path, only to have the door slammed in your face?

Joseph had several of those times in his life. He sat in a deep, dark pit after his brothers had beaten him up and thrown him in. They were going to sell him to some people for silver, who would drag him off to Egypt. His brothers then tore up his coat, dipped it in blood, and told his father he had been killed by a wild animal. But why did this happen to him?

Was Egypt actually part of God’s good plan? Everything went well for Joseph while he worked for Potiphar, but then he was falsely accused of a crime he didn’t do. As he sat there alone in a dark prison cell, he didn’t understand why this was happening—but he continued to trust the Lord. God still had a plan, right? But what was it?

God did have a plan for Joseph. God used him to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams and help Egypt prepare for a famine, saving the lives of many people. Joseph was brought out of prison and put in charge of all Egypt! And his family, who had betrayed him? God had a plan for them as well. God brought them to Egypt so that Joseph could save them, give them food, and provide them a place to live. He used Joseph to keep his promises. God was always in control. And as Joseph told his brothers, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

Many years later, someone came from that family to keep all of God’s promises. He was sold for silver and betrayed by those closest to him. He was arrested even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. He was killed and sealed in a dark tomb but then came out of the darkness back to life to save his people! His name was Jesus.