Verse of the Day 2/27
Genesis 50:20-21 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. New King James Version (NKJV)
For today's verse we'll go back to the book of Genesis where in the final chapter where Joseph confronts his brothers, the same ones that out of jealousy culminating in the "coat of many colors"; had sold him into slavery, and instead of punishing them, shows grace to them, reassuring them that God had meant it all for good and that hear and now, all of their families would be provided for because of His providence.
In reading the Bible, it is easy to overlook or not fully comprehend the meaning, the root meaning, of many words that we read in context. Max Lucado writes, "You meant evil against me," Joseph told his brothers, using a Hebrew verb that traces its meaning to "weave" or "plait." "You wove evil," he was saying, "but God rewove it together for good."...God, the Master Weaver. He stretches the yarn and intertwines the colors, the ragged twine with the velvet strings, the pains with the pleasures. Nothing escapes his reach. Every king, despot, weather pattern, and molecule are at his command. He passes the shuttle back and forth across the generations, and as he does, a design emerges. Satan weaves; God reweaves."
I've had the privilege of going to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and seeing some of the great tapestries on display there. Master weavers combined yarns of silk along with silver, gold as well as other fibers to create these tapestries that tell a story. They are woven in such a way that the image actually appears to change depending on the angle from which they are viewed. (If you have some time "Google" it). If you recall, Joseph had been given a coat of many colors of very high value that put the brothers over the ledge in their jealousy of the father's love for Joseph. But now, many years later, Joseph reveals, and the words would not have been lost on them that God "wove" the circumstances for good for this very time and place.
Think of some of the events in your life. They may have seemed like the worst things that could have possibly happened. But could it be that God was "weaving" something good out of it? We may not see it yet, or even on this side of eternity, but He is doing so in our lives. Think of all of the time in heaven where we will hear countless stories of the tapestries woven in the lives of His people and you will be one of them.
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies?
Who through life has been my guide
Heavenly peace divinest comfort
Ere by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate'er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well
And He cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me strength for every trial
And He feeds me with the living bread
And though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be
Gushing from a rock before me
Oh the fullness of His love
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above
When my spirit clothed immortal
Wings it's flight to realms of the day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way"
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Genesis 50:15-21 New King James Version (NKJV)
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may [a]actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him." 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." ' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."
19 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke [b]kindly to them.
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