Accomplishing His Purpose

“…But God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20

Understand something about God’s plan for your life. It wasn’t drawn up last night. He is not making it up or editing it on the fly. God doesn’t have to improvise or adjust. God’s plan for you and for me is wrapped around the purpose He has not just for you and me, but also for the entire world. And this purpose existed before the world was even created. Remember this – God’s plan is always in accordance with His purpose. There is a method to God’s madness; and He has a purpose in everything He does. God not only has a plan He wants to achieve; He has a purpose He wants to accomplish. His plan and His purpose always work together.

God doesn’t react when things go wrong in your life. In fact, God doesn’t react to anything. He acts before everything. God is filtering everything that happens to us to make sure that at the end of the day His purpose is accomplished. It took Joseph 23 years to fully see what this purpose was in his life. Listen to Joseph’s “Aha moment” in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” What lives was Joseph referring to? Earlier he said this to his brothers in Genesis 45:7: “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Joseph wasn’t just talking about his brothers, but the seeds of the Nation of Israel. These seeds needed to be planted so that God’s purpose for the entire world could be fulfilled.

There was a worldwide famine during this time. Had God not given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams, Pharaoh never would have known to plan for this famine and store up grain. Had God not put Joseph in his high position in Egypt, his entire family would have starved to death. And Joseph’s family was the seeds of Israel that needed to be planted so that God could harvest the Nation of Israel. Why was this so important? Because the Savior of the world would come from the Nation of Israel.

If Joseph’s brothers don’t sell him into slavery, he doesn’t go to Egypt. If he doesn’t go to Egypt there is no Israel. If there is no Israel there is no Jesus. If there is no Jesus there is no salvation for the world. Joseph didn’t know what God was doing, but God knew what God was doing. God had a plan for Joseph’s pit. He had bigger fish to fry than the momentary difficulties in Joseph’s life.

Things do not happen to you by coincidence; they happen by providence. God’s plan for your life is bigger than you, and bigger than any plans you could ever have for yourself.

Dear Lord, how grateful I am that you thought about me and had a plan for me long before I was even born. I pray that you would give me confidence in your plan and purpose for my life, and that I would pursue your will above all else. Amen.