Durability of Divine Purpose

Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026

Genesis 50 serves as the punctuation mark for the book of beginnings. Jacob is dead, and the brothers are terrified that Joseph was just playing nice while their father was alive. They expect a delayed vengeance. But Joseph responds with the core thesis of the entire Torah: ‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.’

This isn’t toxic positivity. This is a profound acknowledgment that human evil is real, yet God’s purpose is deeper and more durable. It’s the theology of the ‘meant.’ Humans ‘mean’ one thing; God ‘means’ another. In the grand narrative of Scripture, this points directly to the Cross and the ultimate act of human evil. The murder of God’s Son that God ‘meant’ for the ultimate good of the world. Psalm 24 asks, ‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?’ Only the one with clean hands and a pure heart. Joseph, though imperfect, shows us a heart purified by suffering and a refusal to play God.

Living with this perspective is a total game changer. It means we don’t have to be the judge of our enemies, because God is the architect of our story. We can stop living in the fear that someone else’s sin can derail God’s plan for us. Likewise, we don’t need to defend the behavior of other sinners. If Joseph’s life tells us anything, it’s that God is never late, never surprised, and never defeated by the malice of humanity. The King of Glory, the ‘Lord strong and mighty’ from Psalm 24, has entered the gates of our messy history to heal and save.

Devotional Prompts

What evil in your life are you struggling to believe God can mean for good?
How does Joseph’s refusal to ‘be in the place of God’ (Gen. 50:19) challenge your desire for control or revenge?
Psalm 24 calls for ‘clean hands and a pure heart.’ How has your recent experience of God’s goodness purified your intentions?
Where are you currently holding a grudge that is actually an attempt to do God’s job of judging?

Prayer King of Glory, we acknowledge that the earth and all its fullness are Yours. Give us the perspective to see Your good behind the evil we encounter. Cleanse our hearts of the need for vengeance and fill us with Your peace. Amen.