IT WAS GOD.
When you look backwards on all that you’ve seen, done, and experienced up to this point in your life, do you have any moments where you are able to declare, “IT WAS GOD!”?
Maybe it was when the LORD provided for you in a super practical way. Or maybe it was when the LORD opened a door for you to enter into a new opportunity. Or maybe it was when the LORD gave you wisdom and discernment related to a direction to begin walking in.
Either way, I’m hoping there are more than just a few moments that come to mind where you’re able to declare, ‘IT WAS GOD.’
As we continue in this devotional series, ‘I WROTE IT IN MY JOURNAL LIKE THIS…’, the phrase “IT WAS GOD” took on new meaning for me this past week.
When I look backwards, there are so many moments where I can say with 100% confidence and conviction, “IT WAS GOD!” But truth be told, all of those moments are positive, uplifting or ‘happy moments.’
Moments of God PROVIDING in crazy cool ways.
Moments of God ANSWERING prayers beyond what I was praying.
Moments where I saw God REDEEM something I thought was beyond being redeemed.
Again, I really hope that you also have LOTS of moments where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that “IT WAS GOD.” And maybe like me, those ‘IT WAS GOD’ moments might be connected to the LORD providing or answering or redeeming in AWESOME and AMAZING ways.
But here’s my question… what about the bad moments? What about the moments that have been downright painful? What about the moments where things not only did not go as you had hoped, but rather, things turned out in the most horrific way possible.
When you consider those moments… the disappointing moments… the moments of heartbreak… the moments of utter devastation and disaster… who do those moments belong to?
Do you say…
‘Oh, That was Satan!'
Or, ‘That was that evil wicked person.’
Or, ‘That was just the consequence of living in a broken world.’
I mentioned a moment ago that the three words: IT WAS GOD took on new meaning for me this week, well, here’s why. In reading Genesis 45 this week, Joseph’s perspective on what his brothers had done to him was, well, pretty transformational for me.
See it with me…
“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. IT WAS GOD who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives… it was God who sent me here, not you!”
Genesis 45:4-5, 8 (NLT)
If you’re not familiar with the story of Joseph, take a read of Genesis 39-50… super powerful story! In summary, Joseph’s brothers were awful towards Joseph. Their jealousy and mockery of Joseph was one thing, but the epitome of their evil towards their brother was made manifest in them auctioning off their brother to the highest bidder.
Their decision to become ‘slave-traders’ changed the trajectory of Joseph’s life, specifically for the next 15 years. He would serve as a slave for years and years before being falsely accused of sexual misconduct which landed him in prison for the better part of five years.
Needless to say, Joseph’s life was majorly messed up because of the sinful and selfish actions of his brothers. The very people who were tasked to love and bless and encourage Joseph (his family) were the very ones to crush Joseph through their evil actions.
IT WAS GOD
When Joseph is finally reunited with his brothers, rather than blame them for their evil and sinful actions that led to unspeakable hardships for Joseph, he simply says… IT WAS GOD.
In this moment, is Joseph saying that God was the author of evil?
In this moment, is Joseph saying that God intended evil to come his way?
NO… to both questions!
If not that, then what is Joseph saying to his brothers in this moment?
GOD CAN REDEEM EVIL FOR GOOD!
Joseph is not overlooking their sin against him… he clearly reminds them of the whole slave trading incident. He’s not dismissing what happened as no big deal.
Rather, Joseph wanted his brother to have the perspective that the LORD had given him…
IT WAS GOD!
God used evil for good.
God used sin to serve as salvation for others.
By no means does this mean we should start sinning as much as we can against people in order to see how the LORD will redeem it for good… no, please don’t do that!
Rather, I want Joseph’s perspective to be mine… to be yours. I don’t know all the sin that you’ve had to endure over the years at the hands of others, but I do know this…
GOD CAN REDEEM EVIL FOR GOOD!
By no means am I seeking to minimize anyone’s pain, hurt, or disappointment… not at all.
Like I was, I hope you find comfort and encouragement to know that in both the good and hard, IT WAS GOD.
The beauty of journaling is that when I wrote the phrase, IT WAS GOD in my journal, in a way that only God can do, those three words are now written on my heart and soul.
I’d invite you to take a moment and write those three words down in your journal and see what the LORD might do with them. Who knows, maybe the LORD will rewrite a script in your soul like He did with Joseph to see that regardless of how evil the evil is…
GOD CAN REDEEM EVIL FOR GOOD!
