Divine Providence: God’s providence is put on display in the story of Joseph. From Jacob’s favoritism to Joseph’s brashness and the brothers’ jealousy, to the selling of Joseph and his slavery in Potiphar’s house, to his imprisonment and his role in that jail, to Pharaoh’s dream and becoming Prime Minister of Egypt, the sovereign God orchestrated every last detail[1] to preserve Israel. He did this ultimately to produce the Savior, the seed of the woman, through that chosen line of Abraham. “[God] works all things after the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11), not only to preserve Israel but ultimately to save all His elect.

Meant it for good: The famous statement in Genesis 50:20 is profound: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it [i.e., evil] for good.” God actually meant the evil of Joseph’s brothers for good. This is a tremendous revelation of how things actually operate in God’s world. Perpetrators plot, scheme, and advance evil, and they are liable for their deeds.[2] But their evil does not prevail, for the LORD rules over all things, even over human wickedness. While sinners work evil, God orchestrates their wicked deeds to bring about His good. This holds true not only of Joseph’s story but the story of the fall and everything else. Man meant evil against God but God meant it for good. Divine providence in the real world is even better than “I hope that something good will come out of all this mess.” It promises the providence of the all-wise God who works all things (even evil!) toward the ultimate good of Jesus’ return.[3]

[1] The sovereignty of God is a well-established doctrine of Scripture. Cf. Psalm 103:19; Job 42:2; Isaiah 46:10; Dan. 4:34-35; Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11.

[2] Cf. Ps. 62:12; Jer. 17:10; 32:17-19; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 20:12.

[3] This is what biblical revelation points to: the return of Christ. Cf. Eph. 1:10 where all things are said to be summed up in Christ.