You Intended to Harm Me But God Intended it For Good {Genesis 50}

When we go through difficult circumstances, we can remember that whatever the enemy intends for our harm, God intends for our good and His glory. #Biblestudy #Genesis #WomensBibleStudy #GoodMorningGirls

 

{Cue the Confetti!!}  Today we complete the book of Genesis!

Genesis is a LONG book of the Bible – 50 chapters! So if you read it all with the GMGs – high five – way to go!

Let’s take a look at this final chapter because Joseph makes a powerful statement to his brothers when he says in verse 20:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

{if you are reading this in an email – join me here for this 3 minute video}

Joseph’s brother’s feared he’d settle the score.  Joseph had become one of the most powerful men in Egypt and yet he refused to harm his brothers.

The hurt he felt was real.

The harm they did to him was real.

But Joseph’s perspective on the sovereignty of God led him to forgive.

Have you seen the hand of God in your life?  Directing your path through both the good and bad times.

I have.

Elizabeth Elliot (whose husband was murdered on the mission field) said:

gateway to joy elisabeth elliot

Everything.

**Chime In**

Are you ready to hand everything over to God, so he can fill those hurt places with joy?

What is it that you need to give to God today?

How has God redeemed a hurt place in your life?

In closing, what is the main lesson or thing you learned from studying Genesis?

Walk with the King,

Courtney

{I apologize I am having technical difficulties with the link-up.}

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21 Comments

  1. I have learned so much through this steady, chapter-by-chapter reading of the book of Genesis. And it certainly was a case of “saving the best for last”…I think verse 20 is my favourite verse in the WHOLE Bible!!
    Thank you for all of your hard work in putting together the blog, updating the reading schedules, and everything else that’s gone into making this Bible reading plan such a fabulous experience for so many <3
    Can't wait to get into the Psalms with you all.

  2. I love your comments on the video today. I wrote you recently about my concerns and lack of joy for our country and culture. Since then I have sort of had the word “joy” as my goal. Your sentence about giving everything over to God can be a gateway to joy really lit up in my heart the moment you spoke it. You do such a beautiful job here ministering to us ladies. Thank you for helping us walk with the King.

  3. I feel like God led me to this site! I’ve been dealing with fresh pain, but being reminded of how Joseph forgave has really helped put things in perspective for me. I look forward to picking up the Bible study as you begin Exodus!

  4. I have always loved the story of Joseph, my favorite in the Bible. I love the redemption, the purpose and God’s guiding hand yet knowing that in the day to day, moment to moment, Joseph didn’t see it but trusted God anyway. I can imagine at times there was great discouragement and struggle for Joseph. I think this story is there to help us gain that perspective in our lives. I love it!

  5. Hi Courtney,

    Firstly, Genesis 50:20 is a verse God has brought to mind to reassure me in a current situation.

    Secondly, I was reminded of a song (When I needed a Saviour) whilst reading this post. It’s by Matt Redman, and the lyrics of the chorus are:
    You made me fruitful in the land of my suffering, Father
    You made me hopeful in the place of no hope.
    Poured oil of gladness on the wounds of my struggling,
    And You poured oil of healing on the depths of my soul.

    Thank-you for all the sacrifices you make to facilitate this group, lead by example and witness Jesus to others. I am praying for you.
    Love Georg xx

  6. Courtney,

    I love that quote by Elisabeth Elliot. She is such an example of pushing through the hard and allowing God to use it to make us more like Christ. I love Genesis and I’m so thankful for the hope we have in God!

  7. Thank you for this study, Courtney. I love the book of Genesis; it is my favorite. There is so much to learn from the stories of God worked personally through the lives of His people. Joseph especially touches my heart. I can see how hard seasons in my life where I was mistreated God used that season to draw me closer to Him, and to work some things out of me.

  8. Thank you Courtney,

    I have been following your blog for a while now…four years? Thank you for being faithful and open about your life and leading us to the Word!

    Just today pain from the past year came up again and I have been struggling with the memories and hurt. Would I be willing to give it all to God Yes. Could I. I don’t know. I don’t know how to let go of this pain, this desire to be approved and accepted and for the disappointment of being rejected… I know in my head I will get there, but sometimes emotions are stronger and I need to remind myself of the truth. Thank you for speaking it up today! God intended it for good!

    1. Henna your words sound just like mine. I am glad I am not alone.

      What a timely message today and much needed. Thank you Courtney for showing how to be graceful when someone treats you unfairly.

  9. Hello! Guess what? This verse came to me TWICE today – both from different ‘sources’ , so kinda thinking the HS is trying to tell me something 😉 (gotta love when it smacks you in the face like that! I think sometimes we humans need that, in order for it to fully get through to us!) So – Thank you – I too feel ‘led’ to your site (not an accident! Like I said, it is definately the Holy Spirit leading us to you), so like other ladies (and gents 🙂 have mentioned, thank you so very much – I’m sure it is time-consuming for you to put all of this material together, but you have an *awesome* ministry here, and I am learning to never underestimate the impact we can have on others! Sometimes it’s just a small word you say, or encouraging thought (like that “joy” comment from the woman above) – so God bless you, and your heart <3

  10. WOW WOW WOW – Just went to another blog and LOOK what was in the post;

    “Those who leave everything in God’s hand will eventually see God’s hand in everything”

    Thank you Lord, for this word today;

    To everyone reading this, strive to put God first in *everything*, and the rest will just fall into place – let Go and let God!
    It is hard at first, but your faith will be strengthened, and will get a bit easier after awhile, and life actually gets easier (imagine!) as we trust the lord with ALL of our heart, and lean not on our own understanding.

  11. The word ‘intend’ isn’t there at all (and shouldn’t be in the NIV) the word is meant which has a completely different meaning in hebrew. The word in hebrew is chashab and means to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count, devise, reckon, regard, consider, etc.

  12. This last chapter of Genesis read, to me, like the end of a good book which one is not ready to say goodbye to. I was so touched by Joesph’s love for his father. His grief was filled with tender love; kisses, precise instructions to the embalming physicians. an enormous procession which included pharaoh’s officials, -traveling from Egypt to Canaan, the ceremonial nature of mourning.

    And regarding Joseph’s death, the Asbury bible commentary points out that “Joseph does not die an Egyptian. He dies embracing the promise of a future hope for his people.” How powerful that is.

    I found myself dwelling on these patriarchs of Israel, -my shared humanity with them, as well as their purpose in God’s greater plans, which extend all the way to my family and me. Wow!

    Joseph’s words to his brothers in verse 21 ( You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.) was such a needed reminder, to me, that when others persecute me, I can trust God that a greater plan is at work, and that He is in all the details of my life.

    I was so taken by the verses about Joseph’s death. I wasn’t ready to let the patriarchs go, nor to say goodbye to Joseph. There is MUCH, still, for me to learn from studying his life. I am deeply moved by his dying words (“God will surely come to your aid”) and his one request, -that his bones be carried “up from this place.” Exodus 13:19 and Joshua 24:32 reveal the execution of that request by Moses, hundreds of years later. Incredible! And to think that they (his bones) were protected for all those 40 years in the desert as well. Ladies, I am so taken by this final chapter. It is layered with significance for us.

  13. I’m really loving this idea of how Joseph just… well, he just forgave his brothers. He looked past the hurt he’d been put through and decided to obey God by forgiving them. He didn’t know at the time that his brothers’ harm would bring him to a place where his rewards were bountiful, yet he trusted and God and in the end, he realized the significance of the hurt he’d gone through… I recently wrote a blog post about forgiveness myself, so this was very personal to me. I love your post! Thanks so much for writing that. 🙂

    Here’s a take on forgiveness:
    http://juliamorgan.weebly.com/blog/forgive-them-why-should-i

  14. I’ve been saved for over 30 years now and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed, or got so much food for my soul from, reading the book of Genesis! It is so full of lessons and i know I’ve just skimmed the surface of it. Every time I have read my daily chapter I have been blessed with new treasures, some that I never saw before.
    Thank you very much, Courtney, for this blog and the help it has been to me in my daily walk with the King. I used to flit from one blog to another, gleaning here and there, but I am settled now in the ‘field of Boaz’, staying close to all you ladies and feeling like part of such a wonderful family of sisters in Christ! (I’m an only child and can’t wait until the great reunion day when I ‘meet’ you all in eternity!!).

  15. I just found this post as I am in the final stages of healing from some people who harmed my family. God used that time to direct our path to a much better place. This verse is what God has been speaking to me and I see the fruition of it now. What they meant for evil, God meant for good. You posted this exactly when the hardships were hitting us. It is exactly what I need now for what I was going through then. Isn’t it beautiful how God weaves that fabric of our lives to intertwine exactly when and where He knows it is best. Thank you for your ministry!

  16. I read through Genesis–But I miss your comments about each chapter
    Is there anyway that I can find them from archives–or can you send them to me

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