Did you know that the most amazing miracles recorded in Scripture are not the ones that you are most familiar with?
To me, the greatest miracles of God can be summed up by Romans 8:28 –
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
What can be more amazing than God causing ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him? Theologians call these phenomena, the providence of God.
Some misinterpret this verse and in doing so misinterpret the providence of God. I often hear people who don’t know the Lord try to encourage others by saying something like, “Everything happens for a reason.”
That’s true, everything does happen for a reason, but not everything happens for the good of all. No, the Scripture says that God causes all things to work together for the good OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
If a person is hostile towards God or simply does not love Him, that person cannot expect, like the follower of Christ, for all things to eventually work together for their good. In fact, the opposite is true for those who don’t love God; Everything will eventually work together for their ill.
What does it look like when God works His providence in the world? The Bible is full of examples, but let’s just use one, the example of Joseph.
Joseph had eleven brothers, but he was the favorite. His brothers sell him into slavery and tell their father that he was killed by a wild animal. He’s taken to Egypt and works for an important man. This man’s wife tries to seduce Joseph but he won’t allow it. She then claims that he tried to take advantage of her and Joseph is unjustly imprisoned.
He eventually gets out of prison by helping the Pharaoh interpret his dream. Joseph rises in power to second in command of all of Egypt. A great famine strikes the land and Joseph’s traitorous brothers have to come to Egypt for food. Joseph provides food for his family and his family is preserved.
The Lord orchestrated these events to reach this final outcome. Why? Because without the preservation of Joseph and his brothers, the sons of Jacob, who God renamed Israel, there is no twelve tribes of Israel. No twelve tribes of Israel means no nation of Israel. No nation of Israel means no Jesus.
Joseph couldn’t see the whole picture of what God was doing – and we never will be able to either in this life – but Joseph knew that all these things worked together by God’s design. He even said in Genesis 50:20 to his brothers –
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Through God’s providence, He can even use the evil intent of the hearts of mankind to work for the good of those who love Him!
This week, we’ll get to see God’s providence in action in the burial of Jesus- prepare to be amazed!
Much love to you, my family in Christ!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
