God Transforms Evil for Our Good Masterfuly

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20)

That word "meant" is chasab, and it means "reckon" or think.

It's first mention occurs in Genesis 15:6

God took Abraham's faith, and reckoned him as righteous!

This word chasab also appears here in Exodus:

Exodus 26:1 
HEB: כְּרֻבִ֛ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֖ב תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃
NAS: the work of a skillful workman.
KJV: [with] cherubims of cunning work
INT: cherubim the work of a skillful shall make

Exodus 26:31 
HEB: מָשְׁזָ֑ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֛ב יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֖הּ
NAS: the work of a skillful workman.
KJV: linen of cunning work:
INT: twisted the work of a skillful shall be made cherubim

Exodus 28:6 
HEB: מָשְׁזָ֖ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵֽׁב׃ 
NAS: the work of the skillful workman.
KJV: linen, with cunning work.
INT: twisted the work of the skillful

Exodus 28:15 
HEB: מִשְׁפָּט֙ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה חֹשֵׁ֔ב כְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה אֵפֹ֖ד
NAS: the work of a skillful workman; like the work
KJV: of judgment with cunning work;
INT: of judgment the work of a skillful the work of the ephod

It speaks of the skillful work invested in the creation of  the Ark of the Covenant.

So, going back to Joseph, when his brothers feared that he would wreak vengeance on them because they had betrayed him and sold him into slavery, Joseph told his brothers:

"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."

That word "meant" is chasab, that God masterfully, skillfully turned the evil intended against him for his good.

We have this promise today because of Christ Jesus!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Jesus took all the sins of the world, and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God will take whatever bad the world throws at you, and make it work for your good.

Believe it!

Do We Really Believe that All Things Work for Good?

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Paul was definite and unwavering about this.

"We know that all things work together for good ..."

Do you really believe that?

The trial of faith is all about taking God at His Word. Do we really believe that He cares for us, in the face of everything

Or don't we?

It all starts with what His Son Jesus did for us.

That is how we know that He is on our side:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:31-34)

How do we know that God is on our side? It's all about His Son Jesus and what He did for us at the Cross.

It's not about whether we find that great parking spot or not.

It's not about whether we are justly or unjustly freed from a criminal or civil penalty in court.

It has nothing to do with what may happen tomorrow.

It has everything to do with what Jesus did for us at the Cross.

This was the touchstone for growth for me. I learned that He is taking care of me not because my cirucumstances are going well. We have to appraise, esteem the sacrifice that Jesus became for us:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

There is no value in everything else getting taken care of in our lives if we are still under condemnation. There is no value to wealth and riches if we live in hatred and bitterness.

It's the gift of righteousness which enables us to receive all other gifts.

With this promise in mind, with this affirmation in place, we can know and believe that all things work together for good.

But wait ...

Isn't there a caveat in place? All things work together for those who love God.

We need to work on loving God more, right?

OK, but the source for loving God more comes from our knowing how much He loved us!

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

Jesus--the same yesterday, today, and forever--is our mercy seat forever. Our sins are put away forever.

When we understand this, how can we NOT love Him?

In fact ...

"We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

There.

It all goes back to the Gift of Righteousness and the abundance of grace which comes with it (Romans 5:17)

When we see that, then everything else falls into place, and all things indeed work for our good:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)

It's all about His gift of righteousness!