As a devoted Christian, I turn to God whenever I face tribulations. I believe He is the author of my life and that He loves me and protects me. My faith in God is reinforced by how He worked everything out for good for His servants in the Bible.
So, what is the meaning of Genesis 50:20, “What Satan meant for evil God turned to good?
This verse is interpreted that God will always work things out for good for those who are in Him. Joseph trusted and served God faithfully. And being his father’s favourite son, his brothers envied him and sold him into slavery. This slavery was meant to harm him and destroy him, But God turned the situation around while he was still in Pharaoh’s captivity. His rank was raised, and he actually helped the brothers who sold him to captivity later on.
Join me as I intensively discuss what Genesis 50:20 means. I will also give you the context of this verse to better understand it. Keep reading to learn more.
What does Genesis 50:20 mean?
Genesis 50:20 can be interpreted in several ways. However, in all those explanations, what is common is that God is always there for us, and everything works for good to those who trust him, as mentioned in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Basically, Genesis 50:20 speaks of how God can bring good out of what was meant for evil and how even in the face of difficult circumstances, God can work in our lives to bring about positive outcomes.
In chapter 50 of Genesis, Joseph’s brothers had intended to harm him, but God had a bigger plan for Joseph’s life. Through his experiences of being sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned, Joseph became a wise and capable leader.
And through his position of power, he was able to save many people from starvation during the famine.
Joseph’s words in Genesis 50:20 can be seen as a message of hope and reassurance that even in the midst of difficult circumstances, God can bring about good outcomes.
The verse does not mean that God causes evil but rather that God can use even the most difficult situations for good.
What is the context of Genesis 50:20?
The context of Genesis 50:20 is the story of Joseph’s journey from being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers to becoming a powerful ruler in Egypt and how God used his experiences to bring about a greater good. Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and he was favoured by their father.
This favouritism made Joseph’s brothers jealous, and they sold him into slavery in Egypt when he was a young man.
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials. However, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime and thrown into prison.
While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s servants, and his interpretations proved to be true.
Later, Pharaoh himself had a troubling dream, and the cupbearer remembered Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, and he correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dream as a warning of a coming famine. Impressed with Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed him as a high-ranking official in his court.
During the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt seeking food, and they were brought before Joseph, though they did not recognize him.
Joseph forgave his brothers and revealed his identity to them, and it was in this context that he spoke the words of Genesis 50:20 that say, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
What does ‘what the devil meant for evil’ mean?
This phrase means that some things might happen in our lives, and the devil takes advantage of such things to cause evil and harm to us. This phrase is derived from the idea that the devil, as a symbol of evil and temptation, can try to cause harm or destruction in people’s lives.
The phrase suggests that the devil or evil forces may have intended something negative, harmful, or destructive.
Bible verses about what the devil meant for evil, but God meant it for good
Romans 8:28 – This verse reminds us that even in the midst of trials and difficulties, God can use those circumstances to ultimately bring about good for those who love Him.
Job 42:12 -Job suffered immense loss and hardship, but in the end, God restored to him everything he had lost and blessed him even more.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
In this passage, Paul speaks of a thorn in his flesh that he had asked God to remove. But God told him that His grace is sufficient. Paul learned to trust in God’s strength even in the midst of his weakness and hardship.
James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
This verse encourages us to see trials as an opportunity for growth and maturation and to trust that God can use them for our ultimate benefit.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
