The Doorpost: Genesis 50:20

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.
Genesis 50:20

God is in control. For those who are called according to His purpose, that works for good (Romans 8:28).

You need to read Genesis chapters 37 to 50 to get the complete picture of what Joseph was talking about in the verse above. Joseph’s brothers had kidnapped him and sold him into slavery. He had been put into prison after being falsely accused. A fellow prisoner forgot about Joseph after being released from prison.

Then, at just the right time, the fellow prisoner remembered Joseph. In only a few hours, Joseph went from being a prisoner to being the second most powerful person in all of Egypt. His new position enabled him to prepare the Egyptians for a coming famine. Ultimately, the lives of all of the children of Israel were preserved, continuing God’s plan to provide a Savior for Israel and for the entire world.

In the case of Joseph, he saw some of God’s good plan in his own lifetime, and more good came later. In other cases, the good is seen only in later generations. There are also times when God’s goodness in a particular situation may only be seen in eternity. No matter what situations we face as believers in Jesus Christ, we can be sure that we will ultimately experience His goodness, in this life or in the next. God is good, and He is in control. Remembering this is essential to living by faith.