Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Genesis chapter 45, verse 5, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here.

For God sent me before you to preserve life.

I will never forget, as long as God gives me memory, the moment

when I read this verse and my time alone with him one day when I was struggling with being

treated unfairly, unjustly,

in a particular circumstance,

and I couldn't understand why, and I was frustrated.

And I read this verse, and it just immediately brought me,

literally to my knees, because I realized that God was using even that injustice to bring about good. And that's exactly

what Joseph is saying here in this verse. He's telling his brothers who sold him in the slavery,

which led to imprisonment and injustice on a level, I can't even

imagine. And he looks at them and says, don't be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold

me here. Because you did that. You did sell me here. That was evil, unjust, but God sent me here before you to preserve life.

How does this work?

The mystery of divine providence that people act in evil ways.

Joseph's brother sold him into slavery.

That was sin.

But over and above, even that sin, God works.

God was working specifically in Joseph's life to bring about preservation of life for his brothers.

Like, oh, how does this happen? Only in the wise counsel of God, in the wise

sovereignty of God who controls ultimately all things so that all things might work together for the good of those who love him and trust him and walk with

...