Genesis 50:20

[Hammster]

You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people. (Genesis 50:20 HCSB)

How was God able to arrange to have Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery (which was a sin) and not violate their free will?

 

[crimsonleaf]

I'll wait...

 

[Hammster]

The silence is deafening.

 

[motherprayer]

Where does it say God orchestrated them selling him into slavery? I thought that was the whole "you planned evil against me" part?

 

[Hammster]

Where does it say God orchestrated them selling him into slavery? I thought that was the whole "you planned evil against me" part?

It's the part where it says"God planned it for good".

 

[motherprayer]

It's the part where it says"God planned it for good".

Meh. Kinda splitting hairs. God was like, okay, you're in jail, let's turn this aroung.

Unless you have a better answer, and will henceforth enlighten me?

Be gentle. I'm in DeNile, remember?

 

[Hammster]

Meh. Kinda splitting hairs. God was like, okay, you're in jail, let's turn this aroung.

Unless you have a better answer, and will henceforth enlighten me?

Be gentle. I'm in DeNile, remember?

Okay, how did God "turn it around" without violating anyone's free will?

 

[motherprayer]

Okay, how did God "turn it around" without violating anyone's free will?

Cause Joseph was a good vessel. Joe's free choice to serve God even through his hot-messiness opened the door.

 

[Hammster]

Cause Joseph was a good vessel. Joe's free choice to serve God even through his hot-messiness opened the door.

So God planned for Joseph to be sold into slavery because He knew he was good and good things always happen to good people. Is that what I'm supposed to take away from this?

 

[ptomwebster]

The silence is deafening.

Ham, you put the question on the board at 9:30 this morning and now you say, "The silence is deafening" at 11:00 AM, did you really expect a lot of response so fast?

How was God able to orchestrate Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery (which was a sin) and not violate their free will?

Most people in this Heaven and earth age have free-will, some are already condemned, and yet others are of the elect, they have been justified. This is based on what they did in the first age. Satan in among those condemned. Joseph and his brothers are among the elect. Again based on what they did in the first age. God can interfere in the lives of the elect to accomplish His plan.

 

[motherprayer]

So God planned for Joseph to be sold into slavery because He knew he was good and good things always happen to good people. Is that what I'm supposed to take away from this?

I never pictured God as being behind Joseph being sold into slavery.

 

[Hammster]

Ham, you put the question on the board at 9:30 this morning and now you say, "The silence is deafening" at 11:00 AM, did you really expect a lot of response so fast?

Yes. There were six or seven people in Soteriology when I posted the OP, and when I posted the second time it had already received over 20 views. But thanks for asking.

Most people in this Heaven and earth age have free-will, some are already condemned, and yet others are of the elect, they have been justified. This is based on what they did in the first age. Satan in among those condemned. Joseph and his brothers are among the elect. Again based on what they did in the first age. God can interfere in the lives of the elect to accomplish His plan.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[Hammster]

I never pictured God as being behind Joseph being sold into slavery.

That's what the verse in the OP is talking about.

 

[motherprayer]

That's what the verse in the OP is talking about.

Who is "you" in the verse?

 

[Hammster]

Who is "you" in the verse?

The brothers who sold Joseph into slavery.

 

[motherprayer]

The brothers who sold Joseph into slavery.

So that's who planned it.

 

[motherprayer]

God knew, the brothers planned. Its like he knew I would go to work today, even though in my finiteness I might think my planning it could have been anything different from what God knew already would happen.

(Cringes in fear of Crimson's response)

 

[Hammster]

God knew, the brothers planned. Its like he knew I would go to work today, even though in my finiteness I might think my planning it could have been anything different from what God knew already would happen.

(Cringes in fear of Crimson's response)

If that's what the verse said, that would be fine. However, the same word used for the brother's actions is used for God's. It isn't "you made lemons; God made lemonade."

 

[motherprayer]

If that's what the verse said, that would be fine. However, the same word used for the brother's actions is used for God's. It isn't "you made lemons; God made lemonade."

I think we need someone well versed in Greek to figure this one out, because I just looked at a couple other translations and they all use different words for what the brothers did verses what God did. So I'm confuzzled lol

 

[ptomwebster]

I think we need someone well versed in Greek to figure this one out, because I just looked at a couple other translations and they all use different words for what the brothers did verses what God did. So I'm confuzzled lol

Genesis is Hebrew not Greek. Just look the words in question up in your Strong's.