Romans 8:28, Applied to Joseph in Egypt

[newton3005]

Romans 8:28-30 says, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” To the extent there would be varying degrees in terms of the magnitude of what a person is called for that ends in being justified and glorified, this passage applies to each of us.

God does not verbally tell us of His Plans for us; He communicates through our hearts. Our awareness of His knocking on our hearts can be likened to the extent of our awareness of entertaining angels in the Context of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Hebrews 13:2. Better to be safe by being sober and upright enough to receive God in our hearts.

But how may Romans 8:28-30 apply to Joseph in Genesis 37-Genesis 50? Well, those Chapters tell us that Joseph’s brothers, out of their jealousy of him, leave him by the roadside to be at the mercy of whoever comes by. Is this not a form of evil, to abandon your brother? You may ask yourselves at this point, how does this work for good, for Joseph or anyone else? Glad you asked, since Joseph himself provides the answer.

In Genesis 50:19-20, Joseph, whose brothers were before him in his capacity as an Overseer over the land of Egypt as appointed by the Pharoah in Genesis 41:41 (It’s a long story between Josephs being thrown by the wayside and his being appointed Overseer by the Pharoah, but you can look it up!) and who remembered what his brothers did to him and have asked for his forgiveness, says to his brothers “...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.” Joseph was referring to helping Egypt deal with the famine in the land by ensuring that Egypt had enough food for themselves and in neighboring lands. This is the “good” that turned out as a result of the evil, to the “thing” if you will, that Joseph’s brothers wronged on him.

Is there a lesson here? The lesson is that God may call on anyone for extraordinary things, but you must love Him to get the message. Another lesson may be that before you sink your head and wallow in self-pity for something bad that was done for you, or before you seek revenge, consider God’s purpose for you and how what happened to you fits in with His Plans for you.

Did Joseph love God? The Bible doesn’t say. Then again, from what we know of John 21:25, there’s a lot of things the Bible doesn’t say. But what the Bible does say is that “The Lord was with Joseph” from Genesis 39:2 on, ensuring that he was cared and provided for in any situation thereafter. There must have been SOME love exchanged between God and Joseph, and others as well, culminating in a good turnout for Joseph and others.

 

[Strong in Him]

Romans 8:28-30 says, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” To the extent there would be varying degrees in terms of the magnitude of what a person is called for that ends in being justified and glorified, this passage applies to each of us.

God does not verbally tell us of His Plans for us; He communicates through our hearts. Our awareness of His knocking on our hearts can be likened to the extent of our awareness of entertaining angels in the Context of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Hebrews 13:2. Better to be safe by being sober and upright enough to receive God in our hearts.

But how may Romans 8:28-30 apply to Joseph in Genesis 37-Genesis 50?

You can't apply a Bible verse to someone who lived thousands of years before it was written.
Joseph, himself, told his brothers, "you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good", Genesis 50:20. Paul might even have had this verse in mind when he wrote his words to the Romans.

I don't like the translations that say that all THINGS work for good - that makes it sound like "if you love God, all things will, somehow, work for good, or come out right". The implication is that if they don't, it means someone doesn't love God.
It is GOD who works for good in all things

 

[Brightfame52]

Rom 8:28 applies to all believers in Christ.