You probably remember a lot of the story of Joseph and his brothers. When they were growing up, their father seemed to treat Joseph with special favor (Genesis 37:3), so the other fellows decided to kill him (Genesis 37:20). They end up selling him to some passers-by (Genesis 37:28), so Joseph ends up Egypt and gets in high favor with the powers-that-be (Genesis 39:2; 41:42). Hard times hit where Joseph’s birth family still lived (Genesis 41:53), but Joseph made it possible for them to get food (Genesis 42:25). The story continues until finally the brothers come and ask Joseph for forgiveness (Genesis 50:17). Then, Joseph forgives them, acknowledging that they had meant to harm him, but God had used it to provide for God’s people (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph saw that God can use even our failures as a tool to serve God’s greater purposes. This, of course, is not an invitation to do all the bad things we can so God will have plenty with which to work! It is, rather, an invitation not to give up on the journey even when we make mistakes of judgments and mistakes of practice. Here is how the apostle Paul put it: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). No wonder Paul exclaims “How unsearchable are (God’s) judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” (Romans 11:33).
I remember once when a friend of mine was harming a lot of people, mostly with his false accusations. I felt like I needed to go to him and confront him, but I could not get the courage to do so. Finally, his world collapsed when all these people turned against him. He was at a low point in his life when he came to me and said, “When everybody else hated me, you still did not accuse me, so I thought I must be worth something to somebody.” He took that grain of semi-truth and began a journey of caring, support, witness, faithful outreach, and service to God. In other words, God used my weakness and lack of courage to create a new beginning for my friend. Don’t give up even when you fail; God ain’t through with the situation yet! I guess that is what Solomon meant in Proverbs 2:11: “prudence will watch over you.”
Sometime, we may be the brothers; sometimes, we may be Joseph. Either way, God can use us.
What Someone Else Has Said: Dianna E. Anderson has written (Damaged Goods, Jericho Books): “Certainty is the enemy of faith, and doubt and questioning are necessary companions on our journeys through the sacred and profane realm that is human life.”
Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “Use my weakness, Lord...”
