Blessed to save

Genesis 50:20 - “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

 

Genesis 50:20 reminds us that God can redeem even what others intend for harm. We often draw comfort from this truth, that He turns pain into blessing, loss into victory, and broken circumstances into something good. We frequently connect this promise with Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good for those who love Him.” And rightly so, it is a deep assurance of God’s sovereignty and care.

 

Yet we must ask: Is that where the story ends?

 

Joseph’s words invite us to look beyond personal restoration to a larger divine purpose.

 

Joseph did not interpret God’s goodness merely as his own elevation from prison to palace. He recognised that God had positioned him so that many lives might be preserved. The good he experienced was not an end in itself , it was a means through which God extended grace to others – the saving of lives.

 

This pattern appears repeatedly throughout Scripture.

 

God blessed Abraham so that he might be a blessing to the nations. 

 

God formed Israel to reflect His glory among the peoples. “A light to the nations”

 

Esther was placed in the palace not for personal security or status, but so that she might intercede and save her people from destruction. Her deliverance and influence became the means through which a nation was preserved.

 

Above all, we see this truth fulfilled in Christ. Human injustice and cruelty led to the Cross, yet God intended it for ultimate good,  the salvation of the world. The suffering of One became life for many.

 

These examples point us toward the heart of the Great Commission. God’s work in us is never meant to terminate with us. When He redeems, restores, and blesses our lives, He invites us into His mission, that others may also encounter His saving grace.


Therefore, the promise that “all things work for good” is not merely about personal comfort or success. It is about alignment with God’s redemptive purposes. We are shaped, strengthened, and positioned so that we may participate in His work of reaching the nations.

 

We are not only recipients of grace, we are ambassadors of it. As Genesis 50:20 puts it – “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”.

 

Perhaps this invites us to reconsider how we understand God’s blessings in our own lives. When He carries us through hardship, restores us after loss, or opens unexpected doors, it may not be solely for our comfort or advancement. We may be placed where we are so that His grace can flow through us to others.

 

Reflection 

  • Am I viewing God’s goodness only through the lens of personal benefit?
  • Or am I willing to see my life as part of His larger redemptive purpose?
  • God’s blessings are rarely terminal, they are missional.
  • We are not only recipients of grace; we are channels of it.

 

Prayer


Lord, help me to trust Your purposes even when I cannot see them clearly. Shape my heart to look beyond my own comfort and recognise how You desire to bless others through my life. Use what You have redeemed in me for the good of many, and let me walk faithfully in Your greater plan. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Uncle Thomas Malcolm Ranjore : 1940- 2025

Image
It was with great sadness that I received the news of Uncle Thomas Malcolm Ranjore’s passing on the 20th of June, at the age of 84.  Though our hearts grieve, we do not mourn as those without hope.  As Psalm 116:15  reminds us: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.” Uncle Malcolm (as he was fondly called) was truly one of God’s faithful servants, a man whose life was marked by worship, prayer, evangelism, generosity, and love for both God and people. I remember not just someone who lived long, but someone who lived well, for the glory of God. A man of worship One thing that stands out in his life is that Uncle Malcolm was a gifted musician. He played the violin not as a performer, but as a worshipper. When he played, it was as if heaven drew near. His music ushered in the presence of God, just like the Levites in the Old Testament, who ministered before the Lord with stringed instruments. 1 Chronicles 25:6 ...
Read more

God’s Faithfulness in Our Nation - Blessed National Day Singapore

Image
Text:   “The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your ancestors…”  –  Deuteronomy 7:7–8   When God chose Israel, it was not because of their size, power, or wealth. In fact, they were a small, vulnerable nation surrounded by mighty empires. Yet God’s choice was based solely on His love and covenant faithfulness.   Moses spoke these words to Israel, he was reminding them of an important truth:   Their survival and success  When  were not because of their strength, resources, or wisdom — but because of God’s faithfulness and mercy.   Singapore’s story mirrors this in remarkable ways. In 1965, we were a tiny island with no natural resources, no hinterland, and little global influence. Kicked out of Malaysia, many wondered if we could even survive. By every human calculatio...
Read more

Devotion - Psalms 44: 6-7 - Its God who gives the victory

Image
Psalms 44:6-7 - I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. Any soldier will know that the basic weapon of warfare, in those days, were the bow and sword. Without which no soldier will not venture into the battle field. Even the famed Goliath was geared in full battle order when he faced David with the stones and the sling. Isn't it a paradox then that David, one of the finest soldiers Israel had ever produced, proclaims that its not the bow and the sword that gives the victory. Its is the Lord, Jehovah, that gives the victory. I don't think David is trying to say that we should not prepare ourselves for warfare. His concern is that we recognize that ultimately its the Lord that gives the victory. A few things we need to remember: Human efforts are necessary in the God-man partnership Human efforts alone does not guarantee God intended results Recognize that its God that always gives u...
Read more