Pastor's Comments for December
Over the course of the next months I will be using lessons from Dr. V. Raymond Edman’s book, But God. Dr. Edman, former President of Wheaton College provides this description for his book: “little lessons of large importance learned from the Holy Scriptures, with poems by Annie Johnson Flint” (a prolific writer of hymns). For the articles, I may or may not include the poems. I am aware that this is not a new book (1962—hope that won’t be a deterrent to reading these articles), yet I’ve chosen to use his chapters for some of the upcoming articles as he uses principles from Scripture to illustrate truths applicable to every believer.
~ Pastor John
“But God Meant It Unto Good”
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, " What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!" 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father charged before he died, saying, 17'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." 19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive (Genesis 50:15-20).
The startling truth declared in Romans 8:28, “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” was not a new revelation reserved for New Testament times. Its truth is written large throughout the Bible. Joseph’s experience is an outstanding Old Testament illustration thereof. He had been envied by his brothers to the point of hatred, so much so that they sold him into slavery. More dastardly treatment can hardly be imagined. When the day came that Joseph, no longer a slave in Egypt but prime minister of the land, could help his brothers, he was only too glad so to do. They were fearful that after their father’s death Joseph might change his helpfulness into hatred. Not so, Joseph sought to assure them, explaining that God meant all that had transpired to be for their good.
How can all things work together for good? The details taken separately may contain no good whatever, but together they are good. The late Dr. H. A. Ironside, pastor of Moody Church, was fond of telling the observation of an elderly cook at a Bible conference. She had said to the preachers, who were discussing Romans 8:28, ‘you all have expressed appreciation for the hot biscuits I make for you each morning. But consider— the flour itself does not taste good, nor does the baking powder, nor the shortening, nor the other ingredients; however, when I mix them all together and put them into the oven, they come out just right for biscuits. That is how I understand that God makes everything work together for good.’
Whatever may be the circumstances of yesterday or today, they can work together for good as long as our heart is right toward God and others. In time we can say like Joseph, ‘But God meant it unto good.’
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