A common Christian refrain is that what the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good. When you hear this, you may wonder how this is possible. I want to encourage you today to know that not only is this possible, but we serve a God who specializes in taking things meant for evil and turning them around for your good.
Does the Bible Really Say ‘What the Enemy Meant for Evil…’?
You might be surprised, but the Bible does not say, “What the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good.”
Before you pick up a stone to throw at me, here is the verse as written in the NIV translation:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
The enemy is not mentioned even in other translations.
“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.” (ESV)
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (KJV)
This is even true in the New American Standard Bible, generally considered the most literal translation:
“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.”
Somewhere along the line, this verse got connected to the enemy. The verse itself refers to Joseph’s brothers. However, this does not invalidate this statement that what the enemy meant for evil, God meant for good. As we shall see, that is still true.
What Events that the Enemy Meant for Evil Is Joseph Talking About?
To understand what Joseph meant when he said these words, you must look back at his life story. Let me give you the abridged version. The good in the story is he became second in command of Egypt, and his position saved his family during the famine. The evil in this story is how he got there.
Joseph had 11 brothers who hated him because he was his father’s favorite. The Bible says they could not say a kind word to him (Gen. 37:4). On one occasion, Joseph shared a dream with his brothers that they would one day bow down to him. Needless to say, they now hated him even more. To get rid of this dreamer, the brothers wanted to kill him. Instead, they sold him to a band of Ishmaelite traders who brought Joseph into Egypt. Those traders sold him to Potiphar, an officer to Pharoah who served as palace guard captain.
A while later, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of rape, and he was sent to prison. While in prison, he cared for two new inmates: Pharoah’s chief cupbearer and chief baker. Through this relationship, Joseph eventually got connected to Pharoah.
How Does What the Enemy Meant for Evil Turn Into Something Good?
Joseph’s story features some very evil events. However, when you look at the story from the end going backward, you see how, within those evil events, God was working them for Joseph’s good. The truth of this statement is apparent in other places of scripture. Romans has what I call the most amazing promise in scripture.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)
This promise is amazing because it aligns with what Joseph said in Genesis. Everything that happened to Joseph was meant for evil. His brothers sold him into slavery. That was meant for evil. He was accused of rape and thrown into prison. That was also meant for evil. Yet we see that despite these things happening, God used them to put Joseph in the right position so he could accomplish the plan he had for him.
Good does not always feel good
In Joseph’s life, many events happened that were not good. Imagine if you were enslaved or falsely accused of rape. I don’t think you would feel too good about it. However, that is not the way the promise works. The good is not necessarily what happens to you. The good is what God accomplishes through those things that happen to you.
The Bible is not clear on how much involvement the enemy had in influencing Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. However, there is one example in scripture where we know the enemy meant it for evil. That example is the cross.
Jesus’ death on the cross was not an event that looked good. It certainly did not feel good for Jesus. At the moment of Jesus’ death, it may have even seemed as if the enemy had one. Certainly, his followers felt that way. However, if you end the story in the tomb, it only looks that way. When you carry it to its completion, the cross becomes the place of our redemption, and the grave becomes the place of our eternal victory. Satan thought he had won at the cross. What he failed to realize was God would turn that apparently evil event into something good for all humanity—and for all eternity.
“No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9)
What Can We Learn from ‘What the Enemy Meant for Evil…’ Today?
Here are three lessons you can learn from what the enemy meant for evil
God is always at work
Sometimes, the hardest thing to see and know is that God is working for you. When bad things happen in life, you may want to ask God where are you? That is a valid question, but you must know God has not forgotten you. You may not immediately be able to decipher what he is doing, but just like Joseph and Jesus, you can look back and see how his hand was in it all along.
Wait for the Lord to work
In Psalm 37, David reminds us of this:
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7 NLT)
You must allow time for God to work for something evil to end up good. The challenge is that we can get impatient. There may be periods where nothing is happening. Joseph didn’t just end up in the palace. It was thirteen years before he got there. When nothing seems to be going your way, that is the time to lean in and be patient. Do what the psalmist said and be still in the presence of the Lord. That doesn’t guarantee the situation will change immediately, but it will give you the strength to endure until it does.
God has an end in mind that will be for your good
God has a good end for you, whether in life or death. It may not look or feel good, but it will produce good. When you walk with him, even if the journey is challenging, it will all work out for your good in the end. He did it in Joesph’s case. He did it in Jesus’ case. He will do the same for you. If you ever doubt, remember Joseph and remember Jesus and the cross.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed daily. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Photo Credit: Getty Images/PeopleImages
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
No Rest for the Wicked
Fight the Good Fight
Wait on the Lord
With Contrite Heart and Spirit
Faith Can Move Mountains
