Bitter or Better
Bitter or Better
Topic: Evil can be turned around and become a greater work for God to use.
There is a truth that says, the same sun that melts wax hardens clay.
It's a way of saying that the same circumstances can cause different responses in people to make them bitter or better, wounded or stronger.
We all know people who have had very difficult lives or seasons in their lives and some are the better because of it and others are the worse because of it.
Gen 50:15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
Gen 50:16 And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
Gen 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Gen 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.
Gen 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
Gen 50:20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Gen 50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Lets learn from Romans 8:28 All things work together for good for them that love God
The growth and practice of faith in the face of evil, helps us to become better and grow with the assurance of God’s presence and divine goodness.
We are called to be imitators of God
C.S. Lewis,
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
Author Corrie ten Boom, who survived Nazi concentration camps, wrote,
“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
We are guided to replace evil with Holiness.
Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
NIV 1Peter 3:19
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Joseph had an excellent spirit of forgiveness.
He directs them not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble them selves before the Lord, and to seek the Divine forgiveness.
He assures them of his own kindness to them.
He replaced good for evil.
He spoke kindly to them to comfort and remove any fears the had.
Broken spirits must be bound up and encouraged.
Those we love and forgive must be encouraged and comforted.
The enemy has a plan for your destruction, but God has a plan for your redemption.
Every attack the devil launches, every scheme he devises, every wound he inflicts is ammunition God uses to build something the enemy never saw coming.
Theological Perspectives on Evil and Good
The Bible provides several theological perspectives that help to explain how evil can serve a greater good.
1. The Greater Good
The greater good suggests that God allows evil because it can lead to greater goods that would not otherwise be possible.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18, NKJV)
The temporary suffering and evil of this world are outweighed by the eternal glory that God has promised to believers. This perspective helps to reconcile the existence of evil with the assurance of ultimate good.
2. The Testing and Growth Perspective
Evil and suffering can also serve as a means of testing and growing the faith of believers.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NKJV)
Trials and suffering are opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity. They help believers develop patience and become more complete in their faith.
3. Free Will and Moral Responsibility
The existence of evil is often linked to the concept of free will. Human beings have the capacity to make moral choices, and the possibility of choosing evil is a necessary aspect of genuine free will.
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15, NKJV)
Free will allows for the possibility of evil, but it also makes possible the choice of good and the opportunity for redemption and growth.
Practical Implications for Believers
Understanding how evil can work for good has practical implications for how believers live out their faith.
1. Trust in God’s Will
Believers are called to trust in God’s control over all circumstances, even those that involve evil.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV)
Trusting in God’s will involves believing that He is working out His purposes even when situations seem bleak.
2. Responding to Evil with Faith and Goodness
Believers are encouraged to respond to evil with faith and goodness, reflecting God’s character in their actions.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21, NKJV)
Responding to evil with good aligns believers with God’s redemptive purposes and helps to counteract the effects of evil in the world.
3. Finding Purpose in Suffering
Believers can find purpose and meaning in their suffering by recognizing it as a tool for spiritual formation.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10, NKJV)
Suffering can be used by God to perfect and strengthen believers, contributing to their spiritual growth.
Biblical Examples of Good Emerging from Evil
Several biblical examples further illustrate how God can turn evil circumstances to good outcomes.
1. Job’s Restoration
The story of Job is a powerful example of how God can turn profound suffering into blessing.
“And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10, NKJV)
Job’s trials were intense, but through them, he gained a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty and was ultimately restored and blessed even more than before.
2. Paul’s Imprisonment
The apostle Paul’s imprisonment, though a result of persecution, led to the furtherance of the gospel.
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.” (Philippians 1:12-13, NKJV)
Paul’s imprisonment allowed him to witness to the palace guard and advance the message of Christ in ways he could not have otherwise.
3. Esther’s Courage
The story of Esther demonstrates how God can use evil plots for deliverance.
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NKJV)
Esther’s courage in the face of Haman’s evil plot led to the deliverance of the Jewish people, showing how God can use perilous situations for His purposes.
Conclusion
The Bible provides a rich understanding of how evil can work for good.
Through the lens of God’s sovereignty, the nature of evil, and numerous biblical examples, we see that God is capable of transforming even the most negative circumstances into opportunities for His greater purposes.
Believers are called to trust in God’s sovereignty, respond to evil with faith and goodness, and find purpose in suffering.
Ultimately, we have the promise of a future where evil is eradicated and God’s goodness is fully realized.
