Joseph said that his brothers thought- and did- evil against him. He didn't say the devil did it. We often say the devil is the one that does evil things against us. True, he comes to steal, kill and destroy. He plots and devises schemes. He looks for opportunities to convince and inspire men to be the instrument to carry out his plans against us. But the devil is not always behind every evil thing that is done against us. The Bible says that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked. We do have real, flesh and blood enemies. The wicked plot against the just. Men do evil when their hearts are evil. The heart of man has to be regenerated by the power of the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus said for us to "love our enemies". We know He wasn't talking about loving Satan. He was talking about loving those who are against us; those whom the wickedness in their hearts are compelling them to act in a harmful manner against us. So Joseph was correct when he said his brothers acted in an evil way against him.
Even though we have real flesh and blood enemies, take note.... if God be for you, who can be against you? Although the brothers hated Joseph, although they plotted against him, although they did an evil thing to him, God was still with Joseph. He did not let them succeed in their evil plan. They wanted to kill him. God made sure they didn't. God watched over Joseph. God delivered Joseph from their desires. God preserved Joseph.
This is a lesson and encouragement to us. The devil is out to destroy us and he will use any means he can-- material things, dark places, addictions, sickness, even family, friends and good people. But also remember that there are wicked people who are out to destroy us. But never forget that if you are in God's hands, then what they mean for evil, God will work out for good and the evil that they intended to do to you will not prosper.
Have a great day. You do have adversaries, the devil and wicked people. But God is for you and their weapons will not prosper against you.
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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