Day 25 — It’s Not Fair

“As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.”

— Genesis 50:20 (BSB)

“It’s not fair!” Have you ever said that? Probably! Maybe your sibling got something you didn’t. Maybe you got blamed for something you didn’t do. Maybe a teacher, a coach or a friend treated you unfairly.

Joseph could have said “It’s not fair!” more than anyone.

His brothers were jealous of him, so they threw him into a pit and sold him as a slave. Not fair. In Egypt, he worked hard and honestly, and then he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Not fair. In prison, he helped a man named the cupbearer, who promised to remember him when he got out. But the cupbearer forgot about him for two whole years. Not fair!

Joseph spent about thirteen years as a slave and a prisoner, for things he didn’t deserve.

But God hadn’t forgotten Joseph. At just the right time, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could explain. The cupbearer finally remembered Joseph. God gave Joseph the meaning of the dream: seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of terrible famine. Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of all of Egypt, to store up food for the hard years ahead.

When the famine came, guess who showed up asking for food? Joseph’s brothers! They didn’t recognize him. They were terrified when they found out who he was. They thought he would get revenge.

But Joseph said today’s verse: “What you intended against me for evil, God intended for good.” Because Joseph was in Egypt, he was able to save many lives, including his own family’s.

Joseph’s story teaches us something important. Unfair things really do happen, and they really do hurt. God doesn’t pretend they’re good. But God can take even the most unfair things and weave them into something good.

Joseph also chose to forgive his brothers. That might be the most amazing part of the story. He trusted God so much that he didn’t need revenge.

Think about it: Can you think of something unfair that happened to you? Is there someone you need to forgive?

Try this: Read the end of Joseph’s story in Genesis 45:1–15. Notice how Joseph treats his brothers.

Dear God, sometimes life isn’t fair, and it hurts. Thank You that You can take even unfair things and use them for good, like You did for Joseph. Help me trust You when things aren’t fair, and help me forgive people who have hurt me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.