What a cornerstone of biblical hope—**God’s sovereign power to redeem even the worst evil for ultimate good**. This truth pulses through Scripture like a heartbeat, revealing His unstoppable grace. Here’s a scriptural meditation:
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### **"The Alchemist of Wounds"**
*How God Transforms Evil into Eternal Good*
#### **I. The Supreme Pattern: The Cross**
> *"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."* (Genesis 50:20)
> *"They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen."* (Acts 4:28)
- **Man’s Evil**:
Betrayal (Judas), false accusations (Sanhedrin), political cowardice (Pilate), mockery (soldiers), abandonment (disciples).
- **God’s Good**:
*Through that very evil*, God accomplished:
- Redemption for sinners (Colossians 1:20)
- Defeat of Satan (Hebrews 2:14)
- Revelation of love (Romans 5:8)
➔ **The darkest crime in history became the brightest hope**.
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#### **II. How God Does It**
1. **He Permits Evil, But Never Endorses It**
- God *allowed* Joseph’s brothers to sell him (Genesis 50:20), Babylon to sack Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:11), and Satan to test Job (Job 1:12)—but He **judges the wicked** (Nahum 1:3) while **redeeming the story**.
2. **He Weaves Broken Threads into a Tapestry**
- Like Joseph’s slavery → Egypt’s governance → Israel’s salvation (Genesis 45:5–8).
- Like Esther’s exile → royal position → deliverance of Jews (Esther 4:14).
3. **He Uses Evil to Expose and Refine**
- *Exposure*: Evil reveals hearts (Luke 2:35).
*Refinement*: Suffering produces Christlike character (Romans 5:3–5; James 1:2–4).
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#### **III. Our Response When Evil Strikes**
1. **Lament Honestly**
- Cry out like David: *"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?"* (Psalm 13:1). God can handle your rage.
2. **Trust Sovereignty**
- Declare with Job: *"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him"* (Job 13:15).
3. **Wait for Redemption**
- *"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"* (Romans 12:21).
- **Vengeance belongs to God** (Romans 12:19)—He will repay *and* redeem.
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### **A Psalm for the Broken Place**
> *God of the Reversal,
> When evil’s knife pierces deep—
> and darkness laughs at providence,
>
> Remind me:
> The cross was man’s worst *and* Your best.
> The tomb was death’s win *and* resurrection’s womb.
>
> Take this poison meant to kill me;
> Turn it into medicine.
> Take the weapon formed against me;
> Melt it into mercy’s plow.
>
> I plant my pain in the soil of Your promise:
> *"All things work together for good..."* (Romans 8:28).
> Water it with tears.
> Wait for the harvest.
> Amen.*
**Key Scriptures**:
- **Genesis 50:20** (Joseph to his brothers)
- **Romans 8:28** (All things work for good)
- **Acts 2:23–24** (God’s plan vs. man’s evil)
- **Psalm 76:10** ("The wrath of man shall praise You")
- **Isaiah 45:7** (God creates light *and* darkness, peace *and* calamity—yet evil is *permitted*, not authored by Him)
> *"Satan writes the story, but God owns the pen."
> — A.W. Tozer (paraphrased)*
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### **Why This Truth Matters**
- Frees us from bitterness (we’re not victims of chaos).
- Dethrones fear (no evil can thwart God’s purpose).
- Fuels mission (we go into dark places, knowing God will win).
- Anchors hope (one day, *"He will wipe every tear..."* Revelation 21:4).
**Even now—in your pain, betrayal, or confusion—God is writing a resurrection story.**
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