The Genesis 50:20 rule

A single Bible verse has revolutionized my thinking regarding our battle against anti-life forces.

It is Genesis 50:20, a verse most of us know. But recently, a section of it jumped out at me I had previously glossed over – you know how that goes.

TRENDING: Is this what you voted for, America?

As backdrop, Joseph was speaking as second in command over all of Egypt to his brothers, who as jealous youths sold him into slavery. They worried he held a grudge and planned retribution. But Joseph reassured them, "Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive, as He is doing now."

The section I previously overlooked was, "This was to keep many people alive, as He is doing now."

This makes Genesis 50:20 a great pro-life verse. Not only does God plan good to come from evil, but His specific intent by allowing evil is to save many lives. This may sound strange when considering that abortion takes lives, but we know God speaks from an eternal perspective.

Now when I hear a new anti-life scheme, I immediately take confidence. I ask myself how God might plan to convert this evil to good, but even if I can't fathom it, I work hard toward that end. I don't know why God allows abortion, but I believe Genesis 50:20, and I believe in God's sovereignty and supremacy.

Add to Genesis 50:20 some words by Beth Moore:

Advertisement - story continues below

If the enemy asks for something, does he get it if there can be no glory from it? The answer to that would be no, no! There is a way for God to work glory. There is a way for God to be glorified. Do we or do we not believe God is in control of all things?

The Bible explains why God is patient with evil. II Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act."

God's patience with us isn't the "counting to 10" kind of patience. It's an "I love you and want to give you every last chance to be with Me" kind of patience.

God's angst for us to spend eternity with Him pours out of Ezekiel 18:23, 32:

"Do you think I like to see the wicked die?" asks the Lord. "Of course not! I only want him to turn from his wicked ways and live ... Oh, turn from your sins while there is yet time. Put them behind you and receive a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die? I do not enjoy seeing you die," the Lord God says. "Turn, turn, and live!"

I'm no theologian. But I wonder, as we approach or have already entered into the last days, if God is ever more urgently trying to wake the sleepers. Turning those with a bent toward evil over to that evil, is He trying to force the vast mass of complacents to understand what they are choosing if not Him? Is He trying to shake the apathetic church from its lethargy?

There has never been a more barbaric, grand-scaled, worldwide massacre of innocent children than has been committed during the past 32 years via abortion. God is allowing Satan to "devour" (I Peter 5:8) more babies than any other time in human history.

The ramifications are unfathomable and, I believe, indeed tied to end times. The first time Satan initiated the mass extermination of babies was to try to kill Israel's redeemer, Moses. The second time was to try to kill the world's redeemer, Jesus Christ. This third time is the most comprehensive killing of all.

Add to that the increasing intensity of hatred by Muslims and the world toward Jews and Christians, and pro-lifers may be participating in a larger war than they understand.