“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20 ESV
Wisdom is the ability to see beyond the moment and discern the hand of God at work in every season. It allows us to interpret life not merely by what happens to us, but by what God is accomplishing through it. True wisdom guards the heart from bitterness, keeps the spirit aligned with God’s purposes, and gives meaning to suffering that would otherwise seem wasted. When God grants understanding, He lifts us above offense and empowers us to walk in forgiveness, endurance, and faith, even when circumstances are unjust.
Joseph’s story is often told without considering the wisdom and strength it takes to be abandoned, almost killed, and sold to foreigners by your own brothers. In spite of all this treatment, Joseph forgave his brothers.
His strength was not merely in his gifting, but in his understanding. He saw beyond the betrayal of his brothers and into the unfolding purpose of God. Though their actions caused real pain, Joseph refused to interpret his suffering through offense. Instead, he interpreted it through destiny. He understood that what was happening to him was bigger than him. God was fulfilling a promise spoken to his fathers, and Joseph was chosen as a vessel in that divine plan.
Forgiveness did not mean the wounds were unreal. It meant Joseph trusted God’s sovereignty more than he resented human wrongdoing. Understanding guarded his heart. It preserved his spirit. It allowed him to endure hardship without losing alignment with God’s will. What others intended for destruction, God redirected for preservation. David also went through the same thing when King Saul sought to kill him several times but because of the bigger picture of destiny and the fear of the Lord, he forgave Saul and did not pay him back for the evil he committed even when the opportunity presented itself.
This is a call to pray for understanding. Offense thrives where understanding is absent. When we see only the hurt, forgiveness feels impossible. But when God grants us insight into His purposes, endurance becomes grace-filled, and forgiveness becomes strength. Understanding keeps us from being derailed by those who rise against us.
May this be our prayer: Lord, though many rise against us, let us not be offended in You. Give us understanding so we may walk in forgiveness, endure with faith, and remain aligned with Your greater purpose.
Further reading: Proverbs 3:5–6; Psalm 105:16–22; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 4:31–32; 1 Samuel 24–26
Written by Benny Boateng
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