Two words appear together over and over in the Scriptures…and when they do, you can be sure something big is coming.
These two words—just three letters each—are two of the most important words you’ll ever read. Do you know what they are?
“But God…”
These two words show up together time and again throughout God’s Word, and when they do, everything can change.
Today I want to show you one place they’re found. It’s in Acts chapter 7. Verses 9–10 say this…
“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.”
It retells the story of Joseph—a story that Christians and non-Christians alike are familiar with. I’m sure you are too, but here’s a quick refresher.
Joseph was hated by his brothers, who, because of envy, threw him into a pit and then sold him to slave traders. He’s taken off to a foreign land. I’m sure his hands were bound. Perhaps he’s being whipped.
He’s sold on the auction block in Egypt, and a man named Potiphar buys him.
Then in Egypt, he just can’t seem to catch a break. He’s falsely accused of rape and sent to prison. He then interprets a dream for the Pharaoh’s butler, which comes to pass exactly as Joseph saw.
The butler promises to talk to Pharaoh about Joseph and get him out of prison. But, of course, he forgets. Joseph then spends years in that Egyptian prison. Nothing seems to go his way. He’s thrown into circumstances beyond his control.
But then we find those two beautiful words, “But God.” And those two words have the power to change everything.
They can turn impossibilities into possibilities. They made all the difference for Joseph. The odds were against him, but God was with him.
God had given Joseph great dreams about what He would do in his life. And those dreams might have never come to pass…“But God.” God delivered him out of all of his troubles, gave him favor, gave him wisdom. He took him from the bottom and put him on top.
God used Joseph to deliver Egypt and the surrounding nations—including Joseph’s father and brothers—from famine and death. He placed Joseph at the right hand of Pharaoh and used Joseph for His purposes.
I want you to look with me at the end of the story. After Joseph’s father dies, he gathers with his brothers.
His brothers were afraid that now that their father was out of the way, Joseph would take revenge on them. But he says, “Look, don’t be afraid.” Then in Genesis 50:20 Joseph says…
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Perhaps you’ve been betrayed by someone that you trusted. Maybe you’ve been thrown into circumstances beyond your control.
Maybe your whole world has been shattered, and everything that at one time seemed stable and secure, has all been removed.
You might be saying to yourself, “I’ve got no hope. There’s no light.” I’m telling you, there is light. It might be hopeless except for these two words, “But God.”
When you take God out of the equation, things really are hopeless. But when you factor Him in, all things are possible.
If you, like Joseph, don’t allow your circumstances to make you bitter, and you keep your eyes on God, continue looking to Him, even if it doesn’t seem like He’s working at all, then I believe there can be a “But God” for you.
You might be thinking, Bayless, you’re just trying to get my hopes up. Yes, I am…because God loves you. He has not forsaken you, and He wants to help you. And I want to encourage you.
That’s why I created my new series called But God, which I’d love to get into your hands as quickly as possible.
In it, I dive into many of the “But God” moments of the Bible: from Joseph, Jacob, and King David, to what the book of Ephesians has to say about the “But God” moment you’ve already been given in Christ!
The five-part But God series is my way to thank you for your generous support today to help reach our dying world with the life-changing message of our living Jesus through Answers with Bayless Conley.
Friend, those two small words can turn your impossibilities into possibilities, transform your most hopeless situations, and even save your life.
As you see how God has worked powerfully in the lives of so many who’ve come before you, you’ll discover that when God steps into your life, you’ll experience understanding, growth, strength, and hope where those things didn’t exist.
It’s that kind of total life change you’ll help bring into so many other lives through your gift today.
Partners like you help keep Answers going strong, encouraging so many with the powerful truth of Scripture, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your support.
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