Poor Jacob had reached the end of his rope. Hearing upsetting news from his sons who had just returned from Egypt, he said in utter dismay, “Everything is against me!” (Gen. 42:36 NIV).

Joseph had been taken from him. Famine was plaguing the land of Canaan. Simeon was being held as a hostage. And now Benjamin, the youngest son, was being demanded as a ransom to secure his brother’s release. That was almost too much for the aging patriarch to bear. Overwhelmed by these circumstances, he felt that everything had turned against him. In reality, however, God was working out His wise purposes.

When the dust of Jacob’s turmoil finally began to settle, it became increasingly clear that all these distressing events were actually intended for his ultimate good. They led to his move to Egypt where the Lord made his offspring into a great nation. Even though Jacob had declared that all these things were against him, from God’s standpoint everything was going for him.

When everything seems to be going wrong, dwell on the truth that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28). Then, instead of complaining, you’ll be able to say confidently, “God is working for me!”

  — Richard De Haan