ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD-to them who love God. Romans 8

Paul penned one of the great assurances in all Scripture when he wrote, ’All things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to HIS purpose.’ He had just told us how the Holy Spirit also helps us in our numerous weaknesses, and that the Spirit makes intercession for us with groans (deep yearnings ), which cannot be uttered. He added that the Father searches the heart, and that the Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Such treasures of the christian life outshine the crown jewels of any monarch.

He resolutely asserts that we know that all things work together for good. Often the Lord’s people are unsure that the events of life are working out harmoniously, when Scripture assures this is so. Let’s look at some of the great characters and the incidents in the word of God, which clarify this comforting truth, Especially we shall examine the exciting life of Joseph, prime Minister of Egypt, Moses’ astounding pilgrimage in the 40 years of desert travelling ; the diplomatic Prime Minister Daniel; and Paul, the great apostle of our Lord.

When Joseph’envious brothers realised that the teenager, whom they had tossed into a pit, and traded him for a bag of silver was now the life-saver of their nation as well as Egypt, they apprehensively fell down before his face. ‘Do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God.’ Then came the startling revelation, ‘But as for you, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.’ This is the core of the truth that ’All things work together for good to them who love God.’ Joseph proved it in every detail.

‘He calmed their fears, ’Now, therefore, do not be afraid, I will provide for you and your little ones.’ He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.’ Alistair Begg in his masterly book, ’Hand of God’ examines the minute details of the life of Joseph in the light of this truth, inextricably woven into the circumstances of Joseph’s rejection, false accusation of Potiphar’s wife, unjust imprisonment, the stench of the dungeon, and ultimate glorification and provision of life-saving grain. Do we see the hand of our God in all of the mysterious events of life, working together for good?

Moses asked the children of Israel to ’Remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness.’ (Deuteronomy 8:2 ). Many times they wondered whether the omnipotent One directed them through the long forty years of barren territory. He plainly showed ‘ That He humbled and tested them to know what was in their heart, whether they would keep His commandments or not.’ As their God, HE had perfect right to do so. And with our’s too.

Notice the recurrence of the word ‘to know’ in the following verse. ‘So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know.’ The daily gift of manna, a type of our Lord Jesus as our daily strength and nourishment, was a first-time experience. Gasping, astonished,

they said, ‘Manna: what is it?‘ Our Lord longed for them to know ’ that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lived by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.’ The children of Israel learned that ‘All things worked together for good,’

In our study group, Edith bore a steel plate in her skull, after the Lord had spared her with a cerebral aneurysm, tied off in time. Roma rejoiced that her daughter , born with spina bifida, in a generation where little hope was held for her survival had just turned 50 years; my dear Gwenda thanked God that by-pass surgery 16 years ago had been successful, so surviving to this day. They each claimed that the Lord had orchestrated their lives, even as a conductor draws in every musician and instrument to complete his musical symphony. He knows if an artist is silent. God gently wields the baton, producing harmonious music in every experience of life.

‘All things worked together for good’ in Daniel’s life. His life hung precariously in the feasting and drunken orgy of King Belshazzar. ( Daniel 5 ) ‘Now all the king’s wise man came, but they could not read the writing MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN, or make known to the king the interpretation. Consternation reigned, greatly troubling the king. God would overrule the king in his embarrassment.

The queen mediated, as often a noble wife does in a crisis! Herod unwisely declined his wife’s advice. ‘There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the SPIRIT of the Holy God. (v11) Then she recalled how Daniel had ‘light and understanding before Nebuchadnezzar, the father of Belshazzar.’ Then he was promoted over magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers. She recognised the Holy Spirit’s life and wisdom in her Prime Minister.’ Thank God for her timely intrusion,

‘Then Daniel was brought in before the king. I have heard of you that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.’ (v14)) Amazing that heathen rulers could discern the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triunity. Do unsaved members of our kinship see the same glorious Presence in our lives? They should, if we are transparent!

In V16 an extraordinary promise of promotion followed. ‘You shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold about your neck, and you shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.’ God planned to preserve this godly prime minister’s influence among future heathen rulers of Babylon. Daniel pronounced a solemn judgment on King Belshazzar,(v26), thus proving courageous before men, and faithful before his God. ‘God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it. You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting.‘ While Belshazzar could have exploded in fury, all things worked together for good ,protectively, to the man who loved his God.

‘That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans was slain. Daniel was safe. A new king, Darius, the Mede, emerged, who set up Daniel as supreme governor. Even in the pagan, Babylon environment, the Lord guarded HIS special servant. So He will cause all things to work together for good for you. this study will be continued.