God Meant It Unto Good (Gen. 50:20)

"God meant it unto good"--O blest assurance,

Falling like sunshine all across life's way,

Touching with Heaven's gold earth's darkest storm clouds,

Bringing fresh peace and comfort day by day.

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'Twas not by chance the hands of faithless brethren

Sold Joseph captive to a foreign land;

Nor was it chance which, after years of suffering,

Brought him before the monarch's throne to stand.

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One Eye all-seeing saw the need of thousands,

And planned to meet it through that one lone soul;

And through the weary days of prison bondage

Was working towards the great and glorious goal.

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As yet the end was hidden from the captive,

The iron entered even to his soul;

His eye could scan the present path of sorrow,

Not yet his gaze might rest upon the whole.

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Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting,

His trust in God was recompensed at last,

The moment came when God led forth his servant

To succour many, all his sufferings past.

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"It was not you but God, that sent me hither,

"Witnessed triumphant faith in after days;

"God meant it unto good," no "second causes"

Mingled their discord with his song of praise.

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"God means it unto good" for thee, beloved,

The God of Joseph is the same today;

His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,

His hand is guiding through the unknown way.

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Thy Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,

Hath purposes for thee of love untold.

Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,

Till thou the riches of His grace behold.

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There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,

And all life's path ties open to thy gaze,

Thine eyes shall see the hand which now thou trustest,

And magnify His love through endless days.

--Freda Hanbury Allen