If It's Blue It Must Be Bad! (Genesis 50:20)

When I was a first year medical student, I was learning how to do a physical exam with a specialist in internal medicine. As we took turns examining one another, our professor examined the skin on my back and exclaimed, “What’s this?”

As he and the other students hovered over my back, he said, “Hmmmm…I’m not sure what this but you better get this looked at right away. I’m not a dermatologist but I remember learning, if it’s blue, it must be bad!”

That hit me like a ton of bricks! A first year medical student about to be diagnosed with some fatal skin cancer. My career was over before it even started!

My heart was pounding as I went upstairs to the dermatologist for him to examine me. My heart sank as he said he would biopsy it. An anxious week later, I received the diagnosis. It was a blue nevus. Benign!

Sometimes, things that seemingly look bad upon first inspection are really not that all. It is only when we dig deeper that we discover the happy truth.

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.
Genesis 50:20

We need to be willing to look beyond the superficial nature of life and dare to see things the way God wants us to view things. Joseph was sold into slavery by his 11 brothers. He secured a position as the master of the house in the captain of the Pharaoh’s guard but was falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned for 2 years. But God was working all the events, bringing Joseph into the position of ruler over all of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. And by doing so, Joseph saved the lives of his brothers and his family from the famine that was ravaging the land. All of this was the result of a seemingly bad action by his brothers. They meant it for evil but God meant it for good.

Can you claim the promises of God in your life? Are you willing to go beyond first impressions and see what is really happening beneath the surface of events? God will bless you if you do!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.