From Pits to Purpose: God's Transformative Power

 

Summary

Genesis 50:20 reminds us that what others intend for harm, God can transform for good. Joseph’s life is a testament to this truth. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, Joseph’s journey was marked by pain and injustice. Yet, through every setback, God’s providence was quietly at work, turning each pit into a platform and every prison into preparation for purpose. Joseph’s story is not just about survival, but about transformation—how God uses the very things meant to destroy us as the soil for our growth and elevation.

When Joseph finally faced his brothers, he didn’t seek revenge or dwell in bitterness. Instead, he recognized the hand of God in his suffering. He declared, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” This is not denial of pain, but a mature faith that sees beyond the immediate hurt to the larger story God is writing. Joseph’s journey shows that God doesn’t waste our suffering. Every betrayal, every closed door, every season of silence can become the very ground where God plants new life and purpose.

This truth is echoed in the stories of those who have been marginalized, silenced, or counted out—yet have risen with a testimony and favor. Whether it’s individuals overcoming personal trauma, communities turning oppression into advocacy, or families transforming loss into legacy, God’s pattern remains: what was meant to bury us becomes the place where we are planted and grown. Restoration in God’s hands is not just about getting back what was lost, but about coming out better, stronger, and more equipped to bless others.

The challenge is to see our pits not as permanent graves, but as seedbeds for God’s glory. To name the evil, but not let it have the final word. To come out of our trials not just alive, but with wisdom, power, and a deeper sense of purpose. When God is the author of our story, every setup becomes a stage for His goodness, and every setback is a setup for greater things.

Key Takeaways

- God Plants Where Others Try to Bury
What looks like burial in the eyes of others is often God’s way of planting us for growth. The dirt thrown on us—whether it’s betrayal, shame, or silence—becomes the very soil that nourishes our roots. God doesn’t waste the dark seasons; He uses them to prepare us for elevation and breakthrough. The pit is not the end, but the beginning of God’s process of raising us up. [27:03]

- Evil in Human Hands, Purpose in God’s Plan
Joseph never denied the evil done to him, but he also refused to let it define him. God’s sovereignty means that even the worst intentions can be transformed into divine assignments. This is not about erasing pain, but about God repurposing oppression and trauma into testimony and ministry. Evil may have happened, but it does not have the final word—God’s providence weaves it into a greater story. [33:17]

- Restoration Means Coming Out Better
Restoration in God’s economy is not just about surviving hardship, but about emerging stronger, wiser, and more equipped. Joseph didn’t just get back what he lost; he was elevated to a position of influence and became a blessing to others. True healing is seen when we don’t repeat cycles of pain, but redeem them, using our scars as sources of wisdom and strength for ourselves and others. [37:49]

- Faith Names the Pain but Trusts the Promise
Mature faith does not sugarcoat or deny suffering. Like Joseph, we are called to name the evil, acknowledge the trauma, and still trust that God is working for good. This is faith with eyes wide open—honest about the hurt, but anchored in the hope that God’s plan is bigger than our pain. The cross itself is the ultimate example: suffering is not erased, but redeemed. [35:36]

- Your Setback is a Setup for God’s Glory
Every closed door, every betrayal, every season of silence is an opportunity for God to display His power. What was meant to break you becomes the stage for your breakthrough. When God writes the story, the ending always shouts louder than the pain in the middle. The testimony is not just that you survived, but that you now walk in favor, wisdom, and purpose that could only be forged in the fire. [45:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:25] - Opening Prayer
[19:59] - Genesis 50:20: The Foundation
[20:38] - Setback or Setup?
[21:02] - Joseph’s Journey: Betrayal to Palace
[22:33] - Joseph’s Response to His Brothers
[23:21] - God Flips the Script
[24:28] - When God Turns the Tables
[26:46] - Point 1: Buried or Planted?
[28:25] - Divine Reversal and Liberation
[32:41] - Point 2: Evil in Their Hands, Purpose in God’s Plan
[37:30] - Point 3: Coming Out Better
[41:08] - Full Circle: From Pit to Palace
[43:32] - Living the Testimony
[46:19] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “It Looked Like a Setback, But It Was a Setup”

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### Bible Reading

- Genesis 50:20 (NIV): “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 50:20, what does Joseph say about his brothers’ intentions and God’s intentions? How does he describe the difference between the two? [19:59]
2. According to the sermon, what were some of the specific hardships Joseph faced before reaching the palace? [21:02]
3. When Joseph finally faced his brothers, what was his response to them? Did he seek revenge or something else? [22:33]
4. The sermon mentions that what looked like burial was actually planting. What examples did the pastor give to illustrate this idea? [27:03]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Joseph choose to name the evil done to him instead of pretending it didn’t happen? What does this show about his faith and maturity? [35:36]
2. The pastor says, “God doesn’t waste the dark seasons; He uses them to prepare us for elevation and breakthrough.” How does this perspective change the way someone might view their own suffering? [27:03]
3. The sermon talks about restoration meaning “coming out better.” What does it mean to come out of a trial not just surviving, but stronger and more equipped? [37:49]
4. The phrase “your setback is a setup for God’s glory” is used in the sermon. How does this idea challenge the way people usually think about failure or disappointment? [45:00]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “God plants where others try to bury.” Think about a time when you felt buried by life’s circumstances—betrayal, shame, or silence. Looking back, can you see any ways God was planting you for growth during that season? [27:03]
2. Joseph didn’t deny his pain, but he also didn’t let it define him. Is there a hurt or betrayal in your life that you need to name honestly, but also begin to trust God to use for good? What would it look like to do both? [35:36]
3. The pastor shared stories of people and communities who turned oppression or trauma into advocacy and testimony. Is there a part of your story, or your family’s story, that God might want to use to bless others? How could you take a step toward sharing or using it? [33:17]
4. Restoration in God’s hands means coming out better, not just getting back what was lost. Are there scars or lessons from your past that you can now see as sources of wisdom or strength? How might you use them to help someone else? [37:49]
5. The sermon challenges us to see our “pits” not as permanent graves, but as seedbeds for God’s glory. Is there a current struggle or setback in your life that you need to reframe in this way? What would it look like to trust God with it this week? [26:46]
6. Joseph’s story shows that faith means being honest about the pain but anchored in hope. How can you practice this kind of faith in a situation you’re facing right now? Is there a promise of God you need to hold onto? [35:36]
7. The pastor said, “Every setup becomes a stage for His goodness, and every setback is a setup for greater things.” What is one practical way you can look for God’s hand at work in your current circumstances, even if they feel like setbacks? [45:00]

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Devotional

Day 1: God Turns Setbacks into Setups

Joseph’s journey from the pit to the palace is a powerful reminder that what others intend as setbacks, God can use as setups for His greater purpose. Betrayed, sold, falsely accused, and forgotten, Joseph endured pain and injustice, yet God’s providential hand was at work beneath the surface. Every pit, every prison, every painful moment was not the end, but the beginning of God’s elevation process. When it looked like burial, God was actually planting Joseph for a future harvest. In your own life, the places that seem like dead ends may be the very soil where God is preparing you to grow and flourish. Trust that God is working behind the scenes, turning your setbacks into setups for His glory. [26:09]

Genesis 50:20 (NIV): “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Reflection: Where in your life have you experienced a setback that, in hindsight, God used as a setup for something greater? How can you trust Him with your current challenges today?


Day 2: What Was Meant for Evil, God Uses for Good

Joseph never denied the evil done to him, but he also refused to let it define him. He named the pain, but he also declared God’s purpose. This is a theology of transformation—God does not erase suffering, but enters into it and redeems it. The evil in human hands becomes purpose in God’s plan. Even the most painful betrayals, injustices, and traumas can be repurposed by God into testimonies, ministries, and new beginnings. When you face evil or injustice, remember that God’s sovereignty means evil never gets the last word—purpose does. [32:59]

Romans 8:28 (ESV): “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Reflection: Is there a painful experience in your past that you need to name honestly before God? How might God be inviting you to see His purpose emerging from that pain?


Day 3: You Come Out Better Than You Went In

Restoration in God’s hands is not just about surviving hardship, but about being transformed and made better by what tried to break you. Joseph didn’t just survive his trials—he became a source of life and provision for others. The scars became stories, the pain became power, and the loss became wisdom. When God writes your story, the ending always shouts louder than the pain in the middle. You may have gone in weak, but you come out strong; you may have gone in hungry, but you come out with bread in your hands and favor on your name. God develops you through the fire, revealing new strength, vision, and purpose. [37:49]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Reflection: What is one way you have come out stronger, wiser, or more compassionate because of a difficult season? How can you use that growth to bless others today?


Day 4: God Plants Purpose in Hidden Places

The pit is not just a place of pain, but a place of preparation. What others see as burial, God sees as planting. The dirt that was meant to suffocate you becomes the ground where you grow. God specializes in using hidden, overlooked, and marginalized places to cultivate purpose and power. Like Joseph, and like so many who have been underestimated or silenced, you may find that your greatest growth happens underground, in the dark, away from the spotlight. Don’t resent the pit—it is proof that God is planting something in you that will one day break through and bless others. [30:18]

Isaiah 45:3 (ESV): “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.”

Reflection: Are you in a hidden or overlooked season right now? What might God be planting in you during this time that will bear fruit in the future?


Day 5: The Plot Fails—God’s Glory Prevails

No matter how fierce the opposition, how deep the pit, or how final the verdict seems, God’s story for your life is not over. Every lie, every setup, every attempt to silence or bury you becomes a stage for God’s glory. The enemy’s plot fails because God’s purpose prevails. You are not just surviving—you are thriving, filled with fire, standing in places you were told you’d never reach. Take a look back and see how God has flipped the script, turning every attempt to break you into a testimony of His faithfulness. Let your life declare: “They meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” [45:31]

Psalm 118:17 (ESV): “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.”

Reflection: Looking back over your life, what is one specific way God has turned a plot against you into a platform for His glory? How can you share that testimony with someone who needs hope today?

Quotes

Joseph has been through it. betrayed by his brothers, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, lied on by part of his wife, locked up for a crime he did not commit, and forgotten by those that he had helped. But somehow he did not die in the pit. He didn't rot in the prison. He rose in the palace. And when he stands in front of the very brothers who tried to destroy him, Joseph doesn't say so. He doesn't say, "I told you so." He says, "You meant it. You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." [00:20:56]

Because when people meant to destroy you, when the system meant to erase you, when Satan meant to shut you down, God flipped the script. Again, this is a word for every Joseph in the house, every man, every woman, every mother, every son or daughter who's ever been misjudged, mistreated, or misunderstood, but still made it to the other side with a testimony on their lips and favor on their life. [00:23:21]

The truth is, some of us are only standing today because God turned the tables. Because God flipped the script, because God rerouted the weapon that was supposed to kill us. Come on. You were told you never walk again. But God, you were told your dreams were over. But God, you were entangled in addiction and despair. But God, you were incarcerated with no hope. But God, you face unimaginable loss and darkness, but God. [00:24:28]

When the world said you were finished, God proclaimed, "I ain't done with you yet." When the pit seemed permanent, God revealed the palace. When the cross looked like defeat, God rolled the stone away. We know that. But God is the ultimate game changer. But God is the ultimate equalizer. But God is the way out of no way. We know that. But God's got us out of a whole bunch of stuff. [00:25:06]

Joseph's testimony reminds us that every closed door, every cruel word, every pit experience was God's preparation for power. I just want to say it again. His journey wasn't a straight path to glory. He was hated on by brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, tired of repeating it, but I want you to get it. Left to rot in a prison. Yet every setback was a set up because God's plans were unfolding underneath the pain. [00:25:38]

Joseph didn't have a blueprint. He had a promise. And for every person who's been through it, setbacks or silence, Joseph's story reminds us when God is for us, pits become platforms. Prisons become preparation rooms and enemies become elevators. [00:26:23]

They meant to bury me. That's the first point. But God was planting me. Joseph's brothers threw him in a pit and left him for dead. But what looked like burial was really planting. God didn't remove the dirt. God used the dirt. That's divine irony because God doesn't just rescue us from the plot. Sometimes God rewrites the plot. God's sovereignty means evil doesn't get the last word, but purpose does. [00:26:48]

They thought the betrayal would break you, but it built you. They thought the layoff would leave you begging, but it led you to purpose. They thought the divorce would destroy you, but it drove you into destiny. That's why sometimes you got to preach to yourself, God don't bury, God plants. [00:28:01]

The pit is the place in the language. The pit is the place where empire hopes you'll die in silence. It's the place where dreams are supposed to dry up. It's the place where systems toss you and say you'll never be a problem again. But y'all, we serve a God who uses pits as portals. A God who plants what others try to bury. [00:28:53]

We come from people who were planted in the bellies of slave ships and still have sprouted up into scholars and artists and preachers and doctors and prophets. It's graduation season and that's why they can't handle us during graduation season. They don't understand why we can't be all quiet and prim and proper. Why we got to make noise. Why we've got to jump around. [00:29:23]

They tried to take you out with lies and shame, with debt, with silence. But God says, "This is not your burial. This is your breakthrough. It was a pit to them, but it was a planting to you because eyes have not seen, ears, have not heard what I'm about to grow in this dirt." God doesn’t waste dirt. Every dirty deed, every dusty season, God will use it. [00:30:11]

It was evil in their hands, but it was purpose in God's plan. Evil in their hands, purpose in God's plan. Joseph never denies the evil. Doesn't sugarcoat the pain. He calls it what it is, evil. But he also declares what it becomes, divine purpose. This is a theology of transformation. Not the eraser of pain, but the elevation of pain into power. [00:32:43]

God takes crucifixion and makes it resurrection. God takes cotton fields and births spirituals. God takes trauma and produces testimony. That's why y'all remember in Alabama, I think it may now been a year or two ago, after that Montgomery Riverfront Brawl, y'all remember that, black folk turned a racist assault into a national moment of cultural solidarity. We didn't just survive the evil, we redefine evil. [00:33:37]

It's not that it wasn't wrong. It's not that that God won't let wrong have the final word. It's It's not that it didn't hurt. It's that healing hits harder. It's not that you didn't cry or don't cry. It's that purpose caught your tears. It was evil, but God used it. It was betrayal, but God built it. It was a scandal, but God turned it into into strategy. [00:35:38]

Restoration isn't just about getting back what you lost. It's about being made better by what tried to break you. Joseph didn't just survive. He saved a nation. That's what restoration does. You come out better. When it tried to break you, you came out better. You came out with a strategy. You came out with scars that could preach. [00:37:32]

Because when God is in the story, what tried to take you out becomes the stage where God shows up. By the time Joseph delivers this line in Genesis 50:20, he's not just reflecting now. He's reigning. He's not just talking from the pit. He's talking from the palace. [00:40:48]

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