Lyrics · Genesis
What You Meant for Evil
Genesis 41-50
Lyrics
About this song
About this song
This song belongs to the Genesis collection. 8 recordings are available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.
- Bible book
- Genesis
- Collection
- Genesis
[Opening Chorus]
What you meant for evil, God turned toward good,
Bread in the famine where death once had stood.
A pit and a prison could not cancel grace;
The dream came to harvest in an unexpected place.
[Verse 1]
Pharaoh saw cattle rise fat from the Nile,
Then lean cattle swallowed the strong in a while.
Seven full ears and seven blasted by wind;
No wise man in Egypt could tell how they end.
Joseph was summoned, shaved, clothed, and brought near:
Seven years plenty, then seven of fear.
Store up the harvest before hunger's breath;
Pharaoh raised Joseph to govern beneath.
[Verse 2]
Brothers came bowing with silver for grain,
Never imagining the face they had slain.
Tests brought Benjamin and truth to the room;
Judah stood pleading to shoulder his doom.
Joseph could hold back his weeping no more;
He named himself brother and closed every door.
[Changed Chorus]
What you meant for evil, God turned toward life,
A household preserved through the edge of the knife.
Come down to Goshen; let Jacob behold
The son he had buried alive and grown old.
[Bridge]
Pharaoh gave wagons; the family came.
Jacob embraced him and blessed Pharaoh's name.
Years later, the brothers feared vengeance would start;
Joseph spoke mercy from a reconciled heart.
[Final Chorus]
What you meant for evil, God turned toward good,
To save many people with providential food.
The coffin in Egypt still carried this plea:
"When God brings you homeward, carry up me."
The dream came to harvest; the promise moved on,
Through famine and forgiveness toward covenant dawn.

