--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes God makes use of instruments…" description: "\"Sometimes God makes use of instruments for good to His people, who designed nothing but evil and mischief to them. Thus Joseph's brethren were instrume..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/john-flavel-4295_advancement_sometimes-god-makes-use-of-instruments-f_645146.jpg" --- # Sometimes God makes use of instruments for good to His… ![“Sometimes God makes use of instruments for good to His people, who designed nothing but evil and mischief to them. Thus Joseph's brethren were instrumental to his advancement in that very thing in which they designed his ruin (Gen. 50:20).” quote by John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/john-flavel-4295_advancement_sometimes-god-makes-use-of-instruments-f_645146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/john-flavel-4295_advancement_sometimes-god-makes-use-of-instruments-f_645146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0b/john-flavel-4295_advancement_sometimes-god-makes-use-of-instruments-f_645146.jpg) > “Sometimes God makes use of instruments for good to His people, who designed nothing but evil and mischief to them. Thus Joseph's brethren were instrumental to his advancement in that very thing in which they designed his ruin (Gen. 50:20).” [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when people act with ill intent, their actions can be turned by God to bring about good outcomes for others. **In simple terms:** Bad intentions can be used for good. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden blessings in adverse events. Themes faith divine providence redemption Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - conflict resolution - unexpected opportunities - justice pursuits Key Concepts theodicy purpose transformation Questions to Reflect On - How might you reinterpret a setback as a hidden benefit? - What role does trust play when outcomes seem contrary to intent? A Different Perspective God's purposes may not align with human motives, leading to confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advancement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) [Brethren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brethren/) [Brethren Instrumental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brethren-instrumental-5171305/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [God Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-makes/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Joseph Brethren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joseph-brethren-5171306/) [Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [Let us see that our knowledge of Christ be not a powerless, barren, unpractical knowledge: O that, in its passage from our understanding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/let-us-see-that-our-knowledge-of-christ-be-not-a-powerless-barren/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/brethren-it-is-easier-to-declaim-against-a-thousand-sins-of-others/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [“When we see an obstacle impossible to cross; God makes a path for us if we let Him be boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-cutler-hughes/when-we-see-an-obstacle-impossible-to-cross-god-makes-a-path-for-us/) [Carolyn Cutler Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-cutler-hughes/) > [“Victory is not easy, but God makes it look easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/victory-is-not-easy-but-god-makes-it-look-easy/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/as-you-do-not-know-what-is-the-way-of-the-wind-or-how-the-bones-grow/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [God makes nothing without order, and everything that forms itself develops imperceptibly out of small parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/god-makes-nothing-without-order-and-everything-that-forms-itself/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Where I am weak God makes me strong. Where I am strong God makes me better...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/where-i-am-weak-god-makes-me-strong-where-i-am-strong-god-makes-me/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [In whatever situation you are in never think that it's an impossible situation because with God all things are possible... For God always makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulumko-pantsi/in-whatever-situation-you-are-in-never-think-that-it-s-an-impossible/) [Bulumko Pantsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulumko-pantsi/) > [A God who makes no demands, is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-todd-christofferson/a-god-who-makes-no-demands-is-the-functional-equivalent-of-a-god-who/) [D. Todd Christofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-todd-christofferson/) > [A friend once said, and I found to be true,That everyday people, they lie to God too,So what makes you think, that they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/a-friend-once-said-and-i-found-to-be-true-that-everyday-people-they/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [“I do not think God makes bad things happen just so that people can grow spiritually. Bad parents do that. Bad parents make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/i-do-not-think-god-makes-bad-things-happen-just-so-that-people-can/) [Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/) > [“If God made all our faces, did he laugh when he made me? Does he make the legs that cannot walk and eyes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/if-god-made-all-our-faces-did-he-laugh-when-he-made-me-does-he-make/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of a cross when I walk out on to the pitch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/god-makes-me-play-well-that-is-why-i-always-make-the-sign-of-a-cross/) [Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/) > [This is the law of God by which He makes His way known to man and is paramount to all human control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-king/this-is-the-law-of-god-by-which-he-makes-his-way-known-to-man-and-is/) [Rufus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-king/) > [God makes things happen for a reason. So just remember, when something bad happens, God will always help you. (: so smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-makes-things-happen-for-a-reason-so-just-remember-when-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John Flavel > [No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be preached and studied, than Jesus Christ, and him crucified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/no-doctrine-is-more-excellent-or-necessary-to-be-preached-and-studied/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [One word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/one-word-of-god-can-do-more-than-ten-thousand-words-of-men-to-relieve/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [It is better to be as low as hell with a promise, than in Paradise without one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-better-to-be-as-low-as-hell-with-a-promise-than-in-paradise/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Christ comes with kingly power, to rescue sinners, as a prey from the mouth of the terrible one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/christ-comes-with-kingly-power-to-rescue-sinners-as-a-prey-from-the/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Regeneration expresses those supernatural, divine, new qualities imparted by the Spirit to the soul, which are the principle of all holy action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/regeneration-expresses-those-supernatural-divine-new-qualities/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [All the tears of a penitent sinner, should he shed as many as there have been fallen drops of rain since the creation, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-tears-of-a-penitent-sinner-should-he-shed-as-many-as-there/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [The Lord's supper is memorative, and so it has the nature and use of a pledge or token of love, left by a dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/the-lord-s-supper-is-memorative-and-so-it-has-the-nature-and-use-of-a/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look "seven times," that is, meditate often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/you-may-look-upon-some-providences-once-and-again-and-see-little-or/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [There is no grace more excellent than faith; no sin more execrable and abominable then unbelief. Faith is the saving grace and unbelief the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/there-is-no-grace-more-excellent-than-faith-no-sin-more-execrable-and/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [ All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which we were sometimes so offended...we shall \[one day\] see to be to us, as the difficult… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-dark-intricate-puzzling-providences-at-which-we-were/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Lord, here is my body; I am very grateful for it; I neglected nothing that belonged to its contents and welfare; but as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/lord-here-is-my-body-i-am-very-grateful-for-it-i-neglected-nothing/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Some providences, like Hebrew letters, must be read backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/some-providences-like-hebrew-letters-must-be-read-backwards/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Whatever be the ground of one's distress, it should drive him to, not from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/whatever-be-the-ground-of-one-s-distress-it-should-drive-him-to-not/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/brethren-it-is-easier-to-declaim-against-a-thousand-sins-of-others/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) [Explore all 113 John Flavel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## More Advancement quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. 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