In 1820 the tomato was proven to be nonpoisonous.

Tomatoes have become a regular item in our diets, especially in salads. We also eat them fried or baked or right off the vine. And ketchup is loaded with tomatoes, and then there’s spaghetti sauce and tomato juice and . . .

With all those tomato uses and products, it’s hard to believe that people used to think tomatoes were poisonous. Now we only hear how good they are for us.

Poisonous to nutritious, bad to good—that’s a big turnaround!

The Bible has stories like that. At one time, Paul hated Jesus and his followers. He definitely was not good. But God turned him around, and he became the great evangelist and writer of most of the New Testament. He wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). The point? Even something that stays bad can be used for good by God.

That’s what happened to Joseph. He had a colorful coat and a mess of envious brothers. His brothers were so annoyed by Joseph that they sold him as a slave and then told their dad he had been killed by wild animals. Later, they meet Joseph in Egypt. But this time Joseph is in charge, as Pharaoh’s right-hand man. The big brothers fear what Joseph might do to them to get revenge. Instead, Joseph forgives them and points out that what they meant for evil, God turned into good.

The lessons? First, we shouldn’t be so quick to call someone bad or “poisonous”—he or she may turn out to be a wonderful person. Second, we should trust that God can take any circumstance, no matter how bad, and use it for good.

“As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.”  (Genesis 50:20)

To Do

At your next family meal when tomatoes are included, explain to your family that tomatoes were thought to be poisonous at one time. Then share the truth of today’s lesson.

Also on this day . . .

This is World War I Day.

This is Paul Bunyan Day.

1919—The Treaty of Versailles was signed to end World War I.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).