Joseph's Family Fiasco: Trusting God in a Painful Process ...Continued from page 1

That's a truth that needs to settle deep in our hearts. Many us of have never been through events quite as traumatic as Joseph's, but disappointments and delays are part of every human life. Joseph may well have asked the hard questions of suffering: How does someone highly favored by his father and his God end up as a falsely imprisoned slave? Where's God's favor in that? Why did a life destined for greatness include years of seeming futility? Why did God take so long to vindicate him? In the middle of the story, the story didn't make sense.

We could ask the same questions. How do children of God, members of a royal priesthood who are seated with Christ in heavenly places, become victimized by unscrupulous people? Why does God often take so long to let his plan unfold in our lives? Why does he let us linger in our trials? We're promised mountain-moving faith and answers to all our prayers in Jesus' name. Yet we suffer, frequently at the hands of godless deeds. Far too often, the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous seem to miss out on the prosperity. The meek don't seem to be inheriting very much. Something is wrong with that picture.

But that's not how God sees things. He uses our worst predicaments to accomplish his purposes, both for our good and for the sake of his kingdom. He somehow factors human messiness into his best equations. And while he already sees the outcome of our story, we only see the obvious implications for the moment. And sometimes, as they did with Joseph, those implications appear devastating.

They aren't, of course. The beauty of God's plan is often apparent only in retrospect, but it's always there. That was true for Joseph—he said so in his landmark statement that while his brothers had evil purposes, "God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20)—and it's true for all who are called according to God's purposes. He is always at work in our lives, and his works are always good.

Joseph's example is encouraging. A more fruitful life for the kingdom of God has rarely been lived. His was a life of remarkable integrity, honor, faithfulness, stewardship, and humility. And look at the fruit of such a life: through Joseph, God preserved the race through whom he would send his Son to save humanity from its rebellion. What began in the tumultuous lives of Jacob's twelve sons led to a chosen nation, a miracle-filled history, a royal priesthood, an eternal inheritance, and the blessing and favor of God on all who love him. That kind of blessing—in Joseph's life and in ours—is always worth the pain of the process.

Adapted from A Walk Thru the Life of Joseph: The Power of Forgiveness, a small group study guide from Walk Thru the Bible and Baker Books 

This small group study and others can be found at www.walkthruguides.org.