A loving God giving hardship to good people? No way. But when I think about the patriarch Joseph, I think, yes way. That's one story I've always had trouble with.
Imagine a large family who's suppose to be the shining light of God's promise, but the 'world' surrounding them seems to be having a greater pull. (After all, Judah had sex with a woman he thought was a temple prostitute in Genesis 38.) And, the one child in this large family who has an open heart for God to receive dreams from him is tricked by his own brothers, stripped of his clothes, sold to strangers who cart him off to a foreign country then sell him as a slave.
But wait, it gets even better. He does his job so well he's promoted. Then in the blink of an eye is accused of a wrong-doing and is sent to prison for over two years. But, he's innocent.
And this was God's plan? Yes, most definitely yes. If this young man had not been taken into slavery and thrown into prison, he and his family may have dwindled and not grown large enough to become the great nation God promised. Not to mention they might have forgotten who their God was and abandoned the whole reason they were sent to the promise land in the first place.
As for me, because it took place so long ago it's easy to forget that so much bad happened to someone so good. Granted he wasn't perfect and he made mistakes, but in light of everyone else around him, he was a good and Godly man. I wonder how many times he asked himself and God, "Why me? What did I do wrong?" Did he thank God for his hardships? Did he think that one day he'd be out of prison and good-times would return? Remembering how the bad in Joseph's life created a way for so much good does make it easier to thank God in all things. (Ephesians 5)
Yes, hardships are part of the life of following God. Jesus said so Himself. But praise Him, He told us He has already overcome this world and its troubles.
ReplyDeleteI may not like it, but it's simply part of being in this foreign land.
See you soon!