August 6th Weekly Word

Transforming Tragedy into Triumph

Then he called for a famine in the land

and destroyed the supply of bread.

He sent a man before them,

Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

They bruised his feet in fetters;

his neck they put in an iron collar.

Until his prediction came to pass,

the word of the Lord tested him.

The king sent and released him;

the ruler of the peoples set him free.

He set him as a master over his household,

as a ruler over all his possessions,

To instruct his princes according to his will

and to teach his elders wisdom.

Hallelujah! (Psalm105:16-22, 45)

I've always loved the story of Joseph. His journey demonstrates how God can use even the evil actions of others to bring about his good will and purpose for his people.

We see this clearly through all the twists and turns of his life. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, thrown into jail, forgotten by Pharoah's cup bearer — so much of his story seems like senseless tragedy. But then his dreams finally see their fruition when Pharoah not only sets him free from prison but also makes him as his right hand man. All of the trials make sense at this point, don't they? Well, not quite.

I mean yes, Joseph's struggles did indeed lead to his exaltation. Apart from the ways he was mistreated, he would never have found himself ruling the most powerful nation in the known world at the time. But the point of Joseph's elevation went way beyond the arc of his own story.

You see, God used Joseph in this position of power to save his family, as well as many others during a famine. He says as much to his brothers who betrayed him: "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today." And that numerous people, the descendants of Joseph and his brothers, would one day become the nation of Israel.

Joseph's journey then was not just about him. God used it to bring about good for others as well. And in that respect, Joseph's story points us to Jesus.

The worst act of hatred, violence and wickedness that the world has ever known came when humanity hung the Son of God upon a cross. But God used that evil as the means through which Jesus would enter death so as to defeat it by way of his resurrection. And in so doing, he transformed tragedy into triumph. This victory belongs to Christ, yes, but it's also for all who are in him, those who trust him, those who, as our epistle reading says, "call on the name of the Lord."

So take heart, friends, and remember that the trials in our lives will work out for our good, as we were reminded by Romans 8:28 a couple weeks ago. But also remember that just as Joseph's hardships led to the preservation of Israel, in like manner God intends to use our trials as a blessing to others as well.

We're likely not able understand what that means or how that will unfold, but like Joseph, our call is to remain faithful and trust that God's providence will prevail.

Darin+