I agree with Selwyn that we must be open to the idea that God can use the bad things which happen to us for His good purpose.
He writes in today’s study: “Evil is evil, you say, tragedy is tragedy. Nothing can alter that. The death of someone you loved, loss … infidelity … slander – these are things fit only for condemnation. How can one gain from them? The answer is: accept what happens without bitterness, enter into it with lament for an appropriate length of time, and have faith in God’s transforming power. You will find that He can bring good out of everything bad.”
In Genesis, Chapter 50:14- 21 (NLT): we read about Joseph’s response to his brothers, who were worried that he may now punish them, after the death of their father, for selling him into slavery.
“After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.
So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”
Joseph had reached that point in his life where he could see God’s hand at work; in both, the good and the bad experiences of life. He could say: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Joseph was able to see that a far greater good had been made possible from the harm his brothers had intended. It would have taken some time for Joseph to reach this point, there would have been a range of emotions, including lament for Joseph to hand over to God - it does not happen without a lot of prayer and a lot of trust placed in God’s hands. The important point is that it can be done – Joseph’s story proves it. In the same way, all of us can reach the same point and understand that a greater good is being worked through us when we suffer – unlike Joseph, some of us may not see the good until after our death.
What’s your view?
How evil can become good
I agree with Selwyn that we must be open to the idea that God can use the bad things which happen to us for His good purpose.
He writes in today’s study: “Evil is evil, you say, tragedy is tragedy. Nothing can alter that. The death of someone you loved, loss … infidelity … slander – these are things fit only for condemnation. How can one gain from them? The answer is: accept what happens without bitterness, enter into it with lament for an appropriate length of time, and have faith in God’s transforming power. You will find that He can bring good out of everything bad.”
In Genesis, Chapter 50:14- 21 (NLT): we read about Joseph’s response to his brothers, who were worried that he may now punish them, after the death of their father, for selling him into slavery.
“After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.
So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”
Joseph had reached that point in his life where he could see God’s hand at work; in both, the good and the bad experiences of life. He could say: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Joseph was able to see that a far greater good had been made possible from the harm his brothers had intended. It would have taken some time for Joseph to reach this point, there would have been a range of emotions, including lament for Joseph to hand over to God - it does not happen without a lot of prayer and a lot of trust placed in God’s hands. The important point is that it can be done – Joseph’s story proves it. In the same way, all of us can reach the same point and understand that a greater good is being worked through us when we suffer – unlike Joseph, some of us may not see the good until after our death.
What’s your view?