Faith

Do you remember Joseph, the one with the nice coat? He lived in Egypt a long, long time ago. He was there because his brothers hated him and wanted to hurt him. The hatred led to the hurt, as usual.

Joseph had a really hard time for a long time, but God stayed with him and was working through all the bad stuff to eventually bring good things, as usual.

It’s a great story, and you can read about it, beginning in Genesis 37. Eventually Joseph’s mean brothers had to come and bow down before him. Rightfully so, they were afraid of Joseph and revenge.

Joseph has a different view of life, one that sees God working in the bad, even in the unjustified hurt that comes from others. Here’s what he says about that to his brothers in Genesis 50:19-21.

Joseph said to them, "Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid."

I need to be very careful in judging the motives of others when I am hurt, but even more important, I need to trust that God is working in the pain to accomplish something good.

I may not know about it until much later.

That’s faith isn’t it?