In the past few days, I’ve found myself reading a passage which I tend to revisit every couple of years – the story of Joseph in Genesis. This summer, during our men’s bible study we’ll be looking at several men found in Genesis. I’m not getting to teach on Joseph – so at the risk of stepping on someone else’s toes (sorry Pastors!) – here’s a thought that I can’t seem to escape as I read it through this time. The more I think about it, the more unnerving it is:

God is willing to do whatever it takes to bring about change. 

Apart from that disconcerting realization, there’s something in the story of Joseph that is incredibly wonderful to me. Could it be an entirely dysfunctional family, whose dissolution and reunion are put on display for all the world to see? Maybe it’s a character arc similar to Gladiator, where an individual goes from being sold into slavery to ruling a nation. Or possibly it’s a nation like Egypt, who doesn’t even know their need for a savior until God provides one. 

In the midst of all these more enjoyable aspects, what struck me was the extent to which God will allow His people to suffer. He gives Joseph dreams – knowing that this young man was in no way ready to humbly consider their meaning. He allows Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery – knowing that he’ll be taken down to Egypt. He arranges Potipher’s purchase – knowing full well the consequences of Potipher’s wife’s accusations. There’s the baker. The cupbearer. More dreams and interpretations. 

With each turn you think it’s going to get better, but it doesn’t… If anything, it seems to get worse… Then, after a long time, Joseph stands before Pharaoh. More years pass and he stands before his brothers entirely unrecognizable. We end up seeing (of course) how awesome God is and the wonderful things He does for all of Egypt and all of Joseph’s family. 

Yet, when I attempt to put myself in Joseph’s shoes, the whole thing is hard to read. Unlike me, God was there, with Joseph through it all – and I must assume the whole thing was hard for Him to watch. But He was more than willing to allow or orchestrate (or some combination of the two, depending on how you view it) all of these very difficult things to happen. 

That’s what makes me the most uncomfortable about this story. That God wants good things for us is not in question. How He brings those things about inside a fallen world is a different matter altogether. I’m trying to think of an individual that God relates with in Scripture who doesn’t encounter a large amount of suffering. 

Though some waiver, some fail, and others rise to the occasion – a majority of characters who populate the Bible appear to expect the varied difficulties they encounter. For a moment, one might think that to avoid God is to avoid suffering. But common sense and experience will quickly tell you that is not the case. Life, for all people, is unfortunately filled with suffering. We act surprised when it comes, but we shouldn’t be. In light of sin and death, trouble is sadly the new norm – as Jesus so kindly reminds us. 

What should surprise me is what God can do inside of such darkness. After all, Joseph the dreamer is entirely different from the Joseph we meet at the end of the story. Feeding a nation during a famine is one thing. Changing a man from the inside out is a miracle of an entirely different order.

I distinctly remember a season of my life that was characterized by anger. Another by frustration. Most recently, a series of years marked by worry. In each, God met me. He convicted me through different circumstances and relationships and went to work changing me. I still get angry, frustrated, and struggle with worry here and there – but those things no longer “own” me. They are no longer a part of who I am as they once were.  

I might not like going through challenges and tough times but I sure do like being changed! Are you in the middle of a trial? Facing some difficulty that seems to never end? I wonder what God might be up to. Don’t forget that what we see Him do with Joseph is no different than what we see Him do with David, or Esther, or Peter, or Paul – He is really good at this! That means you can take a deep breath knowing you’re in good hands. And, just maybe, you can start getting excited about what surprise He has in store for you.