Genesis 44-45 | The Purposes of God In Our Suffering

It’s the greatest question, isn’t it? If God is a loving God, why does He allow us to suffer? This is particularly troubling when we see the best among us face excruciating trials, or, when it is us. Then it’s personal. The suffering is hard enough but the questions it brings about the goodness of God (if not resolved in our belief) make it worse.

GOD’S DIVINE PURPOSES

Joseph was a man who went through the worst sufferings imaginable. Rejection from his own brothers, facing death, false accusations, and imprisonment … he had it all.

Somehow, in the midst of his sufferings, God helped Joseph see His sovereign purposes. When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers (who had betrayed and forgotten him) he could have been angry and vengeful. Instead, notice his godly response.

“Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance … Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God … You shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. There I will also provide for you (Genesis 45:5-8, 10-11, emphasis mine)

Joseph and his brothers were overwhelmed with grace because God is overwhelming. God can take the very worst of any situation and turn in ways that bring life to others. Because Joseph understood the sovereignty of God, all bitterness and desire for revenge were gone. He could fully forgive and even draw his enemies near to them and provide for them, for he understood the hand of God in his suffering.

YOUR TRIALS

God desires to do this with your difficulties. He wastes nothing. If you don’t believe this, look at the worst tragedy (the cross) and realize it brought the greatest glory (life to millions for all eternity).

Don’t worry about your suffering. If you are following Him, in due time you will see the glorious purposes of God. You will see hundreds of people who have been changed forever as they see and experience God—some who have found eternal life as they have seen God through you. You will understand the height and breadth of His sovereignty and your heart will rejoice in the greatness of God!