Transformed

"But Joseph said to them, 'Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 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.'"

(Genesis 50:19-20)

One of the most asked questions in all of Christendom (and often most difficult to answer) is "Why does God allow bad things to happen (to good people)?" I put the last portion of the question in parenthesis, because all of us have faults, foibles, and failures (not to mention sins!). So let's just stick with the "why do bad things happen" part.

It starts with free will, of course. We humans have the freedom to do what we please - for good or for ill - to ourselves and/or to others. God isn't going to force us to act in a certain way (though I do believe that God seeks to guide & direct our actions/thoughts, if we'll only listen). Otherwise, it would be a puppet master to puppet relationship.

But today while reading the end of Genesis, I was reminded of another reason. Well, maybe not a reason, but an explanation. When Jacob finally died (in Egypt, surrounded by his entire family), his sons were worried that their brother, Joseph, would seek retribution against them for their past crime against him. But Joseph had completely forgiven them already. "What you ended for harm... God intended for good," he said. I love that. It goes hand-in-hand with Romans 8:28 - "All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

That doesn't say everything that happens to us is good. It says (and Joseph affirms) that God can bring good out of any situation. Joseph had to wait YEARS to see what "good" would occur from being sold into slavery by his brothers. But it came. Oftentimes, however, we're too short-sighted to wait for the transformation. In this immediate gratification society, we want to see results (or change) now. We aren't willing to wait for the good that can come out of what others may have planned for evil.

Give us patience, Lord.

Give ME patience, Lord.