Our Savior Lutheran Church

Last Week

Last week we examined Joseph and his ability, at the peak of his power and personal maturity, to express strong emotions through tears. Today we look at this man’s unusual spiritual maturity revealed by his ability to see purpose behind his suffering.

To Get Us Started

At age 17 Joseph, the betrayed, probably had little understanding of why he suffered. When such understanding began to dawn, we do not know. He had 39 years to ponder the meaning of his suffering before his last explanation to his brothers (Genesis 50:19-20). Experiences in life, and especially personal experiences with God, painted meaning into his sufferings. Likewise, as we endure suffering, we usually have no clue what our difficulties mean or even if they ever will have any meaning.

1. What’s the earliest tragic event you can remember trying to make sense of? How did it leave you feeling?

a. The death of a close relative.

b. The divorce of your parents.

c. An automobile accident.

d. A serious illness.

e. Physical or sexual abuse.

f. Other _____________________

2. Which of these cartoon characters best represents the way you tend to handle suffering?

a. Batman, the brooding avenger.

b. Wile E Coyote, an accident waiting to happen.

c. Charlie Brown, well-intentioned worrier.

d. Daffy Duck, frantic, frustrated fixer.

e. Woodstock, too small to cope.

The Word

The following excerpts from the last six chapters of Genesis show Joseph’s commitment to caring for his family in Egypt. Notice how Joseph’s older brothers kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. They felt vulnerable to delayed vengeance. Joseph had to explain for them God’s purposes for all he went through.

Genesis 45:25-26

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. [26] They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.

Genesis 46:1-5, 26-30

So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

[2] And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"

"Here I am," he replied.

[3] "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. [4] I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

[5] Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. . . .

[26] All those who went to Egypt with Jacob--those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons' wives--numbered sixty-six persons. [27] With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob's family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.

[28] Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, [29] Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

[30] Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive."

Genesis 47:11-12, 27-28

So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. [12] Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their children. . . .

[27] Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.

[28] Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.

Genesis 48:21

Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.

Genesis 49:33

When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 50:12-21

So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them: [13] They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. [14] After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

[15] When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" [16] So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: [17] 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

[18] His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.

[19] But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? [20] You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. [21] So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Observations

All human beings struggle with the issue of “why bad things happen to good people.” Ultimately, only God knows the answer to this question. We may not understand it at all, but we can learn a valuable lesson from Joseph. He trusted God for years, not understanding what the purpose was in his own suffering. Eventually he understood, and so will we, if not one earth, in eternity.

Observation 1

When God accomplishes divine purposes in spite of our sins, we must never excuse ourselves for doing what was wrong.

God is sovereign in all aspects of life. This was Joseph’s perspective. Consequently, some people could read the story of his life and be tempted to blame God for their sin. After all, even though his brothers had committed a horrible crime, God used it to achieve His divine purposes. Doesn’t this put the responsibility back on God?

Jacob’s sons were responsible for their sins against Joseph and their father, even though God took their evil deeds and used them to accomplish His purposes. God did not cause these men to sin, but He used the results of their sin to accomplish His divine will and decrees. Only God can understand this paradox. No human logic can explain it. But it’s true nonetheless!

Observation 2

While on this earth, It’s not possible to explain all human suffering.

Not all human problems and pain can be explained through Joseph’s experience. God had a special plan for Joseph in allowing his suffering. Also, we know the end of the story! In God’s scheme of things, He allowed Joseph to be able to see a specific purpose in what happened to him. Sometimes, however, Christians suffer and are never able to explain why.

Suffering in general is related to the fact that the world is contaminated by sin. This problem has two dimensions. First, we can use our freedom to sin and make innocent people suffer. Second, we can use our freedom to sin and cause severe suffering in our own lives. More often than not, both dimensions are interrelated.

Observation 3

A Christian has the potential to see meaning in suffering that others may not see.

Here are some of the specific purposes God can accomplish in and through our lives when we suffer.

· We may have opportunities to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

· Personal suffering can help us understand the suffering of others.

· Suffering can produce Christian maturity.

· Suffering can bring a person to a salvation experience.

Observation 4

Seeing some meaning in our suffering gives us inner strength to endure in ways beyond normal human capacities.

Joseph said, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Paul wrote, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God; those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When we believe that life has meaning because God gives it meaning, we can endure great suffering, even though we cannot see any meaning at the time. We continue on in faith that God will use our experiences for good that He has planned.

To Discuss

3. Do you know a person who, like Joseph, has overcome great adversity without bitterness of anger? What do you admire most about that person?

4. What tragedy or hardship in your adult life would you like to understand from God’s perspective?

5. Why do you think God appeared to Jacob at Beer-sheba to give His blessing on the family’s move to Egypt?

6. How did the family of Jacob fare in the land of Egypt during Jacob’s final years?

7. How did Joseph’s older brothers prepare against the day when Jacob would no longer be there to protect them from any delayed revenge Joseph might have in mind?

8. How had Joseph learned to explain all that he had suffered? Did he dismiss as unimportant the sin his brothers had committed against him? Why or why not?

9. What promises of the Bible do you cling to when suffering threatens to overwhelm you?

10. Which one of these observations about suffering do you most need to work at incorporating into your mindset? Why?

a. Never excuse your sin when God manages to use it for good.

b. While on earth, it is not possible to explain all suffering.

c. Believers have a better chance to understand suffering than do unbelievers.

d. Faith that God gives meaning to all of life can help you bear the heaviest suffering.

11. When you look at something you suffered years ago, what sense can you make of it from the perspective of time and experience? How do you deal with suffering that you still can’t explain?

12. When you face great suffering, is it more important to know what the suffering means or to know Who will sustain you through the ordeal? Why do you say that?

This group has been together for many weeks now. You have shared a great deal about your strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams. Today trust one another to “carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

13. Share with one another the things that are causing you or members of your family to suffer.

14. Pray that God will give strength to all in this group who are suffering. Ask God for His help to endure suffering and wisdom to understand it at the appropriate time.