God, our Master Orchestrater

The Story of Joseph

Joseph was his father Jacob's son, and Jacob made Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors. This clear act of favoritism stirred up deep jealousy in Joseph's brothers, who ended up ripping his coat, selling him into slavery, and telling their father that Joseph was killed. Joseph was sent off to Egypt as a slave and went through a series of ups and downs - gaining favor in the eyes of his master Potiphar; becoming overseer of Potiphar's house; resisting the temptation of Potiphar's wife; being wrongfully accused of attempted rape of his wife; being thrown in prison; becoming overseer of the prisoners in prison; interpreting dreams for the cupbaker and baker but still left in prison for 2 more years; interpreting Pharaoh's dream, preventing Egypt from experiencing major famine, and becoming his right hand man (all this took 13 years).

As the whole earth suffered through seven years of famine, Egypt remained prosperous because of Joseph's forewarning to store extra grain. And so people from all over the world came to Egypt to buy food.  Joseph's brothers also came to buy food, and through Joseph's testing of them, he saw that they had changed and that they truly regretted the wrong they did to him 13 years before.  He revealed himself to the brothers and they were scared and dismayed. Yet he told them,

"And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life" (Gen 45:5).
"So it was not you who sent me here, but God" (Gen 45:8).
"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Gen 50:20).

And so goes the happy ending of my favorite Bible story. Though Joseph's brothers definitely did evil here, and acknowledged their responsibility and guilt, all the credit goes to God. He ordained Joseph's brothers' evil act (selling him into slavery), but as part of a greater good - saving the nation of Israel, thus fulfilling the original promise He made to Abraham to establish his descendents forever.

The Bigger Picture

Oftentimes we don't understand the "why" of God's ordinations, as Job didn't understand when he was afflicted beyond his imagination. But as my favorite Bible verse says, "All things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28). This is a constant reminder to me of God's goodness and faithfulness. Amidst any rough circumstance I may be facing, I can rest in the fact that my Master Designer is orchestrating these circumstances for my good, and I need to trust Him.

A few weeks ago I watched the movie Wanted with my friend Peter.  Looking past all the sweet special effects and action scenes, there was a quote that stood out to me: "Kill one, maybe save thousands."  The movie was about a group of assassins who were assigned to kill certain people, being sent by Fate itself. The lesson I took from this is not that certain people need to be killed for the greater good, but that there is a bigger picture in the world.  We only see the here and now - we don't see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.  As Avalon sings in "Dreams I Dream For You": "You've read one page, I know the story."

I just heard a story from my InterVarsity staff worker about one of IV's Vice Presidents, Paul Tokunaga.  As a baby, he was involved in a car crash. His mother protected him, but as a result, died from the crash.  What a horrible thing to lose your mother and never get to know her and have her there for love and support.  Did it have to be this way?  Tokunaga grew up to touch thousands and thousands of lives, speaking across the country and being involved in several different ministries since 1973.  Out of this tragic experience, God used this saved baby to spread His love and truth to thousands.  This is just one example of the countless ways that our God orchestrates all things to work according to the counsel of His will.  As the created, as those who cannot see the whole picture, will we trust our that our Creator and Designer is in control, that He knows what He is doing?

Next post: The suffering of Christ, and why God appoints suffering for His servants.