Trust in God

In the final part of his study on the life of Joseph, the Very Rev Colin Sinclair reflects on Genesis 50.

LIFE is often hard and when it is we sometimes ask: “Can God be trusted?” and: “Do all things really work together for good?”

Where do we turn when bad stuff happens, when our prayers remain unanswered? Or are we left with the unanswered questions – Why me? Why now? Why this?

Throughout the story of Joseph we have learned not to write God off, and marvelled that he does not write us off. He remains active and engaged, without flaunting his presence. Few stories are better examples of God’s providence than this one. Here we see that God not only knows the big picture, but also concerns himself with the tiniest details. Nothing escapes his notice. Wonderfully, he uses everything and wastes nothing. There are no accidents, because “God doesn’t roll dice.” Nothing ever happens by chance, because he has our best interests at heart. He remains focussed on his desire to shape us into the image of his Son – and that takes time and trouble.

For the last time we turn to the story of Joseph and it is worth reflecting on the journey on which he (and we) have been. Joseph was the favoured child who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Though he was Potiphar’s favoured servant, he was put in prison as a result of the malicious lies of a thwarted woman. Once more he proved to be hard-working and helpful, but he was forgotten about, until the time was just right. Then his gifts and Pharoah’s needs coincided. Joseph correctly interpreted his dream and was rewarded by Pharaoh, who made him the Prime Minister of Egypt. Not bad for a Hebrew slave who had been sold into slavery by his brothers! Eventually what goes around comes around, and famine drives Joseph’s brothers into his hands. Yet instead of vengeance being taken, there is reconciliation and reunion.

In time he meets his father again and is able to spend his final years with him. But that is not the end of the story.

Jacob’s death leads Joseph’s brothers to wonder whether vengeance had simply been put on hold and would now be unleashed. They plead for clemency, but Joseph’s response is magisterial. Joseph said to them: “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, 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” (Genesis 50:19-20).

How could Joseph talk like that after all that happened to him? Simply because he saw God everywhere! He saw the contrasting sides of his life: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” What the brothers had done was indeed evil and Joseph doesn’t sugar coat the truth. They were 100% responsible. “However, “God meant it for good” – God was able to take what they did and use it to accomplish his plans. Joseph saw the “invisible hand” of God at work in his life, leading him to just the right place at just the right moment in order to save his whole family. Perhaps the question we need to ask is not “Can you trust God with every aspect of your life?” but “Will you?” God is not dead; trust him.