How many times have you heard (or maybe even thought to yourself) “why did God allow such a terrible thing like this to happen”? “This” could be an international calamity like the Holocaust, a Category 5 hurricane wreaking havoc on citizens, or the September 11 terrorist attacks. Or it could be a personal tragedy like receiving a cancer diagnosis, the loss of a family supporting job or an innocent young child dying in a random neighborhood shooting. I have to think Paul was somewhat puzzled by his predicament. He is following God’s call on his life to the best of his abilities, successfully planting churches and seeing the Gospel of Jesus spread throughout the known world. But here he is now, in a prison cell in Rome, not able to continue his fruitful ministry. However, we see in Philippians 1.11-18 Paul’s great attitude in his bleak situation. Maybe Paul drew strength from a true man of God from the Old Testament scriptures who overcame rejection by his family, who was falsely accused of crimes he didn’t commit, spending years in prison until God vindicated him and revealed to him the purpose of his sufferings?

Genesis 45.4-8 + 50.18-20

45.4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt…

…50.18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 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. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ From what you know from all of Scripture, compare and contrast the circumstances surrounding the life of Joseph and Paul. What eternal truths can we learn from the lives of these two Biblical heroes?

+ Can you share an instance from your life (or somebody you know) where God allowed a difficult situation to occur, yet something magnificent cane from it?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+How do you answer when critics ask why God allows bad things to happen to good people? This question presupposes two things:

First, that people are good, which is a subject for another time. The point I want to make, and what I believe the Bible clearly teaches, is that suffering “bad things” is sometimes the best thing for us in the long run. Joseph was blessed in that he saw the purpose behind his trials before the end of his life. In this section of Philippians, Paul sees the possible good coming from his imprisonment as the WHOLE imperial guard was introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it caused him to rejoice. But what Paul didn’t get to see was the incredible impact he would have on BILLIONS of people over the years who came to faith in Christ and were blessed by the words coming from his pen in the letters he wrote while he languished in prison. God allowed Paul to have a MUCH greater impact for the Gospel by being put in prison then he ever would have had continuing his ministry of planting churches!!! God is truly sovereign, and He is truly good!!!

Lord, forgive us doubting Your goodness at times. Help us to trust in your character when we can’t see the reason behind our trials and sufferings. Amen.

Romans 5:1-5: 5 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?