WA common question still asked by non-Christians today is; ‘if there is a God, why is there so much suffering?’ A more nuanced question asked by Christians is; ‘where is God IN my suffering?’ This is not an academic question for those asking it; but an emotional one. The story of Joseph is one of the best places to answer this emotional question.
We’re introduced to Joseph as a 17 year old In Genesis 37. We soon learn he is the favoured son of his father Jacob, which results in (i) his brothers resent him, and (ii) he is somewhat of a spoilt brat. When he has certain dreams, that signify his family will bow to him, he joyfully shares those dreams with his family, with no tact at all.
Although Joseph’s crime is being a spoilt brat, a series of unfortunate events befalls Joseph. He is (i) sold as a slave by his brothers, (ii) framed by his master’s wife for a crime he didn’t commit, and (iii) left to rot in jail for several years. The reader is drawn into Joseph’s pain though all this. Where is God in Joseph’s suffering?
The answer is (i) walking beside Joseph through his suffering, allowing him to flourish, and (ii) transforming Joseph into the kind of leader who could rescue the nations of Egypt and Canaan from famine. If Joseph had not been sold into slavery, he would have continued a spoilt brat. Yet God purposefully put him through hardship to shape him into someone great!
And this is the answer to ‘where is God in our suffering?’ He is walking right beside us, to support us in our pain. Yet he is also using that pain to transform us into someone great!
Brendan McLaughlin
