Throughout the Bible, we have evidence of God using trouble or hardship to bring about a greater good. This approach, often challenging to understand, reveals the intricate ways God intervenes in our lives to accomplish His purposes. We must embrace this unusual approach, that God sometimes sends trouble to extricate us from greater troubles.
To comprehend how God uses trouble to bring about good, it's crucial to understand divine providence. Divine providence refers to God's sovereign guidance and care over all creation. It implies that nothing happens outside God's knowledge and grace, and He orchestrates events to fulfill His divine plan. This understanding is foundational in interpreting instances where trouble serves a greater purpose. We have three scriptures to review and digest.
Joseph's Trouble (Genesis 37-50)
The story of Joseph is one of the most compelling examples of God using trouble to bring about a greater good. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of a crime, and imprisoned, Joseph faced immense hardships. However, each trial positioned him closer to his ultimate destiny. Through his sufferings, Joseph eventually rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, saving many, including his family, from a severe famine. Joseph acknowledged God's hand in his trials, saying to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, saving many lives" [Genesis 50:20].
The Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 1-14)
The enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt presents another instance of God allowing trouble to lead to a greater deliverance. The severe oppression they faced under Pharaoh ultimately set the stage for one of the most dramatic deliverances in biblical history—the Exodus. The plagues, though devastating, were instrumental in compelling Pharaoh to release the Israelites. God used the trouble in Egypt to demonstrate His power and to establish a covenant with His chosen people, leading them to the Promised Land.
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
The Apostle Paul's experience with a "thorn in the flesh" illustrates a personal and spiritual dimension of God’s sovereignty. Paul describes this affliction as a messenger of Satan allowed by God to prevent him from becoming conceited due to his extraordinary revelations. Despite pleading with God to remove it, Paul receives the divine response, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" [2 Corinthians 12:9]. This trouble, though painful, kept Paul humble and reliant on God's strength, showcasing how personal hardships can serve a greater spiritual purpose.
We must ask why God might use trouble to achieve His purposes. Understanding God’s unique approach to our spiritual development can help us navigate the complexities of suffering and divine intervention. The reasons for God’s using trouble to deliver us from trouble can include the following:
TROUBLE REFINES US. Just as gold is purified through fire, believers are often refined through trials. Malachi 3:3 states, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." This process, though painful, is meant to purify and strengthen our faith, making us more Christ-like.
TROUBLE MATURES US. Hebrews 12:6-11 explains that God disciplines those He loves, comparing His discipline to that of a loving father correcting his child. This corrective trouble is not punitive but instructive, meant to lead the believer back to righteousness and closer alignment with God's will.
MANIFEST GOD’S GLORY. Trouble manifests God's glory in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise. The story of the man born blind in John 9 illustrates this. When asked whether the man's blindness was due to his or his parent's sin, Jesus responded, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him"[St. John 9:3]. Christ Jesus revealed His divine authority through this man's suffering and brought glory to God.
Understanding that God can use trouble to bring about a greater good helps us to trust Him. We can trust that even amid trouble, God is at work, orchestrating events for our ultimate good and His glory. Romans 8:28 reassures us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (NIV).
Trials often require patience and perseverance. James 1:2-4 encourages believers to "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (NIV). This perspective helps us endure hardships with the assurance that they are being perfected through the process.
Experiencing trouble helps us to empathize with and minister to others facing similar difficulties. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 speaks to this, stating that God "comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Through personal suffering, believers become conduits of God's comfort and compassion to others.
The notion that God sends trouble to get us out of trouble is a profound and sometimes perplexing aspect of God’s character. When we embrace God’s purpose for our lives, it should encourage us to trust and thank God in everything [1 Thessalonians 5:18]. We should exercise patience and perseverance and extend empathy and ministry to others. While trouble in our lives may be inevitable, the assurance of God's purposeful intervention provides hope and strength to navigate life's challenges, ultimately leading us closer to Him and His divine purposes.
Bishop John C. Parks
June 26, 2024
Комментарии