FRANKLIN LIVING SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2024

We’ve all heard someone say, “Everything happens for a reason.” Often, the person making this statement seems to be implying that as difficult as it might be to believe, God ultimately wanted all those things to happen that delayed you, frustrated you, angered you and possibly even broke you. In other words, God must have wanted them to happen, or he wouldn’t have allowed them to happen.

Another way some people say it: The things that happened were ultimately God’s will.

The people who speak these words will attempt to assure you that even if you can’t understand it now, God will make it all clear to you in the future. But is a person processing life biblically when they speak this way?

Some people who read the story of Joseph’s life would likely conclude he embraced this mindset. In Genesis 50:20, when he is assuring his brothers of both his love for them and their safety, he states, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Think about what Scripture reveals about Joseph’s life as we consider the question of whether everything happens for a reason.

On the one hand, Joseph suffered for a variety of reasons. His father Jacob played favorites among his children, a no-no for quality parenting. Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, causing family dysfunction. Further, Joseph bragged to his family about his dreams, which fueled his brothers’ hatred and led to Joseph being sold into slavery. And who could forget Potiphar’s wife? When Joseph ran from her adulterous advances, she accused him of attempted rape, which resulted landed Joseph in prison. Finally, Pharoah’s chief cupbearer extended Joseph’s imprisonment by two years when it took him that long to put in a good word for Joseph after Joseph had interpreted the cupbearer’s dream.

On the other hand, Joseph’s suffering all occurred for a single core reason: Multiple people made sinful choices. The person who holds that God had to have wanted all those things to happen, because he allowed them to happen, must also believe God wanted all of those people to commit sin! And that’s absurd. No fair reading of Scripture would lead someone to the conclusion that God wants people to parent irresponsibly, lie, cheat, arrogantly brag and sleep around.

Considering all that Scripture teaches, Joseph’s statement in Genesis 50:20 is simply his realization that God still works to accomplish his divine purpose despite sinful choices made by people.

In one sense, everything does happen for a reason. Things happen because people make choices. However, Joseph’s story proves some things that happen cannot be the will of God!

Philip Goad has been serving as the minister at North Highlands Church of Christ in Russellville since March 2020.