Trusting in God's Mysterious Ways

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

One of my favorite Bible narratives is the story of Joseph. I like it for many reasons, but mostly because it gives me hope that when circumstances are not going the way I’d like, it doesn’t mean that God is not working behind the scenes on the big picture.

Joseph’s story is recorded in the book of Genesis in chapters 37-50 and I’d encourage you to read it in full, but I want to give you the condensed version here to show how this played out in his life.

Joseph had big dreams. At 17, this great-grandson of Abraham dreamt that he would be elevated to a high position where even his mom, dad and eleven brothers would bow before him. His family was not happy about it.

His brothers were actually so offended that they conspired against him and sold him to strangers and told their father he was dead. Nice family, huh? The traveling strangers then sold him to an Egyptian official who put Joseph to work as a servant. Joseph was surely wondering at this time what was going on. This was the complete opposite of being honored by his family.

Then things got worse. Even though he had been faithful and effective in his work for the official, when the man’s wife falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape, he sent Joseph off to prison.

He remained in that dungeon-like prison until he was 30. Did you get that? Until he was 30! I can’t imagine the days, nights, months and years of disappointment. Not only was his God-given dream not being realized, he was alone, separated from his family, imprisoned, and made to labor in the care of real criminals.

He finally received a break when he interpreted a troubling dream for the Pharaoh. By this time, Joseph would likely have just been glad to have his freedom; maybe make his way back to the land of his family and see if he could salvage some sort of relationship with them.

Instead, the pharaoh surprised everyone by proclaiming Joseph second-in-command of all of Egypt and assigning him the task of preparing for the severe famine that he had just prophesied. Going home would have to wait.

Nine years later, the famine had gotten so bad and spread so far that his family back home had run out of food. The ten brothers that were responsible for selling Joseph were sent to Egypt to buy grain. He knew who they were as soon as they arrived but they didn’t recognize him. They all bowed before him, unaware of who they were showing honor to.

Without revealing himself, he accused them of spying and held the oldest brother in jail until they went home and brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, to Egypt. When they arrived back with Benjamin, he served them all a big feast. They were confused by the fine treatment and Joseph was struggling to keep his emotions and his identity hidden.

The next day, Joseph hatched a plan to keep Benjamin in Egypt while the others returned home, but before that plan was completed his emotions got the best of him. He sent everyone away except his brothers and then broke down in front of them, weeping loudly. He said to them, “I am Joseph!”

To say the least, they were shocked. They had assumed he was dead. And it wasn’t long before that shock turned into fear. The one they had sold into slavery at 17 was now one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Surely he would have his revenge on them all.

But that’s not what he did. Instead, he gathered them in close and told them, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

Twenty-two years after being betrayed and sold by his family, enduring further injustice and hardship, Joseph was starting to see the big picture. The dream of leadership and honor he had at 17 was valid; it was what God had in mind for his life. What Joseph couldn’t have known then is how and when that would come to pass and what God intended to accomplish with it.

Soon after he revealed himself to his brothers, Joseph was reunited with his father. The whole family was now together in the land of Egypt with enough resources to outlast the famine. God had kept his promise to protect and provide for the growing nation of Israel through the unexpected, and at times very difficult, circumstances of Joseph’s life. It was only at the end, looking back after everything had come together, that the mysterious ways of God would start to make sense.

It seems that is often how God works. Consider the life of Jesus, God’s own son. He shows up on the scene in humble fashion, grows up in obscurity, and then when he reveals himself to the world, many reject and oppose him. Ultimately he is betrayed and sold out by one close to him (this is sounding familiar). And when it looks as if all hope is lost, he is brought up out of the pit and given the place of highest honor, bringing salvation to the world.

Yes, with God, what’s appears to be happening on the surface, is not the whole picture. Often in the unexpected twists and turns of our lives, He is working out a greater purpose. One that we won’t understand until much later, looking back upon the whole of our lives.

In the mean time, we can take hope in the promises that He has given us. The apostle Paul reminds us of God’s sovereign control even when we’re experiencing hardship and suffering saying, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I’ll leave you with this beautiful and insightful poem by William Cowper (1731-1800). This writing became a popular hymn and the origin of the phrase, “God works in mysterious ways.”

Light Shining out of Darkness

God moves in a mysterious way,
    His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs,
    And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,
    The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
    But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
    He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
    Unfolding ev'ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
    But sweet will be the flow'r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
    And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
    And he will make it plain

*Photo by Jack Anstey on Unsplash