On a number of occasions, people have asked me, “If there is a God, why does He allow good people to suffer?” What is the answer to that question? Is God powerless to prevent suffering? Does He not care? Does the Bible give us the answer? Yes, it does.

Transition

This morning I would like to point out three reasons from the life of Joseph why good people suffer.

They suffer because we live in a sinful world.

If Adam and Eve had not sinned 6,000 years ago, our world would be a different place. Sin brought physical and spiritual death into the world. Sin resulted in rebellion, separation from God, blaming, shame, pain, suffering, weeds, and unproductive ground. Sin is at the root of all suffering. Suffering may be the result of our own sins or the sins of others against us. Note the progression of sin that caused Joseph to suffer.

1. Joseph suffered because his dad pampered him.
   1. Jacob played favourites in his family and pampered Joseph. Joseph got special gifts his brothers did not receive. He did not have to work as hard as his brother. All this was sinful and wrong. Children like being pampered, but there are harmful consequences.
   2. Being pampered made his brothers jealous and hateful toward Joseph.
   3. Though Joseph was an exception, sheltering a child from hard work, giving them special privileges, and pampering them will often cause character problems. Many times it makes children lazy, selfish, picky eaters, demanding, prideful, and disobedient. They will carry these vices with them into adulthood. Parents beware!
2. Joseph suffered because of sinful brothers.
   1. His sinful brothers hated him because he was pampered.
   2. His sinful brothers sold him into slavery.
3. Joseph suffered because of a lying woman.
   1. Last week we learned that Joseph became the head steward in Potiphar’s house because he was faithful.
   2. Potiphar’s wife begged Joseph to sin with her, but when he refused, she lied about him and had him sent to prison.
      **Were the actions of Joseph’s father, his hateful brothers, and this evil woman God’s fault? No. They were the result of sin. Good people often suffer because we live in a sinful world.

They suffer for personal spiritual benefit.

God’s words to the apostle Paul shed light on this in 2 Corinthians 12:9. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” When we are weak, God is able to show himself strong. Paul chose to delight in his burdens knowing that they enabled God to show his power. In times of trials, we need to stop and count our blessings! Notice with me some of the spiritual benefits Joseph gained.

1. Joseph escaped the tempting woman.
   1. In prison, she could no longer tempt Joseph.
   2. God rescued Joseph before he weakened.
2. God’s grace met Joseph’s needs
   1. God spared his life from execution (Gen 39:20).
   2. God showed him mercy (Gen 39:21).
   3. God gave him favour with the warden (Gen 39:21).
   4. God caused Joseph to be promoted (Gen 39:22).
   5. God made his life prosperous (Gen 39:23).
      ☆ The trials of life can make you better or bitter. The choice is up to you. You can count your burdens or your blessings. Again, the choice is up to you. If you allow God to make you better through trials, you will become more dependent on God, more empathetic when others suffer, and more thankful for the blessings of life.
3. Joseph was in the place where God could use him.
   1. Because he was in prison, Joseph to serve the chief butler and baker of the king (v.1-4).
      1. These two men had offended the king and ended up in Joseph’s prison (v.1-3).
      2. They were in prison for a “season” which simply means for days. The length of days is not specified.
   2. God gave these two men dreams in one night and Joseph was able to interpret the dreams for them (v.5-19).
      1. Joseph was still walking close to the Lord. He knew that God would reveal to him the meaning of the dreams (v.8).
      2. Though he was a leader in prison, Joseph longed to be free (v.14).
      3. Joseph’s interpretations came true because he got them from God (v.20-23). Even in this, Joseph’s hope for freedom was shattered (v.23).
      4. This time of interpreting dreams was all part of God’s overall plan that was yet unknown to Joseph.
         **Because we have a completed Bible, I do not believe that God is still revealing secrets to people through dreams. However, many people are longing for answers to the questions of life. As Christians, we ought to know the Bible well enough to be able to give Biblical answers to those questions. If you will daily read the Bible and write down a principle that you find each day, your understanding of the Bible will rapidly increase.

They suffer that God may be glorified.

God is our creator and sustainer. All that He created was perfect. He deserves all the glory and praise. God gave man a free will so he could choose to obey and glorify Him. Man failed and sin entered the world. To love and glorify God MUST be a choice. Without giving man a free will to choose, man would be a puppet. Therefore, suffering is not God’s fault. It is the result of man’s sin.

1. God sees the BIG picture, past, present, and future.
   1. God knew before Joseph was born that he would one day be a slave in Egypt.
   2. Did God plan that? I do not think so, but God certainly wove the events of Joseph’s life into His divine plan.
   3. God does not plan for man to sin, but in His divine wisdom He is able to weave the sinful events of life into His overall program. Exactly how God does this is one of the secrets of God.
      ☆ (Deuteronomy 29:29) “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
2. God can turn around evil to promote his glory.
   1. As we progress in the book of Genesis, we will see that God used the sins of Joseph’s pampering, his brother’s hatred, and Potiphar’s wife’s lie to place Joseph in the right place at the right time for a powerful purpose.
   2. Turn with me to Jeremiah 18.
      ☆ (Jeremiah 18:2-4) “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
   3. God used these verses to show Jeremiah that just as a potter has the ability to reform a damaged vessel, God has the ability to re-form a damaged life.
      **Though Joseph did not know it yet, all of his suffering would one day bring glory to God. His suffering would work out for his good and God’s glory. If we stay close to the Lord during our trials, God will do the same for us.

Conclusion

If you are suffering this morning, do not blame God. Here are three reasons: 1) Because you live in a sinful world and perhaps because you sinned, 2) So you may benefit spiritually, 3) So God will be glorified one day. Joseph chose to allow his suffering to make him better not bitter. God wants you to make the same choice. You do not have to be bitter. You can rejoice in the Lord, become more dependent on God, more empathetic when others suffer, and more thankful for the blessings of life. Give your burden to the Lord and he will give you peace (Phil 4:6-8). If your own sin has caused your burdens, confess it and forsake it. If you have not yet trusted Christ to save you from hell, that is your greatest need. I encourage you to trust Him today.

Song: Cast Your Burden on the Lord (bulletin)
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Why Good People Suffer
25 January 2015 am – Genesis 40:1-23 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs