“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

It’s a question that has puzzled people for generations and has been the reason why many have chosen to not put their faith and trust in God. If God is truly sovereign and truly good, how could He let such terrible, evil things happen to us? How could He allow so much suffering?

Maybe you’ve asked yourself these questions during different circumstances and situations in your own life. Perhaps you have endured certain trials that have caused you to cry out, “Why God?” If so, you’re not alone.  Even back in biblical days, people were asking this question. And there is one story in particular near the beginning of our Bibles that I believe helps us answer all of these questions – the story of Joseph.

Joseph was one of the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons, and he was also Jacob’s favorite. His older brothers hated him, not only because of their father’s favoritism toward him, but also because Joseph talked about dreams he had that insinuated that his brothers would bow down to him. One day, the brothers were out pasturing their flock, and Jacob sent Joseph to check on them and see if they were well. The brothers saw Joseph approaching.

“They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37:19-20, ESV

Reuben, the oldest brother, was against killing Joseph and told the brothers to just throw him in the pit, planning on rescuing him later. But Judah came up with a different plan. A caravan of Ishmaelites was passing by, going down to Egypt, and Judah decided it would be a good idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. So, the brothers sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, and Joseph was taken to Egypt.

In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard, and things were actually going fairly well for him. God caused everything Joseph did in Potiphar’s house to be successful, and Potiphar made Joseph in charge of everything he had. Potiphar trusted Joseph and had no concerns about anything that was in his hands.

But things took a turn. Potiphar’s wife found Joseph to be a handsome and attractive man, and she repeatedly tried to get Joseph to sleep with her. Joseph, being a righteous man, refused all her advances.

“Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” Genesis 39:8b-9

This, however, did not dissuade the woman, and one day, she caught him by his cloak and demanded that he sleep with her. Joseph fled, leaving his cloak in her hand, and the woman told Potiphar that it was Joseph who was trying to sleep with her! So, Joseph was taken to prison for a crime he did not commit.

But God was still faithful to Joseph. The Bible tells us,

“But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.” Genesis 39:21-22

Just as the Lord made Joseph successful in Potiphar’s house, He also made Joseph successful in the prison, and the keeper of the prison trusted Joseph so much that he didn’t even pay attention to what Joseph was in charge of. While he was in the prison, Joseph met the chief cupbearer and chief baker, who had been thrown in prison by Pharaoh. They both had a strange dream that they could not make sense of, but God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams.

After listening to their dreams, he told the cupbearer that he would be restored and asked the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh so that he may be released. The baker, on the other hand, would be hanged for his offense against the Pharaoh. Days later, Joseph’s interpretations proved to be correct, yet the cupbearer forgot about Joseph.

Two years later, Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams, and none of the wise men in Egypt could interpret them. The cupbearer suddenly remembered the Hebrew man he had met in prison, and he told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph and asked him to interpret his dreams. Joseph told Pharaoh that there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and he recommended that Pharaoh appoint someone who would store up the extra produce so that the people would be able to eat during the long famine.

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.’” Genesis 41:39-40

Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. He was falsely accused of sexual assault. He was thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit. And he was forgotten for two whole years. Why did God allow all this to happen to him? As we read through Joseph’s story, we see that he is a righteous, God-fearing man. Why did God allow him to suffer so much?

Joseph actually knew the answer. At the end of Genesis, he is reconciled with his brothers, and he tells them-

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20

After he became second-in-command in Egypt, Jacob stored up the extra produce during the time of plenty and fed the people, including his family, during the time of famine. Yes, God allowed several terrible, awful things happen to Joseph in his life, but God worked through those terrible, awful things to bring about a good result. Many, many lives were saved because of the actions that Joseph took.

And the same is true in our lives. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans-

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

We will go through dark times. We will endure suffering. Evil will be committed against us. But we can trust God through the darkness, evil, and suffering because God is with us, and God loves us, and God is working all things together for our ultimate good and for His glory. We may not see the good now, but we will one day look back on our lives and praise God for even the darkest of times, for God is always working in and through the darkness.

If you’re suffering right now, if you’re struggling with the things that are happening in your life, do not give up hope! You have a God who sees you and loves you and knows everything about you. Remember that He has a good plan for you and for your life, and He will never abandon you. And pray-

“O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles,” Psalm 88:1-3a