Engaging Our Culture: October 15-Everything Happens for a Reason, or Does It?

Video of the Day: Clip from the show” Everything Happens for a Reason” (Language Warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them, Genesis 50:15-21.

Biblical Connection:

The biblical phrase from Romans 8:28-30 claiming that everything happens for a reason is much more complex and complicated. Meanwhile, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 talks about that there is a time for everything. Therefore, verbalizing this expression following an accident in today’s video clip does more harm than good. Rather, most people need time to reflect upon the trials they endure in life before acknowledging and understanding why bad things happen to good people.

This is the revelation that Joseph receives after being reunited with his brothers in Egypt. Despite being abandoned in a pit and sold into slavery, Joseph needed to mature on his own. Meanwhile, being falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife placed Joseph into a ceil where he met two of Pharoah’s servants. This leads Joseph into Pharoah’s presence where he is able to interpret 2 dreams catapulting him to governor of Egypt. This is the context of Joseph’s words in verse 20.

Closing Song:

Jesus didn’t spoon feed his disciples the answers to life. Rather, Jesus allowed each to figure out the truth on their own. The same concept applies to everything happens for a reason. When someone dies, verbalizing everything happens for a reason is a poor choice of words. Instead, help, listen to and support the hurting so that in God’s timing they will begin to have clarity on why certain trials have occurred, James 1:2-4.

by Jay Mankus