40 Days of Faith: Day 22

Hebrews 11:22a – By faith Joseph, at the end of his life…

What’s your fight story? During our Fight for It study, we talked about our various fights – for ourselves, our home, our church, and our city. We spent a significant amount of time sharing our fight stories – how God had helped us overcome various challenges and difficulties through his hand of leading.

Recounting our fight stories is fundamental to our own perspective of God’s providence – understanding that God is doing something with my suffering and pain. Benjamin B. Warfield (1851–1921), renowned theologian at Princeton Seminary, married Annie Pearce Kinkead in 1876. On their honeymoon, a tragic lightning strike permanently paralyzed Annie. She required round‑the‑clock care for the next 39 years. Warfield could seldom leave her side—rarely more than two hours at a time. This was his fight story, and he was faithful to keep fighting for his home until he laid his wife to rest in 1915.

When the writer of Hebrews mentions Joseph at his death, in less than a sentence, he references Joseph’s perspective of God’s providence over his journey to and in Egypt. At his father’s death, his brothers once again circle up without him. As they do, they fear that now that Israel is dead, they will experience retribution from Joseph. So, they come to him in Genesis 50:16-19:
16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

Once again, the vision Joseph had when he was a young man is fulfilled. Once again, Joseph grants grace and forgiveness to his brothers, while sharing a holy perspective of the bigger picture of their lives. He says in response in verses 19-21:
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 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. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

What an amazing perspective! Joseph is saying, “What was meant for evil, God redefined! And he did so with a purpose – to save many people, as they are today.”  Joseph is reflecting over his life, and he can look back and see that God took the mess that happened to him and gave him a message that we are still learning from today.

John Piper says, “God is always weaving something wise out of the painful, perplexing threads that look like a tangle in our lives.”[1] This is how God redefines the evil. Theologian Wayne Grudem defines providence as God preserving and governing every detail—yes, even the suffering we despair over. He stresses that there are no “chance” events under God’s watch.[2]

 Joseph’s story teaches us that God is so wise, loving, gracious, and good. It shows us that God can bring beauty from ashes, hope in despair, and a holy perspective, if we will continue to trust him with our walk by showing up daily and honoring what God has placed before us to do.

 In walking well even in our disappointment and despair, we are saying, “God, you are working out something bigger. Use this for your glory and my good.”

 This was Benjamin Warfield’s perspective, leading him to a deeper understanding of Romans 8:28 and divine providence. Despite decades of suffering, Warfield wrote:
 “If he governs all, then nothing but good can befall those to whom he would do good…”

 Warfield believed God ordained even tragedy to bring ultimate good.[3] This too is Joseph’s perspective, which is critical for the next part of Hebrews 11:22. We will this discover this principle together tomorrow, but in short, we will learn that because Joseph could see God’s hand behind him, he could speak confidently about God’s leading before him.

 Joseph’s story—and the testimony of men like Benjamin Warfield—reminds us that faith doesn’t deny pain, but it sees God’s hand in the middle of it. What others intend for evil, God can redefine for good. Looking back, Joseph could see that every betrayal, every prison cell, and every disappointment had positioned him to be an instrument of salvation. The same is true for us. We may not yet understand the threads God is weaving, but one day we will see the tapestry of His providence. Today, take a moment to look back at your own story. Where can you already trace God’s hand? And where do you need to trust that He is still weaving something wise out of the painful threads? Choose to believe that He is at work in your past, your present, and your future.

 Prayer:
Father, thank You that nothing in my life is wasted in Your hands. When I look back on painful moments, help me to see Your fingerprints—even in the places that still hurt. Teach me to trust that You are weaving all things together for my good and Your glory. Strengthen my faith to believe that every disappointment can become a platform for Your grace. May my story, like Joseph’s, point others to the God who brings beauty from ashes and hope from despair. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] “The Root of Beautiful Patience,” Desiring God, accessed August 2025, https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/the-root-of-beautiful-patience.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.