When we look at the world around us, at the evil that happens, at the hardships we personally face, how do we respond? Maybe with self-pity? Or despair? Or anger, towards God or people around us? Or, much better, do we bring it to God in faith: seeking his help, pleading for his grace to bear and understand, for courage; trusting that God is in control, and that he has his good and wise purposes?
The prayer of the Christians in Acts 4 shows us such a prayer (please read Acts 4, especially verse 23-31). Here, the lessons we received last Sunday, both from Joseph’s famous words and from Daniel 7, come together. Joseph said, after all the hardship he’d been through, and seeing that his brothers feared his revenge:
“Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:19-20)
Joseph was able to see things from the heavenly perspective. He trusted that even though so much evil happens (e.g. from ‘beastly’ world powers and evil rulers), that God rules over them all, and that he works everything for the good of those who love him. The Ancient of Days is in control, and his plans will certainly come to pass, and bring him all the glory.
Of course, in Joseph’s day, the saving of many lives meant first of all that Jacob’s family (and countless others) were saved from the famine. But this has a much deeper meaning in the one Joseph’s life points to: our Saviour Jesus Christ, ‘one like a son of man’. Because of the evil that happened to Jesus – the greatest evil that ever happened – multitudes are saved. By faith in Jesus, we can now be forgiven of our sin and right before the holy God
So the apostles prayed:
“Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David [Psalm 2:1-2]:
‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:24-30)
Even when the nations raged and killed God’s own Son Jesus, they meant it for evil but God intended it for good to accomplish the saving of many lives. And this should give us a sure confidence that whatever goes on in our lives today, or around the world (e.g. in Afghanistan), God is in control. He is working out his good purposes.
Shall we pray in faith that we (and our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world) may have this perspective, and the boldness to live for Jesus in this world? God answered the disciples’ prayer mightily (Acts 4:31), and is able to do the same today!
Klaas-Jan Gunnink