At the Intersection of the Tragic and the Glorious

Let me first say that any death has an element of tragedy attached to it. The death of a human being, no matter how old or sick, even the death of an unrepentant serial rapist or a child murderer on death row --it's all tragic. A consequence of sin and disobedience. But we have expectations as a society. Our children should outlive us. People we love do not suffer in death; they go ready, peacefully in their sleep, not languishing in excruciating pain month after month. And people who do good, people who serve with love die quietly, contentedly in old age, their mission complete.

I watched, this morning, as my husband bid me Goodbye from the end of the yard, exaggerated waves with his whole arm and blowing kisses back and forth as we do. To imagine him never doing this again, going off to work as he's done thousands of days before, but not returning because someone wants him to die... Unthinkable. My husband does not have a public platform. My husband does not lock up dangerous criminals or guard them in prison. My husband does not refuse people a refund at Walmart or audit their taxes. My husband does not do any of those things that you might think would make him enemies. But our society has become such that all you have to do is ride a train, go to your job, disagree, gather for prayer, look different, or be of a certain faction, and you are vulnerable. Depravity.

But God. There's a song that says, "You take what the Enemy meant for evil, and You turned it for good." In fact, I woke up with that very song in my head today; but I'm not entirely sure that's true. Genesis 50:20 records Joseph's words to his scheming brothers as they realize how much power he now wields over them. They stand before him, sure he will seek retribution; but Joseph says, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." That word --meant; in Hebrew, it is hasab, and it is used twice in this verse; with regard to his brother's plans and with regard to God's. Yes, God's plan, God's meaning. In the same way betrayal and disappearance were the intent of Joseph's brothers. When the slave traders rode away with Joseph, when the brothers soaked that beautiful coat with animal blood and presented it to their father, God did not wring His hands and say, "Now what do I do?" He didn't see it coming days or even decades before, hatch a plan and alter circumstances. He intended with the same focus on intent --but more perfectly --than the brothers intended. God intended good and masterfully used the evil of men to bring it about.

So, back to life --and death --here in the twenty-first century. We all know tomorrow isn't promised. We recognize the hatred and darkness that exists in our world. We will die, those we love will die, and some of those deaths will most likely be in stark contrast to our expectations. We will grieve. Perhaps, heavily. But those who trust in the Lord will be able to look past the sadness --even in those moments when death has barely turned from our door to be on its way elsewhere. We will be able to look past the sadness and past the grief to the Living Hope who sustains us, promises to grant us something much better, and keeps His word. We will rest in the assurance that He intends to use the very evil the prince of this world intends to destroy us, for His glory and our good! Even when our expectations are not met, we can grieve the tragic but take consolation in the glory that is to come!