Karma is inevitable and every lesson is a double-edged sword

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The most important message I picked up from today’s readings overall is that karma is inevitable and all lessons in life are a double-edged sword.

My primary take-away from each of the passages was this:

• Genesis 41-42: When we endure suffering with grace, dignity, and faithfulness to God, we experience the reward of knowing that we have been faithful and done our best under difficult circumstances. Sometimes we are rewarded beyond that, as Jacob was, with a reversal of his fortunes. When we hid our sins and transgressions against others, as Jacob’s brothers did, the truth will eventually catch-up to us.
• Matthew 21: Embrace your destiny and do all that is required of you with grace, faithfulness, purpose, and dignity, even when the outcome may be unsure or appears to be grim.
• Psalms 21: Evil cannot prosper and to practice it is futile. God and God’s ways will always prevail.
• Proverbs 21: Natural consequences are built into all of our actions. When we do good. that good will come back to us. When we do evil, that evil will come back to us. In all things we should do what God has deemed right and good, no matter what. We should always be prepared for whatever comes our way by working diligently and walking in God’s way, but the outcome is always up to God.

I never cease to be amazed at the remarkable coincidences I find when reading the Bible the way I do (two old testament chapters, one new testament chapter, a Psalm and a Proverb, from the beginning of the book to the end, simultaneously).

Coincidence number one: In the same way that Jesus fulfills his role by performing all of the prophesied steps predicted for him in the old testament, Joseph faithfully and gracefully fulfills his responsibilities and duties in a life he did not choose for himself because his brothers sold him into slavery. He maintains his faith in God gives God all of the credit and glory when any praise comes his way for his talents and hard work.

Coincidence number two: Today’s psalm shows us that no matter what evil people may plan for us, God is in control and his plan for us always prevails. We are to trust in that promise whether or not we understand what will happen at the end of our service to God.

Coincidence number three: Today’s psalm underscores the karmic reality of life and our actions, as well as the lesson that it is our job to show up faithfully in all things and trust God with the outcome.

Now I’ll remind you that coincidence is God winking at us.

Joseph is my favorite character in the Bible, because he provides us with such a wonderful example of how we are to behave during trying times and difficult circumstances, especially those we find ourselves in where we cannot see how we might have contributed to our circumstances, or in which we really may not have done anything to contribute to our unfortunate circumstances. In Joseph’s case, he did not deserve to be sold into slavery, even if he had been a holier-than-thou little know-it-all with his brothers. Nothing he did was worth more than a scolding for pride. Yet he was sold into slavery, and was nearly murdered. But God took care of him, spared his life, and saved him for greater purpose in the future.

I identify with Joseph because I have also felt unjustly relegated to difficult circumstances despite doing everything right (from my point of view and my understanding of God’s plan and laws). I find comfort in knowing that he was not merely restored to and through justice, but was elevated above those who had tormented him. He ended up having all the power over them, which was quite the reversal from his original circumstances. The story gives me hope that those who have committed evil against me and sought to do me harm will come to justice one day (even if that justice is on the other side of the veil of this life).

I find myself envious of Joseph’s ability to endure his suffering with grace, faithfulness, and dignity. I am faithful in my suffering, but I don’t always feel gracious or dignified about it. I tend to whine. I become impatient waiting for justice to be meted out to those who have delighted in my suffering. The story of Joseph serves to remind me that God is in control, and that no one gets away with anything they ever do to cause another’s suffering. The ending is rarely as neat, tidy, and satisfying as the one Joseph got, but karma is inevitable–everyone suffers the logical, natural consequences of their own actions, eventually.

This is where the double-edged sword comes in. When someone commits evil against me, there’s a lesson in that for me and for them. For me it is that I must endure the suffering that follows with grace, faithfulness, and dignity, and in doing so God is smoothing out my rough edges and making me more like Jesus. For the perpetrator of the evil there is an opportunity to see the error of their ways, repent, make restitution and amends, and work out their own relationship with God. It is absolutely none of my business how they do that, whether they do that, or whether they ever come to justice. As Proverbs 21: 31 states, it’s just for me to prepare myself and my horses for the battles that God places before me, but the outcome is his responsibility and I’m not to interfere; I’m just supposed to show up and do my best in all circumstances.

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This post is part of the series, “Read the Bible in a Year.”

To see other posts in this series, go to the Chronological Index of Read the Bible in a Year Posts.