Out of tragedy
- Gary Fritsch
- Jul 9, 2025
- 2 min read
There comes a point in every epic story where the plot line is revealed, where details of the back story come to the fore in the work of the protagonist. For the reader, (or watcher) these are the very reason why they engaged with the story. The resolution of dissonant notes, the tying of loose ends, the majestic arc of the story. Today's reading and Gospel are one of many of those in the plot line of the Bible.
I think most people don't understand the ultimate literary genius of the Bible. It is 73 separate books, each serving their individual purpose, written by different authors across millennia. Yet they are held together by the threads of the plot of salvation history in a way their authors could not have known at the time.
In today's Old Testament reading from Genesis, we see the arc of the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, saving the family from starvation by forgiving the sins of his brothers and providing grain that would feed them.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus commissioning the Apostles (12, like the brothers) to go to the people of Israel and announce that salvation has come, interestingly enough through grain that will feed the 12 tribes and beyond. The feeding of the five thousand left 12 baskets and the feeding of the four thousand left 10 baskets (10 being symbolic for all or everyone). From the cross, Jesus will forgive those who plot His demise and then feed them with the Bread come down from Heaven.
From the tragedy of Joseph being sold into slavery, they are saved and then the whole nation is enslaved, but grows numerous enough to become the mighty nation that God promised they would. God fed this multitude (nearly two million people) with manna from heaven for forty years to show that He could and would feed them and save them with bread.
God promised Abraham (and in turn Isaac and Jacob) that their descendants would become a light to the nations, so Jesus instructs His Apostles to go only to the lost children of Israel, so that the promise of the Father is kept. After His resurrection, the Apostles (all children of Israel) will spread the light to the rest of the world.
To be honest, I feel spoiled to be able to see the arc of this story through the collective Word of God that is the Bible, but I also know that the story is still being written. What tragedy in my life or the life of others will become the story that is told hundreds of years from now, or shared in the halls of heaven as we together reflect on the Glory of God's Salvation for His people? We will rise from tragedy. God has shown that He can use it. We must be willing to allow His work to be done in us.
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