A Word to the Wronged

As I was studying through Philemon this morning, I came to verses 15-16, which say:

“15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,?16 no longer as a slave?[3] but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

If you haven’t read Philemon, it is a letter to a man named Philemon, concerning his slave, Onesimus. Onesimus fled from his service to Philemon in Colossae and landed in prison with Paul in Rome. While with Paul, Onesimus was born again and served Paul during his incarceration. When Onesimus was released, Paul sent him back to Philemon with a letter charging Philemon to receive him back as a brother in Christ, and not as an escaped slave.

Paul suggests something scandalous in verses 15-16. Paul is suggesting that God ordained that Philemon be wronged by Onesimus in order that he would be led to Paul, and thereby led to Christ. How then should we take it when we are wronged? Could not God be orchestrating a miracle of redemption for the person who wronged you? Could the Lord be working out a plan that is larger than you or the person who wronged you? Who can say? It is only our responsibility to humbly accept both good and bad as from the hand of God. Job teaches us this very poignantly when he says to his wife:

“Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job 2:10

Too many of us, when we are wronged, coil up like snakes and defend our well being by biting any hand which draws near to us. In doing so, are we not biting the very hand of God who is not only the orchestrator of our circumstance, but also the one who is walking us through it? It is helpful to remember Proverbs 16:9:

“The heart of man plans his way,
but the?Lord?establishes his steps.”

This is a contrast. A believer may plan the way he or she wishes to go, but regardless, the Lord is establishing each step. As believers, if we are walking with him, then our plans and his direction are one. If we are planning our own ways, then we will be frustrated because we never end up where our plans intended to go. Every wrong, every blessing, therefore, is from his hand, each possessing a divine purpose that goes beyond our own tiny perspectives. Job understood this. Paul understood this. We too, are expected to understand this.