'In our ignorance of what the future holds, how can we
be so bold as to question what comes about by God's permission? Surely
it is reasonable to think that our complaints are groundless and that
instead of complaining we ought to be thanking Providence. Joseph was
sold into slavery and thrown into prison. If he had felt aggrieved at
these apparent misfortunes, he would really have been feeling aggrieved
at his happiness for they were the steps to the throne of Egypt. Saul
loses his father's asses and has to go on a long vain hunt for them. But
if he had felt annoyed at the great waste of time and energy it caused
him, his annoyance could not have been more unreasonable as it was all a
means of bringing him to the prophet who was to anoint him king of his
people.'
