Then his brothers came and fell down before him and said, “We are your slaves.” But Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved.” Genesis 50

The story of Joseph is full of so that inflexion points in the Providence of God. Sold into slavery so that. Thrown into jail on false charges of attempted rape so that. Languished in prison for many years. Wisdom to interpret dreams so that. Released from prison and became Pharoah’s highest ranked official. God brought seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine so that. The famine drove Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy food so that.

A long series of unexpected events under God’s sovereignty so that many lives would be saved from a famine, Joseph would be reunited with his family, so that the Israelites would settle in Egypt and prosper. And so that the Exodus.

Your life may not have as many dramatic so that moments as Joseph’s life did, however, with reflection, we wager you will see the so that hand of God in the events of your life.

So that is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a clause of purpose or result, often indicating an action taken with a specific goal in mind. This series explores the so that of the providence of God. See here.