Wicked, the hit Broadway show – and formerly popularized book – opened on Broadway in 2003, stealing the hearts of many preteen and teenage girls (including myself). It was, how do we say “Popu-u-lar” (this is a reference to one of the famous songs from the score). And even without being familiar with the show, by now, many have heard that it was recently turned into a movie – released in November 2024, becoming the top-grossing, formerly Broadway show turned film.
The premise revolves around two unlikely friends in the Land of Oz – Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later known as Glinda the Good). Their complex relationship challenges our assumptions about good and evil, and who gets to write history.
In today’s climate where victimhood is woke and weaponized often becoming a shield for questionable choices, Wicked’s central question becomes even more poignant: One of the famous lines from the show goes: “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
Spoiler alert at least in my book, Wickedness might be thrust upon you, but you can choose to say no to evil. And of course, the Bible has what to say about this.
Joseph’s journey is perhaps the most striking parallel. Sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood, imprisoned on false accusations, he had every justification to view himself as a victim and seek revenge. When divine providence finally placed him in a position of power over those same brothers who had wronged him, he could have easily justified retribution. Instead, his response reveals a profound understanding of agency and purpose:
Rather than being defined by his victimization, Joseph chose to see a larger purpose in his pain and actively worked toward redemption – not just his own, but his family’s and an entire region’s salvation from famine.
David’s story presents us with someone who was legitimately wronged by the establishment. Anointed as the future king yet forced to live as a fugitive, hunted by King Saul’s armies like a criminal. When presented with opportunities for revenge – opportunities his own men saw as divine providence – David made a remarkable choice. In the cave at En Gedi, with Saul completely vulnerable, David’s response was clear:
Despite being the rejected and persecuted rightful king, he refused to gain his throne through evil means. His righteousness wasn’t passive – it required active restraint and leadership to prevent his men from taking matters into their own hands.
Job’s case is perhaps the most extreme. Here was a man who lost everything through no fault of his own – his children, his wealth, his health, and even his reputation in the community. His own wife advised him to “curse God and die” suggesting he embrace bitter victimhood.
Yet even in his darkest moment, facing losses we can hardly imagine, Job chose a different path: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him”
His famous declaration, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised”, isn’t a passive acceptance of victimhood but rather an active choice to maintain integrity in the face of incomprehensible suffering.
These weren’t perfect men – the Bible is candid about their flaws and moments of doubt. Joseph had his youthful arrogance, David his later moral failures, and Job his questions and complaints. But at crucial moments, when faced with the choice between embracing victimhood or choosing righteousness, they demonstrated that circumstances don’t dictate character. Their stories powerfully illustrate that while we can’t control what happens to us, we absolutely can control how we respond to it.
It’s now trendy to wear victimhood as a badge of honor. Or, even worse, justify questionable choices. It’s in that context that these Biblical narratives remain startlingly relevant. They remind us that true strength isn’t found in nurturing grievances but in refusing to let our wounds define our choices.
True empowerment, these stories tell us, isn’t found in cultivating grievance or claiming victim status but in maintaining our moral agency even when – especially when – circumstances tempt us to do otherwise. In the end, we may not choose our circumstances, but we always choose how we respond.
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