Stepping carefully and quietly along a darkened pathway in the fog,
not wanting to trip or stumble.
This path was not always this dark.
Encountering moments of clarity and light,
ever so briefly, in the dawning of a new day.
There is hope of openness 'round the next bend.
Not wanting to wait until the mist has fully cleared
or until the day is fully bloomed,
pressing on until the lights of home are visible.
Peace.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Joseph
The story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) has been the subject of teaching the last six weeks at church. We have explored the highs and lows of Joseph's life. From being sold into slavery by his brothers to being named the highest ranking official under Pharaoh in Egypt, Joseph experienced extremes in his life that we probably will not come close to. However, we do experience the reality of ups and downs. Life is never all good or all bad for us.
I have taken two things away from these last few weeks. One, God is always with us, no matter where we are. Genesis 39 says that the Lord was with Joseph when he was put in charge of his master's house and the Lord was with Joseph when he was falsely accused and sent to prison. Regardless of our circumstances, God is with us.
The second thing I have recognized through this story is that, though it seems that Joseph is the main character, the main character is God. He is directing events for His purpose, which happens to be more than what we get to see in our everyday life. Joseph couldn't know that when he went to prison, he would meet a man who would introduce him to Pharaoh two years later. He didn't have any idea that he would eventually be in charge of preparations for a famine in Egypt. (Crazy that he even knew that there was a famine coming so that he could prepare for it!) Joseph didn't have any way to know that prison would be part of the process of his dreams as a seventeen year old boy coming to fruition thirteen years after he had them. All of this served the purpose of God preserving Israel and preparing the way for Jesus to come to earth.
Joseph obviously didn't see that far down the road. We don't either.
My story is not my story. It is God's story. Same for you. Can you trust Him?
Peace.
I have taken two things away from these last few weeks. One, God is always with us, no matter where we are. Genesis 39 says that the Lord was with Joseph when he was put in charge of his master's house and the Lord was with Joseph when he was falsely accused and sent to prison. Regardless of our circumstances, God is with us.
The second thing I have recognized through this story is that, though it seems that Joseph is the main character, the main character is God. He is directing events for His purpose, which happens to be more than what we get to see in our everyday life. Joseph couldn't know that when he went to prison, he would meet a man who would introduce him to Pharaoh two years later. He didn't have any idea that he would eventually be in charge of preparations for a famine in Egypt. (Crazy that he even knew that there was a famine coming so that he could prepare for it!) Joseph didn't have any way to know that prison would be part of the process of his dreams as a seventeen year old boy coming to fruition thirteen years after he had them. All of this served the purpose of God preserving Israel and preparing the way for Jesus to come to earth.
Joseph obviously didn't see that far down the road. We don't either.
My story is not my story. It is God's story. Same for you. Can you trust Him?
Peace.
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