God At Work
Failed jobs, broken relationships, and crushed plans often feel like punishments, but when we stay the course, we learn that opened doors and opportunities and closed doors and challenges are times of redirection and recalculation. Please turn to Genesis 50:15-21.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" is one of my life verses…a verse I have found myself challenged by earlier in my life. The truth is, I can look at my past and see God’s hand in my life and how His circuitous plan (in part because of getting in my own way) brought me here, today in this time and place. For which I can say, I am so grateful. Through hardships I have learned to appreciate time with people more, say I love you often, and to never drink and drive!
Joseph was his father’s favorite son. Jacob did not hide that favoritism once giving him a beautiful robe. In addition, Joseph told his family about his ability to interpret dreams and that someday they would bow down to him, which augmented the jealousy of his brothers. In response the brothers plotted his demise, throwing him into a pit and later (thinking better of it) selling him into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he worked for a man named Potiphar, an Egyptian official. While serving in the palace he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of seduction and thrown into prison. In prison he interpreted two people’s dreams. When the pharaoh, the leader of all Egypt, needed dreams illuminated, Joseph was summoned to the pharaoh. Able to clarify the dreams to Pharaoh, Joseph was put in charge of all of Egypt. With Joseph’s foresight, they planned accordingly and, in the years, to come, as predicted, there was a severe famine and Joseph was prepared. Overtime and in desperation, Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt in search of food. Unbeknownst as to Joseph’s whereabouts, they conjured up the courage to knock at the palace, where Joseph recognized his brothers. Not expecting to see him, Joseph’s identity remained undisclosed. Meanwhile, Joseph forgave them; this was radical forgiveness. Joseph’s choice to do so enabled him to do the work God was preparing him to do. Had he harbored the bitterness we would be hearing a different story. Church, every word of scripture has a purpose, here again we are reminded of the importance of forgiveness. Soon after, Joseph revealed himself to his brother. He told them that even though they planned to harm him, it was God who sent him to Egypt. Joseph’s purpose was to assist in saving many lives, and he did. Joseph remained faithful to God, trusting him in the pit, the prison, and the palace. Had Joseph allowed himself to be distracted or derailed, it would have been more complicated for everyone. Like Joseph, we need to trust our sovereign God even when life is hard and things don’t make sense.
God thrives in the middle of our messes. We may have made poor decisions or maybe we have done things right and yet find ourselves asking, “Really, God?” To which I say, “Yes, really.” If Joseph did not get the coat and have not shared his interpretive dream gift, his brothers would not have sold him to people who in turn sold him to Egypt. Had he not been falsely accused and put in prison, the pharaoh would not have met this foreigner and put him second in charge of all Egypt, one day able to offer food to his starving family. You see, there were a lot of “Really God” moments for Joseph, but he did not doubt God and His providence. When we find ourselves questioning God, let’s pause to remember the life of Christ: his joyful walk into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the necessary betrayal made by Judas, the almost unanimous decision by the crowd to crucify him and the new hope on Resurrection morning.
Friends, it is through the mess, the pain, and the brokenness that God works to bring newness and usher in hope. We need to hold on…hold on like Joseph, hold on like Jesus…we need to allow our faith to rise above the emotions and pain often brought about by our circumstances and trust God. God did not create the world and walk away. He is present and actively caring and governing everything, all of creation, always. That does not mean we are puppets; we have free will and the choice to trust God…committed to knowing that He knows what is good and what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Another point is…as we submit to His will, renewing our mind to the kingdom of God and not conforming to the world, we will see God’s work in us and through us.
Church, life is hard and God is good. Our questions are not always answered; our problems may not go away but hold on. God uses every difficult moment to shape a good result. This does not mean, pain is good. What it does mean is that God is working behind the scenes to transform and help us grow spiritually through the situations ensuring that his plan is never thwarted.
I am reminded of a story told to me by a friend, her sister had a car accident and several months later her sister and the other driver found themselves in front of a judge…getting married. What about the person who goes to a hospital to be checked out after a fall only to find an undiagnosed problem by “accident” that would have been catastrophic if undetected. And take a moment to consider the tremendous impact organizations such as St. Jude’s, Doctors without Borders, AA, and the Postpartum Resource Center of New York have had on millions…all birthed in the wake of tragedy.
God has always been faithful; out of unconditional love and deep compassion God redeemed us through Christ. We have been given the gift of faith and along with the blessed assurance that our sins are forgiven and the confidence that while we do not know why God does what He does, we know that… “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And all God’s people say, amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Kerry
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