Beginning and Ending in Grace

Isn’t it a wonderful satisfaction to get to the end of a book and find out that it ended just as you had hoped.  All loose ends were tied up.  The bad guy loses and the good guy wins.  

I finished the RTBT18 (Read The Bible Through) plan this morning a little ahead of schedule.  Guess what?  It ends just as you hoped it would!  All loose ends are tied and Good One wins.  

I have read the Bible through several times and hope to do it again and again because I learn more each time I go through it.  As I looked at our reading plan I was slightly disappointed that the December readings would be in Revelation.  I have always been a little confused by the symbolic nature of this wonderful book but I was so blessed by this year’s reading.  In fact it made perfect sense to read Revelation while we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  

Revelation is also about preparing for His coming except in Revelation His coming will not be in a quiet manger scene.  His Glory was contained in those swaddling clothes yet Revelation 1 gives us the true description of Jesus-eyes like fiery flames, feet like bronze, voice like the sound of many waters.  I used to be scared when I read that passage.  I liked the sweet, gentle  Jesus that was in my Sunday School pictures.  But as I read through Revelation this time I felt such joy and peace.  I treasure this Revelation image of Jesus. Powerful. Awe inspiring.  Humbling.  Mighty. He was willing to give up that glory to come to earth as a baby for all of us. 

I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I check the box or cross off my list to show completion but I hesitated to check my final box on the reading plan.  I wasn’t ready for it to be over.  Yet it had to be over - all God promised is completed as you read the end of Revelation.  Whatever your view of this book may be, the bottom line is God keeps His Word and Paradise is restored.  God’s dwelling is with humanity (Rev. 21) and the tree of life will no longer be a curse (Rev. 22).  

If you are still reading but got behind, don’t give up.  Keep reading even if it takes another year or two. Get a good commentary to help with the difficult passages with any of the books of the Bible.  Even the smartest scholars can’t explain or expound on some passages.  In a song by Steven Curtis Chapman he says “God is God and I am not.  I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting; God is God and I am man so I’ll never understand it all for only God is God.”  I guess I’m encouraging any one who struggles to read the Bible or who says it’s too hard to understand to read it anyway.  My mind floods with analogies of treasures found in endurance and struggle.  The Bible is just such a treasure.  

I could go on and on about the lessons and truths I learned in my 2018 readings through the Bible and I might just do that at another time but I felt compelled  today to share this encouragement.  One truth that has become such a blessing to me was knowing the name Almighty (used almost exclusive in Revelation in the NT anyway) in Greek is ‘Pantokrater’ which means ‘the One who has His Hand on everything’!  How awesome is that!  The Almighty laying in a manger, dying on a cross, overcoming death-He has His Hand on everything!  Nothing surprises Him.  He was in the beginning and He has the end in His Hand.  “Amen!  Come Lord Jesus!” 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone.  Amen.” Revelation 22:21

Persistant Passion

Football season exposes fan passion like maybe no other sport.  People dress in colors to support their team.  They wear cheese heads, paint their bodies, and endure all kinds of weather to support their favorite squad.  Their passion is sometimes hilarious, sometimes dangerous but always well….passionate.

If you have been reading the Bible through in 2018, you just finished reading the book of Nehemiah.  Most people know Nehemiah and usually associate him with rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  He did that and in fact completed it in 52 days which was an unbelievable feat 

This time while reading the book of Nehemiah I was struck with the passion of his leadership.  In the first few opening verses, we read that Nehemiah asks about his ‘hometown’.  When he discovers that things are not good in Jerusalem, he ‘sat down and wept, mourned, fasted and prayed.’  This went on for about four months.  One particular day he was downcast as he went before King Artaxerxes and the king took notice that he wasn't himself.  Nehemiah commented ‘it was nothing but sadness of heart.’  As he was given permission and supplies to go to Jerusalem, he began immediately surveying the work to be done.  He was such a compelling leader that the people said ‘great, let’s rebuild the wall’ without virtually no discussion.  Nehemiah faced discouragement due to the nature and magnitude of this task but he kept his focus.  He wisely discerned the intimidating rumors of the enemies and asked that God remember what they had done.  He was angry over social injustice and took action (chapter 5).  Nehemiah and Ezra led the people to worship with such passionate praise that there had not been that kind of worship since the days of Joshua.  You can almost hear his heartbreak as he prayed before the people “Here we are today, slaves in the land you GAVE our ancestors…here we are slaves in it!” (chapter 9:36). He basically led a national revival and it was ‘heard far away’ (chapter 12:43)  They dedicated the wall and the people vowed to follow the LORD with great passion of thanksgiving and offerings.  

You would like to think that this reformation lasted for a long time but about ten years later (Nehemiah had returned to Babylon but came back to check on things in Jerusalem) he found most of the people had already back-slidden.  Nehemiah began rebuking the people-in fact chapter 13 verse 25 says he rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of the men and pulled out their hair.  Now that’s passion!  

Even though I have actually witnessed those same passions at a football game, Nehemiah’s passion was for the people to follow the law, worship Yahweh, and be purified and holy—set apart from the nations that were around them.  Hadn't their years of captivity in Babylon taught them a lesson?  Nehemiah requested God’s favor (we may better understand as grace) many times through this book.  He couldn’t stand the fact that God’s own people were such a disgrace by their disobedience.  He had to take action and God blessed him with great leadership and great passion.  

LORD remember us with favor!  Strengthen the work of our hands.  Give us passion for Your cause, Your mission in today’s culture.  

Book Review for "The 4 Wills of God"

As I have stated previously I am a part of a blog group that reviews Christian books.  We are asked as we receive books and read them that we post our reviews on our own blogs and on a retail site as well.  This was the most current book I have read as a part of the group.  The title of this book caught my attention as I think many may wonder 'what does God will for my life'?  I enjoyed reading this book and definitely respect the work of Dr. Eggerichs .  He did a wonderful job of applying God's Word to real life applications.  I felt a little 'bogged down' especially in the middle of the book.  It just seemed a little hard to stay with it but I continued and found the ending sections to be very interesting and enlightening.  I think the book will be very helpful to some who are new in their walk with God and need specific guidance in knowing what He wills for us all.

Kings and Kites

In our continued RTBT readings in 2 Kings we have just read the amazing, thrilling stories of Elisha but things get complicated as we navigate from here to the end of the book.  The readings follow the kings of Israel and Judah and it is a little hard to keep track of the nations.   

There is a lot of crazy things going on (i.e., a mother/grandmother who killed all of the heirs-her family- so she could reign on the throne), deceit, idolatry, and total disregard for God’s temple and His Word.  The divided kingdoms were not God’s intent for His people.  The northern kingdom Israel had had bad king after bad king (nineteen up to their fall) and finally in 2 Kings 17 you will read that even though the prophets had preached repentance, the people would not listen.  ‘The people followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves’ (v. 15).  The nation of Israel fell to Assyria and only Judah remained (at this point). 

(Note: The beginning of the Samaritan people is explained in 2 Kings 17:24-40.  This helps us understand the conflict we find later in the New Testament during the time of Jesus’ ministry.) 

From 2 Kings chapters 18-25 we follow the next kings of Judah.  There were some great godly kings of Judah during this time - Hezekiah and Josiah were two outstanding leaders.  Even during extraordinary circumstances and the wickedness of the land, these men took a stand for God---(a message for us today!) 

As you continue to read through the passages of 2 Kings (even though it can get confusing especially in chapter 24 with all of the “J” names), we finally come to an extremely sad and heartbreaking passage as we read Jerusalem is destroyed.  Just a few chapters back we read of the glory of this temple and the worship that took place there literally shook the ground!  It was glorious!  Now we read the Babylonians have broken and burned what had been sacred.  “So Judah went into exile from its land.” (v. 21)  The story of the exodus, the conquering of the land and miracles we read in Joshua and Judges, now is past and they are prisoners and captives.  

A kite helped me understand this a little better.  We take a kite with us to Florida each year to fly on the beach.  It is an acrobatic kite in which you must use two handles to fly it.  We left it on the beach one day and the wind caught it and tangled those strings into a mess.  The easiest thing would have been to cut the strings off but I love to untangle things so I took it on as a project.  I began the process last weekend and was pretty pleased with my progress thinking the whole time of what an amazing story this would make-i.e. ’how to not toss something aside just because it was difficult’, etc.  SEVEN hours later while I had made progress and determined that I would not write off those hours as wasted time, I had to stop for the day and picked up the project the next day.  Finally two hours later on this second day of the project, I looked at the string and realized it had become gnarled due to all the twisting and turning.   It was apparent that it would have to be cut away.  I shared this story with Kara and how I had planned to write about my idea of not giving up, etc. and she said “mom, maybe it’s a story of how some things have to be cut away”.  (There’s a lot of follow up with that idea!)

The string illustrates what happened to God’s people in the divided nations of Israel and Judah.  They had become so tangled up with idol worship totally disregarding the word of God. They were literally cut off and taken prisoners.  

If that were the end of the story for Israel/Judah it would be horribly sad, BUT God had a plan even through their loss.  Israel would again be a nation and return home repentant and grateful for God's mercy.  

Our kite will soon be repaired with new string ready do do what it's supposed to do but when it becomes entangled the next time, I'll have a pair of scissors in hand.  

Let the Children Come

I recently chaperoned Ford’s field trip to the Oklahoma City science museum.  He is six years old and in kindergarten therefore he didn’t tarry too long at any exhibit even though there is a lot to see.  It was a fast paced day as we went quickly from display to display.  

I feel that way as we move through Matthew in our RBT18 readings.  There is so much to ponder and yet our readings move us quickly to the next story or parable.  I often wonder why the Gospel writers chose the stories they used in their writings.  Of course they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write what they did but I think it is interesting especially when the story is repeated in other Gospels.  So I did pause and contemplate one story that we find in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Jesus welcomed and loved children.  He called a child to stand among his disciples after they had asked “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”--Matthew 18: 1-11 (I especially like the “so” in their question.)  I’m not sure what they thought Jesus’ answer may be but since He had just rebuked demons and supplied tax money in the mouth of a fish I really don’t think they were expecting Him to bring a child among them.  We have no description of this child.  I kinda think it could have been a rambunctious little guy like Ford.  Nonetheless the child was unafraid and stood among the disciples.  No doubt Jesus looked lovingly and tenderly at the child and I think probably had tears in His eyes as He spoke the words found in verses 6-10.  He meant business when it came to the children.  In Matthew 19 we find Jesus again blessing the children.  (I must wonder if maybe this child from chapter 18 went and told his friends—total conjecture!)    

I am blessed so much to be a part of the children’s ministry by teaching in Sunday School and Team Kids.  There is nothing like the blessing of hearing a group of children singing praise to God and there is nothing as humble and honest as the prayer of a child.

How I pray we as adults would as Jesus said ‘turn and become like children’.  We get worried about how we may sound or look as we worship God but kids don’t.  We get all caught up in what we say in our prayers but kids don’t.  They speak truthfully from their hearts.  

I was worn out at the end of the field trip but I was so pleased to have spent the day with Ford.  I may not have learned a whole lot from the science museum but I was blessed to be with children.  The Bible teaches Jesus thought so also.  

Count with Me..Numbers 1,2,3

I am so excited as we begin the book of Numbers! I am always on the lookout to learn new things as I read and study the Bible and today was a treasure chest. Since Numbers is a difficult book to read I wanted to share some insights and info I learned.  

The book of Exodus covers about a year's time; the book of Leviticus about a month's time and the book of Numbers covers a span of about 38 years-which includes the wilderness wandering. In fact in Hebrew the name of this book is called Bemidbar which means "In the Wilderness". I have read the book several times and always read pretty fast through the parts of the divisions and listing of names but I learned today some important facts about how the tribes were placed.  

The focus for the people has turned (even though they were delayed by disobedience) from receiving the law to heading to and taking the Promised Land. God's order and organization is so prominent as He tells them exactly how to be arranged. Chapter 1 reviews the census and Chapter 2 discusses the organization of the camps. Catch this...Judah is mentioned first (remember who comes from the tribe of Judah-Jesus!). They are camped on the east side and will move out first. Two other tribes are placed with Judah. The author (probably Moses) continues to describe the placement of the others. They make basically a square (three tribes on each side) around the tabernacle of God which is in the middle of the tribes. The tribe of Levi then make an "inner square" around the tabernacle and are also placed in a particular order with the priests being on the east side. The word unauthorized is used often in Chapter 3 indicating the holiness and importance of what God is saying to them. Israel was not powerful because of their size but because of their God - who was at the center of the nation.  

A comment from the She Reads Truth CSB Bible says of Numbers: "The principal character in the book of Numbers is the Lord, the God of Israel. He is sovereign over the affairs of all people from all nations."  

Now I also learned something cool for those who like to go even deeper in study. Each tribe had a banner (Numbers 2:2). Judah's banner was a lion which is where we get 'a lion from the tribe of Judah' describing Jesus!! The banners for the four sides (based on rabbinical information) were a lion, an ox, a likeness of a man, and an eagle - which were also the four creatures mentioned in Revelations 4:7 worshipping around the throne. That's just too good not to share!  

See how beautifully the Bible is tied together-Old Testament fitting into the New Testament. The Bible is filled with stories and wisdom and yet has one overwhelming theme of God's love and redemption. God is not a God of disorder but of peace-1 Corinthians 14:33

The Awesomeness of Acts

The book of Acts is such an exciting and encouraging book. If you haven't read anything else this year, read the book of Acts. It may be a struggle to read the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy because it is hard for us sometimes to find application to our lives in 2018 (even though it is there!), but the book of Acts...it shines right on the work of the Holy Spirit in the church then and now.  

The grace of God is all over this book. I am thrilled to read the way lives are dramatically changed because of the gospel, empty traditions and practices are replaced with genuine worship, and encouragement that even when people are doing exactly what God wants them to do there is still struggle and sometimes even persecution. I have had (and taken) the time to savor over these individual stories that make up the fifth book of the New Testament-Acts.  As a Gentile this book is especially Good News! "They reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles." Acts 14:27  

This book has also awakened and renewed my pray for the church - locally and globally. We see clearly in Acts every great act, miracle, and movement is preceded by fervent prayer. How awesome to have our sanctuaries shaken (Acts 4:31) and for us as the church to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be bold (Greek word 'parresia' which means tell it all) to speak God's word.  The day I read this particular passage I had an opportunity to share my faith. It was a situation where it would have been easy for me to shake my head in agreement that as this person I was talking to stated 'I respect all religions..' The Holy Spirit reminded me of the scripture and to be bold (tell it all) so I shared my faith in Jesus. The person who was from a different culture and had a completely different background from me didn't respond in a confession of faith but I had planted a seed of the gospel-that we are saved by faith in Christ alone. I don't share that to in any way brag on myself...I've missed countless opportunities to be a witness but that day the Holy Spirit had reminded me of the early believers and their willingness to share their faith in a much more hostile environment than a nail salon.

I found this quote in some of my study of Acts "Satan has attacked us (i.e. the western world) with worldliness, selfish pride, a need for acceptance and status....a compromising Christian is depised by the world." (Enduring Word.org) No wonder we don't see people coming to our churches - we have compromised so much so that we won't offend or blend in that we have lost our identity. The book of Acts brings that back into perspective.  

I encourage you again if you have gotten behind in the Bible reading plan (RTBT2018), start with Acts. It is the beautiful sunrise of the beginning of the Church.

Forty Years Ago

Do you ever get a reminder for something that you don’t need a reminder for because there is no way you could ever forget it?  I received a reminder this morning that tomorrow is Heather’s birthday.  There is no way I would forget this birthday as I remember forty years ago (yes forty!) the joy, pain, excitement and fear the birth of our firstborn would bring.  

It was one of the iciest, snowiest Februarys ever on record for the Fort Worth/Dallas area.  “The Ice of Texas is Upon You” was the headline from the Fort Worth Star Telegram that February day.  Bill was a student at Southwestern Theological Baptist Seminary and stayed by my bedside during the 36 hours of labor.  I came in to the hospital on the night of February 7 and since it was so icy and the roads were dangerous the hospital decided to keep me close by.  Bill and I didn’t have any family nearby and no one could travel because of the icy roads so we sat together, just the two of us, knowing that soon our lives would change forever.  

At this ‘ancient’ time in 1978, you did not know whether your baby would be a boy or a girl so we had picked out names for both.  Joshua for a boy and Heather for a girl.  We were prepared for either way-I even decorated the nursery in a 'safe' yellow and green gingham - well the “nursery” in the sense a poor seminary couple could afford. It was basically a crib and a dresser - both covered with a new coat of paint.  

Even our dog knew something was special the night I left for the hospital. He laid his head in my lap and looked up at me with his big Cocker Spaniel eyes as if to say 'can I go with you?’  Little did he know how this baby would change his life!

Finally the time came on February 9, 1978 at 1:10 pm after a long labor and no pain medication (this was the generation that embraced the idea you weren’t being a good mother if you took any medication for the birth—which I found out later was total bunk) and bringing my young husband to tears, that we were blessed with a precious little girl.  Our little family of two was now three and our hearts were immediately smitten.  That night we looked out over the city lights of Fort Worth, Texas through the Harris Hospital window, holding our little Heather and we felt like we were the only ones in the whole world.  The next day, grandparents all miraculously made their way to us and the journey as parents began.

Now forty years later I still remember so many small details of that time.  Our little Heather grew from a toddler to being a big sister to Kara.  She grew through the elementary years, middle school, then high school years.  She entered the work force as a lifeguard, flight attendant, and sales person then graduated from college with her master’s degree.  She married a sweet, kind young man named Lance and now is the mother of her own four children-a full family complete with a dog, cat and Suburban.  

There were lots of details of life between all those growing up events.  Many things that were life changing…things that seemed to go by at lightning speed.  Things that helped Heather and me  and all of our family grow closer and more dependent on God.  

What I contemplate most today is how Heather is who she is by God’s beautiful grace.  That little baby girl has grown up with a heart to serve, a heart to care, and a heart to love.  She can whip up a gourmet meal and host a party of fifty at the drop of a hat.  She makes time to have lunch and be a listening ear.  She invites people over at Thanksgiving who are alone. I am prouder than I could have imagined in all my hopes and dreams as I held that baby girl the first time to now see the beautiful young lady she has become.  

Life is made up of many memorable moments and this is one moment of which I need not be reminded but will always be in my heart.  

Happy 40th birthday Heather Dawn!

Plague to Promise

We have probably all read through the plagues in Exodus 7-12 many times. It is a favorite Sunday School lesson with children because quite honestly, they are pretty bizarre.  

Reading through this time (and using commentaries), I discovered that each plague was God's confrontation of an Egyptian deity.  God knew He needed show the Israelites (and Egyptians) that He alone was God.  Even though the court magicians could somewhat replicate the first few plagues, "they did the same thing", they could not change the plague but only made the plague worse by creating more 'bad'.  With each plague their perceived power became weaker until they didn't stand a chance against God's power.  

So other than just reading an amazing story how can the story of the plagues apply to us?  My thought is that when God calls us out (out of a life of sin), He begins to confront the ‘gods’ in our lives.  Many Christians are confused on this point because they don’t feel like this applies to us much today.  Really few people I know have 'idols or gods' in their homes but I think this is HUGE problem today.  The gods in our lives are as much or more controlling possibly than the Egyptian gods.  The gods of my time, my money, my entertainment, my sports, my way are hindering the church's ministry today.  God is greater than each one of those and He has already proven Himself through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus!  The last plague - the death of the firstborn- was so symbolic of Jesus.  The blood of the lamb on the doorpost, the institution of the Passover meal, even the plunder of the Egyptians were all a picture of God’s great grace.  Despite all that, the Israelites in just a short time, worshiped the golden calf.  Despite all that, many people today still won't study God's Word or spend time in worship.  

I read this quote from the She Reads Truth Bible “The words ‘Let my people go!’ not only meant freedom from slavery, but freedom from idolatry.”  The Israelites, like us as Christians today, had to know and act on the belief from Exodus 6:6 “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them.  I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgement.  I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.”  They had to know and move forward knowing the LORD God, He is the one and only.  May God open our eyes to the gods we serve in place of Him.

Joseph's Decision

When you watch a TV show or movie you want the ‘bad guy’ to get caught or for justice to be served.  Genesis 42-45 gives us the perfect set-up of just this kind of justice.

Joseph at this point in the narrative has been promoted to second in command of ALL Egypt.  He is married with two sons and things are going great.  His plan of storing up the grain has resulted in Egypt’s survival during a time of famine.  People from neighboring countries are coming to them buying grain.  The economy is looking great even during the famine due to Joseph’s wisdom and planning.  

In a parallel story, the eleven brothers are back in Canaan with their aged father.  The famine has struck all of the land and extreme measures must be take in order for them to survive.  The brothers have to go to Egypt.  Jacob will not allow Benjamin (Joseph’s brother; son of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel who died giving birth to Benjamin) to go with them but he sends the ten brothers on their way.  

This is first class drama.  The ten brothers come to Joseph to get the grain.  They of course don’t recognize him-at all.  Based on the conversations recorded between the brothers during this journey I’m pretty sure not a day went by that they didn’t think of shame, guilt and heartache they had brought upon their family by selling Joseph into slavery.  I’m also pretty sure that even though Joseph named his son Manasseh meaning ‘God has made me forget all my hardship’, it did not mean that he had forgotten his family ‘back home.’  So here we see the brothers (minus Benjamin) reunited after about twenty years.  The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph BUT Joseph recognized them.  

Joseph ‘played it cool’ and questioned their intentions using an Egyptian interpreter to throw them off.  Through some more questioning and even keeping Simeon as a guarantee, the brothers were sent back to get Benjamin to bring him to Joseph.  The brothers were still clueless as to who Joseph but believed all this was happening to them as punishment to what they had done to their brother.  

The details of this interaction are recorded in Genesis 42-45 but the part that brought me to tears is found in Genesis 43:30 and Genesis 45:1-3.  Joseph, this high commander in the world’s greatest power at that time, was absolutely overcome with emotion and broke into tears.  The first time is when he sees Benjamin.  He has to leave the room because he does not want to cry in front of the brothers or the servants.  He still has not revealed his true identity but seeing Benjamin who had been just a toddler when he was sold brought this ruler to tears.  Finally in Genesis 45, we read Joseph can no longer keep his identity a secret.  Just before he told the brothers who he really was the scripture says he wept so loudly the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard it.  This was not a quiet sob, this was an outburst.  The old saying ‘big boys don’t cry’ was just thrown out the window and Joseph’s tears poured from the depths of his heart all over that room, all over the palace.  

Were these tears of joy at the family reunion?  Were these tears of sadness for lost years with family?  Were these tears that wanted revenge but now could not give it?  Were these tears of a realization of answered prayer? We don’t know but I think it could be a little of all.  All that had happened was of course God’s plan.  The timing for everything was perfectly executed even though at the time, Joseph or even his brothers could not see it.  What could have been a horrible vengeful family reunion was actually a beautiful picture of God’s grace and mercy. 

Isaiah 40:31 says “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Even though that scripture was written years after Joseph lived, it reminds us of God’s promise.  Our past does not have to define a present decision which affects future consequences. 

B & H Book Review "The Marvelous Mud House"

I work in our children's mission education program and The Marvelous Mud House is a perfect resource.  The book not only is beautifully illustrated but helps children (and adults) look beyond themselves to a world that may be completely different than the one in which they live.  I am always looking for opportunities to connect the children to other cultures and I am excited to how a book to help me in that endeavor.  There is a teaching/parent guide in the back of the book.

Even though this is an excellent book for mission education, it would be a great book for families to begin conversations about the needs of people around the world.

Joseph's Dilemma

I love to read the story of Joseph.  His story (even though his birth was recorded in Genesis 30:22-24) begins in Genesis 37.  

Red flags show up early in his story when we read his father (Jacob) loved him obviously and visibly more than the other children by making a colorful robe for him.  I also am betting Joseph’s name didn’t show up on the chore chart as often as the other sons, maybe not at all.  Joseph didn’t help the situation by sharing his dreams of superiority with the brothers.  (We know the dreams were prophetic but his brothers certainly didn’t at this point.)

After some time Joseph is mistreated by his brothers and then sold to the Ishmaelites as a slave!  He ends up in a foreign country away from family and the comforts of home.  The key point of Joseph’s story is in Genesis 39:2 “The LORD was with Joseph”.  Things didn’t come easy for Joseph though.  Even after a period of success he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison.  Yet we see in Genesis 39: 21 and 23 “The LORD was with Joseph”.

Joseph found himself more than once in a place he did not seek.  He (even though he may have been a bit of a brat about his favored status and the coat) didn’t ‘deserve’ what happened to him.  We would say that’s just not fair.  And honestly it wasn’t.  

The key to Joseph’s story wasn’t what happened to him but how he responded to what happened to him.  Joseph took a bad situation (being a slave) and did his job so well he was promoted to a high clearance status in his master’s house.  When confronted by his master’s wife to compromise his trust he didn’t try to reason with her, he fled.  He finds himself again at the bottom of the pit even when he did the right thing.  

The encouragement for us is that we find ourselves many times in unfair situations and circumstances.  Why me, why this trouble we ask but just like Joseph -the LORD is with us.  We find that promise in many places but one is Matthew 28:20. I think it also teaches us that just because we find ourselves in difficult circumstances we tend to think God has forgotten us.  Joseph’s story teaches us quite the opposite is true.  

Because of Joseph’s difficulties, we eventually see the salvation of his family and the promises of God unfolding just as He said.  God had a plan all along for Joseph and He does for us as well.