Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
In my daily devotions, as I read again through the “Today’s
Light Devotional Bible,” because the month is January I am reading in
Genesis. My readings for the last couple
of days have been about Joseph. If I had
not read this before I could become depressed about Joseph’s fate. Joseph told his brothers his dreams, though
perhaps in an unloving attitude of superiority, and his brothers hated
him. Joseph ran an errand for his father
and went to find his brothers and they almost killed him. They did instead sell him into slavery in
Egypt. Joseph worked very faithfully as
a slave for an important Egyptian official, but after the official’s wife’s
efforts to seduce Joseph failed, she lied about him, and now Joseph was thrown in
prison – an Egyptian prison! Finally,
while in prison Joseph was recognized as a man of honor and given
responsibility. As he cared for his
fellow prisoners Joseph helped two of Pharaoh’s officials, trusting God to help
him to interpret their dreams. But, when
those officials were released from prison, they forgot Joseph, the one who had
helped them. To say the least, Joseph faced setback, disappointment, and
injustice – time after time.
Scripture does not say that Joseph became discouraged, or
depressed, or doubting. I am sure I
would have had questions and moments of feeling abandoned if I had been in
Joseph’s shoes. I could have also nursed
anger against my family who had sold me into slavery.
Thankfully we know, as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest
of the story.” Tomorrow I will read
about how Joseph will be called to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Because Pharoah recognized God working through
Joseph, he will be elevated in those readings into a position of high authority
and honor. Joseph will then use that
position to even save his father and his brothers from famine. Joseph’s suffering and trials turned into
times of God’s favor and blessings.
The story of Joseph is a good read. But, more than the account of one man’s
reversal of fortune for the good, the account of Joseph shows the hand of God
in the life of God’s people. God changed
Joseph from a privileged young boy to a responsible, wise, and forgiving man. God worked to continue His promise to Abraham
through Joseph, even through his trials, and even because of his trials.
The verse that sticks out in my mind, which perhaps best
shows the hand of God, is found in chapter 50 of Genesis. When Joseph’s father, Jacob, dies, Joseph’s
brothers are afraid he will now take revenge on them for their hateful
treatment of him, for selling him into slavery.
It might have been understandable if Joseph served them with just
retribution. But, instead listen to the
words of faith and wisdom from Joseph.
“19 But
Joseph said to them, ‘Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You
intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now
being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide
for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19-21) So, in spite of his horrible betrayals, injustice, and
imprisonment Joseph experienced, he see the hand of God working for good.
When we are in the
midst of the trials of life it is difficult to see good. When we are ill, when friends lie about us or
betray us, when our finances tank, or we lose a job, we can instead wonder
where God is and why this is happening. God
wants the words of Joseph can be an anchor to hold onto in the storms of
life. “20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good”
If there was ever a situation where evil seems to have
defeated the cause of love and faithfulness and good, it is in the crucifixion
of Jesus. For the religious leaders of Jesus’
day to plot against Him, to illegally execute Him, and to execute Him in such a
shameful way, is the height of evil and injustice. For people of God who trust
Him as our Lord and Creator, to say that the Son of God, God Himself died (what
a mystery!) has to be the worst news
we have ever heard! But, Jesus rose from
the dead, victorious over his enemy and ours, Satan. Jesus defeated sin and death, and we are
given eternal life by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus our Savior. God used the worst that could ever happen,
the death of Jesus, to accomplish the best blessing our lives have ever
received, the eternal love of God in this life and eternally!
Many know the companion verse in the New Testament to
this surprising good news from the Old Testament story of Joseph. In Romans 8:28, Paul assures those in Rome
who are struggling to live lives of faith, “And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In all things God works good! The good that God especially wants for His children is eternal life in
heaven.
So, God’s message to us is that, in the worst of times,
He is still with us. Even when we are
attacked by evil and injustice, God is working for our good. Have you been betrayed? Are you facing a personal struggle? Has illness challenged your hope in
life? Does life seem hopeless? God promises that he is working in your life
to accomplish good. God worked faith,
wisdom, and compassion in Joseph through His trials. Can you find hope in God’s promise to you? Can you think of what good God might be
working in your time of suffering?
In your times of trial I pray for you the persevering
strength of Joseph and the faith of Paul because, of the truth in Joseph’s
words, “20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
A Child of God, Hoping in God’s Power and Love Through
the Trials of Life,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I truly enjoy
the Alaskan winter. On Sunday we saw the
wonders of God’s creation with a display of the hoarfrost after a cold,
ice-foggy week, and with the full eclipse of the moon. While I did not get a good picture of the
eclipse, my wife took some beautiful pictures of the hoarfrost. https://photos.app.goo.gl/bfinJT5eTm3vzRfe9
P.P.S. Because this
past Monday was Martin Luther King Day, and a holiday, our family planned a “family
day.” We had planned to go ice fishing, but with sick grandkids we
decided to stay home and put together a jigsaw puzzle and play games. I had trouble copying this video, but if you
can use this link, this is one of 3 games we played. This is “elephant knock over the water
bottle.” We also played “carry the
marshmallow on the spoon” and “advance the potato” (actually, there is a worse
name for this game.) Here is a Facebook link. https://www.facebook.com/mary.rockey.5/videos/10100788229803359/
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)
However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and
I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.
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