When We Feel Like Things Are Going Sideways

     Life has a way of throwing us curve balls.  All we have to do is look back on the year 2020. Most of us had many plans as the year began, but an unknown virus struck with a vengeance canceling graduations, postponing weddings and making it impossible to gather for church.  Now, a year later, we are still dealing with this virus, but we have a vaccine, businesses are starting to function in greater numbers again and we know that God is at work.  In fact, even in the middle of the crisis last year, God was busy working for our good and His glory.  How do I know?  His Word proves it over and over. Consider the life of Joseph.

     Most of us know the story of  the favorite son of Jacob who wore the coat of many colors given to him by his father.  His older brothers could tell that Joseph was their father's favorite, and it bred jealousy in their hearts.  On top of this, Jospeh had a way of telling his brothers about his dreams in which they all bowed down to him.  Certainly, that was not a way to win them over.  So they devised a plan to be rid of their brother and his bragging once and for all.  At first, they thought of killing him but the oldest, Reuben, put a stop to that and instead, they sold him to traders going to Egypt where he would become a slave.  His brothers told their father a wild animal had torn him to pieces to cover what they had done.

     Once in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar as a slave.  However, God was with Joseph and prospered all he did so that Potiphar came to entrust him with all his property.  Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife had designs on Joseph and tried to entice him into sin.  When he fled her attempt, she grabbed his garment and lied to her husband about Joseph implying that he had attempted to assault her.  With this, Joseph ended up in prison.  Yet even in prison, he seemed to do well and was given a lot of responsibility.

     While there, he met two of Pharaoh's servants who were imprisoned.  Both had dreams and by God's plan, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams for them.  One would be set free and had promised to remember Joseph to Pharaoh.  It was not until Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret that the servant remembered Joseph.  Not only was he able to tell Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams, but he was made second to him over all the land of Egypt to manage the affairs in the land during the famine.  What a fantastic story of survival in the midst of hard times! (Read the full story from Genesis 37 to the end of the book).

     There comes a point where Joseph (now a ruler) meets his brothers again who have come to Egypt for food.  After several such meetings, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers who thought he was dead.  What he says should encourage us all.  Genesis 45:4-8:  "So Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come near to me please.' And they came near.  And he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.  For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve for you a
remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.  So it was not you who sent me here, but God.  He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt."  Did you catch that?  All that happened to Joseph was allowed by God so that he could be raised to a position of authority where he could help God's chosen people.

     Certainly, the hardships and privations that Joseph suffered were not easy for him, but God had a plan all along.  If this is true for Joseph, it is also true for us.  Through all the turmoil of COVID and the national upheaval over the election, God is at work.  What's more, we have the assurance that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  This is a promise we can claim if we trust in Him.  So if life seems to be going sideways for us right now, let us remember Joseph.  We must walk by faith and not by sight trusting in a Sovereign God who rules and reigns over all the universe.  This is exactly what Joseph did.  May we be found as faithful!  Selah!