What We Cannot See

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What We Cannot See

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3 comments

June 26, 2007 at 10:10am

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Oh to see the end from the beginning!! I have been studying through Genesis and have come to the story of Joseph. One of the key verses that defined his life is:

45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Genesis 45:7 KJV

Joseph was used by God to save his entire family and preserve the promise of the Messiah. Of course, later in life he can celebrate the hand of God directing his steps. But rewind his life to age 17. His brothers nearly kill him, but chose instead to gang up on him and throw him into a pit. They pull him out only to sell him. He is dragged away from home and the father he loves so much. Life is pretty low for Joseph. But he can quickly see things turn around - for a while, until he is wrongly accused and thrown into prison. But he can quickly see a glimmer of hope, that is until he is forgotten about. I wonder what went through Joseph's mind late at night as he sat in that prison. Had God forsaken him? Was his future bound to this prison? Only later would he see that he was always exactly where God wanted him to be to be used by God in an incredible way.

I have looked back over my life several times and thought about those seasons and moments in life when I have felt like I was abandoned to a cold, dark prison. But later I have been able to see how God had me exactly where He wanted me to be so that He could use me for His glory.

But I can also say that there have been times of darkness that I still cannot see why I had to go through them. For those, I may have to wait until heaven. But for now, I trust that God puts me where He wants me to be for a reason.

My mother has had about 20 years of major health problems - she couldn't eat without getting sick, her nerves were erroding, and a whole list of other issues. In January, when she went into the hospital with pneumonia, we were told she would not survive the weekend. Then we were told she would spend a good year in the hospital. Then we were told she would be home but confined to a wheelchair the rest of her life. Less than 6 months later she is home, starting to walk on her own and go up and down steps on her own, she can eat without getting sick, and her nerves are rebuilding themselves for no clear reason. The darkness we faced in January was intense. And we never imagined how God would use this to rebuild her body for His glory.

Have there been times in your life that you felt like you were in a cold, dark prison for what seemed like no reason, only later to see God's marvelous plan unfold?

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3 Stars to "What We Cannot See"

3 Comments to "What We Cannot See"

Growing In Faith

June 26, 2007 at 12:34pm

First off, I will pray for your mother's and your family's continued recovery.

Secondly, for the majority of my life I felt like I was in a prison of doubt and the inability to find God's love. I didn't realize (or understand) that it was through Christ that I would find it. I prayed, and thankfully DID take a moment of reflection (or several moments) and look back on my life journey and realize God had a plan for me, in the things I experienced, the people I met, and the life I had lived. A plan that would lead me to Jesus, and then to God's love!

Hindsight is sometimes more powerful than our forward-looking eyes can handle, as we're just looking for the next 'thing'. Stopping, being still, and looking back is sometimes all that's needed!

Amen!

Pray4emmett

June 27, 2007 at 8:52am

Good Word brother!

It is amazing how God uses things, especially bad, to bring about amazing blessings in our lives. It is the refiners fire. I think Peter put it best when he said," Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you." 1 Peter 4:12 I admit I always think it is some strange thing that is happening to me. I grab my bible and double check to make sure that Romans 8:28 is still there.

How awesome that is that your Mom is being healed. God is so faithful to bring us through. I will keep your Mom in my prayers as well.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "One of the key verses that defined his life is... Genesis 45:7. I have always been fascinated with the parallel explanation in Psalm 105:

Psa 105:16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.
Psa 105:17 He sent a man before them; Joseph; who was sold as a slave.
Psa 105:18 They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons.
Psa 105:19 Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him.
Psa 105:20 The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free.
Psa 105:21 He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions,
Psa 105:22 To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.
Psa 105:23 Israel also came into Egypt, And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

Especially the word 'sent' in vs 17 and the word 'tested' in vs 19. To use a 60's term, what a trip! It wasn't that Joseph was in the right place at the right time. And it wasn't that God saw Joesph's unjust lot and had mercy. No it is that God "sent" him and God "tested" him. Wow!

I think a lot of the things that we go through in these early years of ministry, maybe some of the things you have been going through recently, are God's way of refining us for his use.

Blessings brother,

Mike

recon77

June 27, 2007 at 9:32am

Amazing! I was washing dishes last night (yup, everynight) and I was thinking about Joseph and all he went through and while Spooksam didn't put down the scripture Mike above did: Ps. 105:18. I was just thinking about how his feet must have hurt and then about all our brothers and sisters that have been persecuted, burned at the stake, etc.

We've had it so very easy in this country (because of the puritan foundation, IMNSHO), but I fear the capital stored up by our forefatherss is about gone! Will some of us have our feet hurt with fetters.

Are we praying for our persecuted brothers? Sending them letters? Let's get with it!

"Help us to be bold, Lord and patient like Joseph! Amen."

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