Last month we discussed the ‘call’. I recounted a bit of my history and calling. This month we will talk about the ‘plan’.
I mentioned the whirlwind that was felt by Judy and myself throughout this process. Here’s a heads-up--the whirlwind is often felt when we begin to discern God’s plan, not only the calling. In fact the whirlwind, is often one of God’s tools for various life chapters—maybe we’ll come back to that in the future.
Over the next few months, we are going to see God’s plan unfolding in the lives of some familiar Bible characters from the book of Genesis as we study Joseph. Parts of that story also involve what we could describe as a whirlwind.
Yes, I said Joseph. There are several in the Bible. Not Mary’s husba nd, nor is it the one who temporarily gave up his tomb either—Jesus only needed it for three days.
The only one left is the Joseph, dreamer, prisoner and prince of Egypt. All the way back into the book of Genesis. Joseph, with his coat of many colors.
Remember who this is and how this fits together?
He’s one of the 12 sons of Jacob--and remember—the wives, Leah and Rachel? Joseph’s mother was Jacob’s second wife Rachel.
According to the Bible Project guys “...After the flood, and then a little later again, leading up to the Tower of Babel, the world reels out of control in violence and death. God scatters the world by destroying their ability to communicate evil by suddenly creating many languages” (Gen 10-11).
So the big question is what is God going to do to rescue and redeem His world this time? Well out of that scattering at the Tower of Babel, Moses, the author of Genesis, traces a genealogy that leads to one family, Abraham. And out of that very imperfect family God promises to bless the world.
So we are picking up the story of God’s blessing which takes us all the way into the next book of the Bible, Exodus, and in the process explains the history of the nation of Israel, and God’s promises to them and ultimately to us, through the most famous Israelite, our Savior and coming king, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He, the Lord Jesus, didn’t--and all this didn’t just appear out of nowhere. There was a plan!
Joseph is Abraham’s great grandson, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. That’s a one minute review of where we are.
Why are we here? Well to show that God wants to bless and touch even the most messed up families. And that God has a plan out of the chaos. So we need to hang in there.
God has a plan and He wants us to know that. He had a plan for redemption all the way back in the first book of the Bible. He has a plan for you and for me. Like we used to say in the evangelism explosion days, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” It sounds trite, but it is most certainly true.
And the good news is even when we mess up that plan through our foolish actions and decisions, He is able to get us back on track. Proverbs has some good thoughts here, “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.” (Prov 15:22)
And another verse, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov 16:9)
And of course Jeremiah 29:11 which says ‘plans’ in the old NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil to give you a future and a hope.”
And finally, one last passage from the New Testament. This is good. “regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtainted an inheritnce, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will” Ephesians 1:10-12 NASB
All of that which happened to Joseph, his brothers, and later the nation of Israel itself, were bricks in the foundation for Christ Jesus. And for us, His plans to redeem and to save.
If Joseph were here and could speak, perhaps he would say, “Yes, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”
That’s my two cents
Pastor Tom ###
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