A Different Perspective

Recently I have discovered a new perspective on Joseph’s life, Joseph in the Bible that is. I’ll give you the short story of his life. He was the eleventh son of Jacob. He was the favorite of his father’s. His brother’s hated him. One day his brother’s threw him in a well and eventually sold him into slavery in Egypt. This is usually where the preacher/ Sunday school teacher stops and tells everyone that God knew the whole picture and had a plan in mind. Back to the story, Joseph eventually becomes second in command in Egypt. There is a famine and his brothers come to Egypt to receive some food. We are usually left with the main point of the story being that even though God brought Joseph trough some hard times he is now able to provide for his family. Read Genesis 37-47 for the complete story.

 But what if that wasn’t God’s whole purpose? What if there is even a bigger picture than Joseph’s life? When we are going through trials we tell ourselves, “God has a plan” but we think that plan is still about us. What if God brought Joseph to Egypt so that he could tell the Egyptians about the God he served? If Joseph’s brothers had never come to get food, God’s purpose would still have been accomplished because Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and God was able to show how great He is by not only saving His people but the Egyptians as well.

Even when we are at the center of God’s plan do we still think it is about us?

So my soul longeth after thee

          
             Today for lunch I left the Campus House and headed to Lions Lake. I got in my car and it said the outside temperature was 100°. But I was determined to eat outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. I drove around the lake and saw some benches but they were in the sun so I decided to park and sit at a picnic table under a shelter. There were several geese who wanted to enjoy the shade of the shelter as well. Again though, nothing was going to deter me. I ate my sandwich and chips rather quickly keeping an eye on the closely approaching geese. There is a trail through the woods that I had taken before with a few friends. I decided to eat my apple as I walked.

           

              As I walked I talked with God. I told Him how beautiful everything was and how thankful for where He has brought me in life. I just wanted to tell Him so much more, it was over pouring but I didn’t feel like I had the sufficient words. So I stopped. I told God I was sorry I kept talking when I should be listening. Not a minute later I heard the leaves rustle to my left. I looked up and there were two deer. I froze and stared at them. They stared back at me. I stood there for a long time just watching them until this guy came by riding on his bike. I probably looked pretty strange just eating my apple staring out into the trees.

            Do you have a specific animal or experience that you know when you see it God showed up just for you? That for me is deer. And this time God was telling me, “Megan, you’re right, you need to shut up. You do a great job listening to everyone else, now you need to listen to what I have to say.”