Trust Without Seeing

   One of the readings this morning was found in Genesis 45, the story of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. The section of that chapter that catches my eye finds Joseph telling his brothers not to worry about what has happened in the past, there is a reason for all of it:

"But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt."

   Joseph spoke the truth concerning the situation and the events leading up to that moment, but I can't help wondering about all the other times that Joseph had maybe questioned why things, events out of his control that looked pretty bad, had dogged his life.

   Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers did not look like a prelude to a good story.

   Joseph tossed into prison when he rightly shunned Potiphar's wife.

   Joseph forgotten by the king's servant after correctly interpreting a dream in prison.

   For many years Joseph had seen things happen, not to someone else, but to him. Events and situations that seemed to lead nowhere. Every time it looked like God was finally going to bless him, he got knocked down again. He may have even wondered, after he was made 2nd in command in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself, what catastrophe might strike. It had been the story of his life up to that point.

   But back of all this, another story was being played out, and God was preparing Joseph for his part in the "Big Story".

   Joseph was faithful. He was human, too. I have no doubt that he wondered why a lot of times, but he did not lose his faith, even when he could not see the plan. Now, at last, he could see a role where God had placed him, and the way that it could work out to save his family.

   One of my favorite sayings is "nothing happens without a reason". I wonder if Joseph ever thought that as he struggled to grasp his situation.

   Why am I where I am, in the situations and places that I inhabit? My prayer should be that God would make me faithful in those, even when I do not see the larger picture, trusting that He is working all things out as they should be.

   Joseph got a glimpse of the story, not the end of it all, but a glimpse into his part of that particular scene. He could not know how the story would continue to play in the centuries ahead, but he could trust the Playwright.

   Trust-----that is all we are tasked to do. Not like it is always easy, but with His help, it is possible.

   The only requirement is to submit our will to His and be obedient.

   Another, "easy to write, but hard to live" truism.