Pastor John,
Amy and I were having a discussion recently just about things in life that have been happening – some stressful things with work and about kids. And why things are the way they are and happening the way they are happening. A scene from the story of Joseph flashed to mind about the famine. So I read the story of Joseph today. At the beginning of the famine I’m sure Jacob and his sons prayed to God for relief. “Lord why are you holding back the rain? The crops are dead in the field and the cattle are dying and we are without food. Lord please send the rain and help the crops grow so we don’t starve.” They only saw the present difficult circumstances. But they didn’t know the greater plan God had for them all. That’s how it often is when we are going through a trial. We feel the effects of the hurt and disappointment of whats happening now but don’t or can’t know what God is really doing. Jacob would never have had the thought, while in the middle of a famine and worried over losing Benjamin, that his long lost son would be alive as a ruler in Egypt, that his entire family would move there and live in the most fertile area of the country and be well taken care of. God has blessings to give that are beyond comprehension. There are some very good examples in the story of Joseph. Its one of my favorite stories in the Bible.
Richard