Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul;
Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
~Katharina von Schlegel (b. 1697)
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. …Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
~ from Genesis 37
Oh beloved, it is true. One of the most comforting and glorious wonders of G_d is that He does not exist.
What? Yeah, He does not exist – He Was. He Is. He Is to come.
Existence implies the need to be framed within the construct of time. And need, as Tozer said, is a creature word. G_d, rather, is the wellspring of existence. Infinity and eternity and existence flow from Him. The poets did indeed have it right when they said that “In Him we live and move and have our being.”
What does this have to do with the story of Joseph in the cistern?
Everything.
Can we see it beloved? Joseph got thrown in a pit weeks or months after that camel train left its starting point. And regardless, that camel train was right on time to save Joseph’s life. How does that happen? G_d was, and Is. The beginning of the wagon train, and the tossing into the pit were the same historical canvas and moment (for the One who was, and Is).
And yeah, can we see even further here? Surely, we are on this very same canvas and moment in Him now. G_d is not just extremely adept at working circumstances out in amazing ways – He is rather painting the whole picture of history all at once. Worry, when we see this, is simply a goofy response to a logical fallacy.
The implications are profound. Everything means something. Everything is working together for good, for those who love Him and are called in accordance to His plan. We are in Him. We are of Him. He is the medium and sustenance of our existence.
So, are you worried that G_d might not be there for you beloved? Don’t. He is already there. Oh my, this is very good news! Tonight is your night. Time to experience Him.
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
~Katharina von Schlegel (b. 1697)
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. …Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
~ from Genesis 37
Oh beloved, it is true. One of the most comforting and glorious wonders of G_d is that He does not exist.
What? Yeah, He does not exist – He Was. He Is. He Is to come.
Existence implies the need to be framed within the construct of time. And need, as Tozer said, is a creature word. G_d, rather, is the wellspring of existence. Infinity and eternity and existence flow from Him. The poets did indeed have it right when they said that “In Him we live and move and have our being.”
What does this have to do with the story of Joseph in the cistern?
Everything.
Can we see it beloved? Joseph got thrown in a pit weeks or months after that camel train left its starting point. And regardless, that camel train was right on time to save Joseph’s life. How does that happen? G_d was, and Is. The beginning of the wagon train, and the tossing into the pit were the same historical canvas and moment (for the One who was, and Is).
And yeah, can we see even further here? Surely, we are on this very same canvas and moment in Him now. G_d is not just extremely adept at working circumstances out in amazing ways – He is rather painting the whole picture of history all at once. Worry, when we see this, is simply a goofy response to a logical fallacy.
The implications are profound. Everything means something. Everything is working together for good, for those who love Him and are called in accordance to His plan. We are in Him. We are of Him. He is the medium and sustenance of our existence.
So, are you worried that G_d might not be there for you beloved? Don’t. He is already there. Oh my, this is very good news! Tonight is your night. Time to experience Him.
Christ is full and sufficient for all his people. He is bread, wine, milk, living waters, to feed them; he is a garment of righteousness to cover and adorn them; a Physician to heal them; a Counselor to advise them; a Captain to defend them; a Prince to rule; a Prophet to teach; a Priest to make atonement for them; a Husband to protect; a Father to provide; a Brother to relieve; a Foundation to support; a Root to quicken; a Head to guide; a Treasure to enrich; a Sun to enlighten; and a Fountain to cleanse.
~John Spencer (1630-1693)
