Back to the Joseph story

Through the years I have learned that God can be painfully slow, and subtle, as He works.

You see, it takes time to heal brokenness  and trust.  

But slow is good.

                            In my humble opinion of course.

So God uses time to make sure the healing will truly take hold of all the damage.

It is like the difference between doing a poor job quickly; and an excellent job slowly and carefully.  

The carefully and thoughtfully worked job is long lasting. And stands the tests of time.

In my experience God doesn’t deal in the quick-fix-method.

If you read the entire story of what Joseph went through; before and after his brothers decided to act on their petty jealously.  You would see that the outcome of Joseph’s journey did not come without painfulness, nor ease.

God was making sure that Joseph learned the lessons he needed to learn.

And God made sure that Joseph’s brothers learned what they needed to learn as well.

And God does the same with you and me.

The constant theme, the constant truth, throughout our long history as God’s people is the gracious mercy of God to a sinful humanity.

And as we read Psalm 103, and Joseph’s story, we are eloquently reminded of that precious truth.

Saying that, I am reminded of a young man who long ago asked: “So What?”  

He was preparing to give the sermon that next Sunday; and I asked him how he had come up with such a powerful message.  He said I kept asking myself "so what?" when I read something that caught my attention.

“So what” does that truth have to do with you and me?

Does it really, honestly, matter that God is a God who does-not deal with us according to our sins — our unfortunate words and actions?

Does it really matter that He does-not repay us for our wickedness or evil little ways?  

Does it really matter at all?

Truly, does it impact you and me in any way?

Does it change how we interact with each other as you worship and work with each other?

It is a good question to reflect on when we read about the gracious and forgiving God we claim to believe in.