I’ve always wanted to read right through the bible, and now I’m doing it.
I am up to Genesis 39-41, which is the story of Joseph, and I thought I’d blog it out so that I could put down all the spiritual things that come into my head as I go. It will be interesting to look back on.
The thing that has struck me today about the story of Joseph is what an amazing blessing his life was – to Pharoah. Imagine this super-pampered ruler of the day, who throws anyone who displeases him into prison, suddenly finding he has a man who can interpret what God is going to do next.
Imagine what that would be like?
And this interpreter then helps the whole of Egypt survive a seven year drought. Imagine if we had a voice like that telling our leaders how to survive the global financial meltdown?
It makes me wonder, again, how to listen for God. I know He talks to me. How?
For example, I have been obsessing about “what to do with myself” to earn an income. God has clearly told me not to worry about it, He has a plan, and particularly not to worry about money. Jesus says in the bible too, to not worry about tomorrow. Will not God care for us more than He cares for the sparrow…
Yet all too often my faith sputters out in the face of all the bad news, which brings with it a conflicting desire to store food and practise feeding my family in “drought times”.
Maybe they are not really conflicting. Maybe like God told Joseph, I do need to plan for tough times, but do not need to worry about it beyond that.
Dear God, Please help me listen for you so that I can always follow your way, and teach my children to. Thank you for all the blessings in our life. Thank you for the spring sunshine and our garden of flowers. Thank you for our food each day,
Amen.