We will mark this year, remember this crisis as the time when the world stood still, so still that air pollution cleared, wild animals roamed city streets, packed freeways lay empty, and our cities looked apocalyptic with barren, lifeless stores, theaters, and businesses. Someday we will reminisce. We will compare stories and debate the mistakes and misunderstandings and lament the "if onlys." We will wonder why we couldn't see more clearly the answers that seem so obvious to us in our future "now." But the thing is when you are in the midst, you can't see the end or even imagine it. This can be fear producing for sure, but God, (Don't you just LOVE those two words?) in His goodness, brought some sweet assurance to me from the life of a man who lived over 3,000 years ago.
Mid-March 2020 brought me two constant companions, the specter of the looming corona-virus pandemic and the patriarch, Joseph. In the midst of a fearful cloud beginning its heavy descent on me, Joseph came walking into my Covid, shelter-at-home mornings, and Oh, am I grateful he did. He changed my attitude completely. I will always thank the Good Lord above for His faithful servant Joseph. I doubt that Kelly Minter had Covid or anything remotely like it in mind when she began to pen her "Finding God Faithful" study a few years ago. I know that when this study came to me through two dear friends before all this began, I had NO idea God would speak so clearly through this study EXACTLY what I and many others would need to hear, especially in these first few months of this Covid19 crisis.
Do you remember? (See, we are already reminiscing!) At first, we were all for each other. Social media was full of ways to help us cope with this stay at home, new normal life of quarantine. Our pages were filled with fun ideas, encouragement and ways to help those who were "at risk." But as the weeks went on, there were less posts to help and more about blame and motive, and TONS of conflicting opinions. Have we EVER heard so many exactly opposite opinions on what we should do? It was and still is crazy making. Then came the theories. We have all heard them, read the articles and the blog posts, watched the videos and the news stories. Everyone has an opinion on what is happening, and who is in control. Frankly, some of these could be flat-out frightening. Let's see if we can make a quick list of who is in "control" during this time of Covid19: Bill Gates, the Deep State, the ultra-conservatives, the World Health Organization, China, Russia, the Democrats or maybe its the Republicans, President Trump, Dr. Faucci, Big Pharma, The "Elite"... I am certain you can probably come up with more. The blame game is dividing friends, families, churches and THE Church and THAT is worth some thought and some sorrow. Each side see the other as evil. So they scramble to either wrest control or keep control. You see, they think power over others is theirs to control.
As these views would pepper my social media and news streams like the spray of machine gun fire...Every. Single. Day...at the same time, I was refreshingly immersed in the life and story of Joseph. Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold to a traveling caravan, then sold into slavery, lied about by a scheming and scorned married woman; though completely innocent, he was thrown into prison, and then left...seemingly forgotten. All along the way I could see that people truly thought they were in control of Joseph's life. I am sure his father, Jacob, thought he was in control. The brothers definitely thought they were in control when they sold him into slavery. Potipher, his master, thought he was in control of Joseph. Potipher's wife, certainly thought she was in control when Joseph was thrown into prison. The jailer, probably thought he was in control with Joseph in his prison. Even the lowly cupbearer seemed to be in control of Joseph's life.
But were they really? NOT. FOR. ONE. MOMENT. Throughout all of Joseph's life there was only One who was in control and Joseph knew it. Constantly, he referenced God as the One who gave him everything: interpretation of dreams, favor, wisdom, the ability and position to save the people. He knew who was in control the entire time. He flat-out tells his brothers after their father Jacob dies and those guys are afraid that all kinds of well-deserved retribution is about to fall on them: "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result--the survival of many people." (Genesis 50:20)
So here is what Joseph has taught me and it has given me SO MUCH PEACE...People think they are in control, but it is just an illusion. It very well could be that some of those people, countries and entities mentioned above think they are in control of all that has been unleashed on this world through the corona virus. They think they are in control of the us and our future. But just as many thought they were in control of the life of Joseph, here's the truth: God is in control, He is a good, and His plan is always redemption. Evil can happen and will happen, but in His hands, it turns to good. Kelly's has a great analogy in her study: Evil and good run on the parallel railroad tracks of our lives, but evil has to bend to God's perfect and good will. I don't know how He is going to turn Covid19 for good anymore than Joseph could see how his being sold into slavery could be turned for good. Certainly it never occurred to him that he would go from prison to the second highest office in the country and save not only his own family but all of Egypt and the surrounding countries as well. But that is JUST how God works...it is ALWAYS MORE! Joseph has turned my perspective from fear and dread for what is ahead, to a wonderment of what He is doing and will do. I am beginning to look for it.
The real question is: What should I do during a time like this when there is so much fear, turmoil, confusion, and constant pressure to "choose a side"? The answer I see from Joseph's life is pretty simple. He remained faithful to God, stood unwavering on His promises, and even during the midst of the worst, he served whoever was in his life at that moment with the best he could give. He called evil "evil" but just as quickly held no one in judgement or for retribution because He knew His God was working for good.
During this Covid crisis God is working. Evil can be thrown at us, but God has promised that His ultimate plan of redemption will go through and it will be good PERIOD. All is in His good hands. Fear not! Be faithful and watch what God will do.
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