I'm still reading my way through the Book of Jubilees (aka "Little Genesis" ) and today I was reading in the story of Joseph. It's a strange version of the story - no mention of the technicolor dreamcoat - but mostly because Potiphar is a eunuch, but he has a wife, so go figure. It took me back to my days in the theatre (see how I spelled it "re" like the fancy people do?) - and at one time I actually directed a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (also not super faithful to actual Genesis), so I'm very familiar with it. But it's so easy to forget the whole point of that story. Here it is from Jubilees 43:18, where Joseph says, "for the Lord sent me before you to set things in order that many people might live." In other words, Joseph is saying that God used his brothers' crime of selling him into slavery for a divine purpose. That's Divine Providence. St. Paul refers to this in Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." BTW, since it doesn't make any logical sense that a person might be "called" but not "according to his purpose" you have to read this verse more like this:
We know that, for those who love God, all things work together according to his purpose.
It's so easy to forget this, and even to live like we really don't believe it. It's a bold statement, and it takes real faith to trust that God really can and does use even great suffering to fulfill a greater plan. It's also easy to go to the other extreme and think that the verse means that everything works out for everyone - but that's not what it says. It says that all things work together according to God's will, for those who love God.
What do you think about the idea that God reserves this promise for those who love him? And what do you think it means to love God in this context?
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
