As we approach our fourth week in Lent, I am journeying with Daily Reflections on Hope and Change, from the book “Faith on the Move”. Today, I am adapting and sharing with you words from a story submitted by Chris Pullenayegem. Chris is an immigrant of Sri Lankan origin and The United Church of Canada’s lead staff person for Faith Formation and Congregational Mission and ministry animator with EDGE. I should point out that all the stories in this book have been submitted by refugees or new arrivals to Canada and are musings on the journeys they have travelled.
This week’s story is entitled “From A Hole to Wholeness”.
Genesis 45:7-8 NIV
7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.
As a child, Joseph gave his ten older brothers a lot to be angry about. The obvious fact that he was his father’s favourite, coupled with his prophetic dreams, was enough for his brothers to plot to get rid of him for good. But, instead of killing him, they put him in a pit.
Opportunity knocked and they sold him to some slave traders en route to Egypt – an action which set up a chain of reactions which ultimately saved the nation of Israel. Who would have thought that Joseph would, in essence, become the Prime Minister of Egypt?
God had a plan and needed Joseph to simply stay true to his faith and exercise integrity, in spite of the many trials he would face.
Genesis 45 narrates a beautiful account of the harvest of forgiveness and reveals how God’s actions, moving through people, are part of a large plan for the redemption of humankind.
Such redemption, however, requires a willingness on our part to stay true to our faith, believe in God’s omniscience and trust God to move in our lives.
Let us pray:
Thank you, God for your leading and guidance in our lives, and the lives of those around us. May we yield to your all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever- present willingness to walk with us to establish your purpose for our lives and our world. Amen