The Caravan was on its Way

I wish I could keep track of the times the question “why me?” has gone through my mind. Sometimes it’s in hurtful and frustrating situations… “why did this happen to me?... I don’t know if I really did anything wrong?...”. The list could go on. Sometimes it’s even in response to exciting or awesome opportunities. I wonder, “How did this happen to me?... Did they know what they signed on for when they chose me for this?” This too could go on. It’s interesting that this same question could be asked in such different situations. I find that it is often based in the same thought process that “I am undeserving”.  My favorite response to this is the thought I borrow from Tim Keller that while I am so wrecked Jesus had to die on the cross in order to redeem me, at the same time, I am so loved that Jesus wanted to do this for me.

Today I stumbled upon a revelation of faith displayed by Joseph as explained by the author Marian Jordan. Jordan connects the dots in Joseph’s life and lines them up like dominoes in order to show how powerful, eternal, and sovereign God’s plans and timing are. (Stick with me as I share her connections)

·       If Joseph’s brothers never sell him to the Midianites, then Joseph never goes to Egypt

·       If Joseph never goes to Egypt, he is never sold to Potiphar

·       If he is never sold to Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife never accuses him of rape

·       If Potiphar’s wife never falsely accuses him of rape, then he is never put in prison

·       If he is never put in prison, he never meets the baker and butler of Pharaoh

·       If he never meets the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never interprets their dreams

·       If he never interprets their dreams, he never gets to interpret Pharaoh’s dream

·       If he never gets to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, he is never made prime minister

·       If he is never made prime minister, he never wisely administrates for the severe famine coming upon the region

·       If he never wisely administrates for the severe famine coming upon the region, then his family back in Canaan perishes from the famine

·       If his family back in Canaan perishes from the famine, the Messiah can’t come forth from a dead family

·       If the Messiah can’t come forth, then Jesus never came

·       If Jesus never came, you are dead in your sins and without hope in this world

Each point in his journey is crucial to the next. Each moment is a launching point for the next. You better believe after reading even just this summary of Joseph’s story that God is big enough to make good come of His child being sold into slavery by his own brothers. If I were Joseph, I think I would have questioned at every corner, “why is this happening to me?”. But seeing Joseph’s entire story, it all makes sense. Well here’s the good news. God sees the whole story of you and me. He is using each domino to lead to the next as He carefully and purposefully orchestrates each moment to work for the good of those who love Him and to bring His name eternal glory. Here’s another awesome point. Marian Jordan shares this thought that her mentor shared with her, “Did you ever think about the fact that the caravan was on its way to Egypt long before Joseph was ever thrown into that pit?”. Continue Joseph’s story even further back than the summary above. Even before Joseph’s father sent him to check on his brothers, that caravan to Egypt was on its way. It was not delayed, and it was not ahead of schedule. It came just in time to save Joseph from death… just in time to knock over that next domino.

Let me make note here, I do not write these words to give anyone a future focus. I don’t want anyone to walk away from this running in search of the next domino. You won’t know probably till you’re looking back, if then at all. I write this as an encouragement on perspective. When the question “why me?” comes up, answer in confidence that God not only knows why, but has beautiful and eternal purpose in why. He will provide the path and the purpose.

The caravan was already on its way.