Scripture: Genesis 45:16-17
Meditation:
In a recent article at www.bibleroads.com, Madelon Maupin writes that as communities begin to reopen after months of quarantine and stay-at-home guidelines, many people are asking “what will be the new normal?”
I hear this a lot, too. I also hear people saying that it will be nice to get “back to normal.” This leads me to believe that they think we will be able to go back to life as we once knew it eventually. Personally, I don’t look for that to happen. I think it is more realistic to embrace whatever the “new normal” is, and then trust that, from that, God’s blessings will continue to flow freely.
Maupin’s article gives us a biblical example of embracing a “new normal,” using the life of Old Testament Joseph as an example. She says that we can learn important lessons from him. Keep in mind that Joseph began his life as the son of Jacob, the wealthy patriarch of the Israel nation. Joseph was also his father’s favorite son. But his life was filled with many changes, some of which were not desirable ones. This is a good lesson, because we don’t always get what is good and what seems fair in life. Maupin says this regarding Joseph’s ever-changing life:
“Maybe it’s because change was the through line of Joseph’s experience – whether it was being thrust into a pit by jealous brothers in Canaan, only to be sold to Midianite merchantmen in Egypt; or coming to prominence in the home of the Egyptian officer, Potiphar, only to be betrayed by a scorned wife whose sexual advances he rejected; or Joseph’s years in prison when he interpreted fellow prisoners’ dreams; and his remarkable rise to command under Pharaoh over all of Egypt as he interpreted the leader’s dreams.
No matter where Joseph lived, or what role he played, his life is a model of the exercise of wisdom and discretion in leadership, regardless of the circumstances. But more than that, he realized that God’s constant presence – even in his physical confinement – provided opportunity for him to experience the abundance his God provided, including the ability to bless others.”
From Joseph we learn two lessons: First, to give no thought to your physical possessions – all the ‘stuff’ of one’s life. Second, that in change, even drastic change, sometimes God plans to give us the very best he has—we need to trust Him and look forward with expectancy, hope and conviction of the blessings that are to come.
Reflection Questions: What will your new normal look like? What blessings have you already experienced because of the changes brought about by COVID-19?
God’s grace and peace,
Pastor Kim
*Find the entire article here: https://bibleroads.com/the-new-normal/
Meditation:
In a recent article at www.bibleroads.com, Madelon Maupin writes that as communities begin to reopen after months of quarantine and stay-at-home guidelines, many people are asking “what will be the new normal?”
I hear this a lot, too. I also hear people saying that it will be nice to get “back to normal.” This leads me to believe that they think we will be able to go back to life as we once knew it eventually. Personally, I don’t look for that to happen. I think it is more realistic to embrace whatever the “new normal” is, and then trust that, from that, God’s blessings will continue to flow freely.
Maupin’s article gives us a biblical example of embracing a “new normal,” using the life of Old Testament Joseph as an example. She says that we can learn important lessons from him. Keep in mind that Joseph began his life as the son of Jacob, the wealthy patriarch of the Israel nation. Joseph was also his father’s favorite son. But his life was filled with many changes, some of which were not desirable ones. This is a good lesson, because we don’t always get what is good and what seems fair in life. Maupin says this regarding Joseph’s ever-changing life:
“Maybe it’s because change was the through line of Joseph’s experience – whether it was being thrust into a pit by jealous brothers in Canaan, only to be sold to Midianite merchantmen in Egypt; or coming to prominence in the home of the Egyptian officer, Potiphar, only to be betrayed by a scorned wife whose sexual advances he rejected; or Joseph’s years in prison when he interpreted fellow prisoners’ dreams; and his remarkable rise to command under Pharaoh over all of Egypt as he interpreted the leader’s dreams.
No matter where Joseph lived, or what role he played, his life is a model of the exercise of wisdom and discretion in leadership, regardless of the circumstances. But more than that, he realized that God’s constant presence – even in his physical confinement – provided opportunity for him to experience the abundance his God provided, including the ability to bless others.”
From Joseph we learn two lessons: First, to give no thought to your physical possessions – all the ‘stuff’ of one’s life. Second, that in change, even drastic change, sometimes God plans to give us the very best he has—we need to trust Him and look forward with expectancy, hope and conviction of the blessings that are to come.
Reflection Questions: What will your new normal look like? What blessings have you already experienced because of the changes brought about by COVID-19?
God’s grace and peace,
Pastor Kim
*Find the entire article here: https://bibleroads.com/the-new-normal/
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