Recently I was at a conference and on stage was just a blank piece of painters canvas. A voice was speaking, marks were appearing on the canvas, yet no one was visibly on stage. It appeared as though a person was behind the fabric painting and we were seeing the reverse side. During the process the painting didn’t look very good and I could not tell what the image was. Check out a similar video here. This reverse, speed painter, painted a masterpiece but I couldn’t see it at the time. The strokes and pieces didn’t seem to fit separately but together they were a beautiful story.
“As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.” — Genesis 37:25-28
When I read Genesis 37 recently, God showed me something I had never connected before. In Genesis 16, Sarai encourages her husband Abram to sleep with their Egyptian slave Hagar because she can’t conceive herself. Hagar gives birth to a son and names him Ishmael per an angel.
The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” — Genesis 16:11-12
Ishmael had Abram’s exclusive love but once Isaac was born, Ishmael at 14, was shunned by his dad and leaves home hurt, confused, and angry. Many believe Ishmael is the seed of Islam and the forever spiritual warfare ongoing today is a result of Ishmael’s rejection by his father.
What amazes me here is the sovereignty of God in Genesis 37, and yes, over Islam, as God uses the Ishmaelites to transport Joseph to Egypt! It is there that Joseph eventually becomes 2nd in command of the country and helps feed a country, including his brothers, from starvation. It is through this act that impacts the bloodline of Jesus Christ (ie. Judah-to-David-to Jesus) that we inherit today.
God’s sovereignty encourages me today. He is the great puzzle-builder integrating your relationships, health scares, dry seasons, and break ups into a beautiful mosaic that has purpose in which we don’t often see initially because we are on the reverse side.
- A Felony charge leads you to speak into teens
- A Bankruptcy leads you to become a financial advisor
- Growing up fatherless leads you to become an engaged dad
Despite mistakes, poor decisions, hardships, and failures, Jesus is connecting worth and meaning to who you are and everything you do working out His will and plan for you and your generations. And nothing can prevent it from happening.
God doesn’t just use your good stuff, He uses all of your stuff. Your story isn’t over. There are no wasted pieces.
Reflection |
How does God’s sovereignty change your view of poor decisions & disappointments?