The waiting: Joseph
Since we have been in lock down our church, like many others have been ‘broadcasting’ our Sunday morning ‘services’ online. In our live stream last Sunday our music group sung a song called ‘Take Courage’. You can listen to the song here. The words in the chorus are:
Take courage my heart, stay steadfast my soul
He's in the waiting, He's in the waiting
Hold onto your hope as your triumph unfolds
He's never failing, He's never failing
The group were incredible and sounded amazing and this chorus has been repeating itself in my head ever since then! It got me thinking about waiting, lockdown and the purposes of God.
There are plenty of occasions in the Bible where people had to wait. God was in the waiting. One of those people was Joseph (yes, the one in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about the technicoloured dream coat!).
When Joseph was just 17 God spoke to him in a dream saying that one day, he would be some kind of ruler. When he told his brothers they were unimpressed, so much so that they wanted to kill him. They didn’t, instead sold him as a slave and Joseph ended up in Egypt. There he worked hard but after being falsely accused ended up in jail.
After 13 years of waiting and through a series of incredible events Joseph ended up as the Prime Minister of Egypt who led them through a sever famine. He was eventually reunited with his family who feared retribution. But God had done something in Joseph and he said to his brothers...
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Joseph was 30 when God fulfilled the dream he had as a teenager, and it was a huge fulfilment! During those 13 years God was preparing him through pain, false accusations, disappointments in work or prison. God was in the waiting. One thing Joseph always did was he sort to serve to the best of his abilities wherever he was. By doing so God blessed him and those around him.
Nine weeks in to lock down, and we have all changed. Many have faced pain and disappointments. How is God preparing you? What has He said and what is he saying now? Where can you serve? God was in the waiting...
Also, why not check out our live stream service every Sunday at 10:30am, simply go to www.hopebasingstoke.org/livestream
Stay safe
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader