A lesson from Genesis

Something is about to change in my life very soon, something slightly too personal to mention, and I’m not sure what’s about to happen. It could make me happy or sad, and right now it’s a source of some anxiety to me. But I’ve been getting a lot of comfort from the book of Genesis, as I come to the close of reading it again. The final part of the book tells us about Joseph, how he was sold into slavery by his brothers and, after ending up in an Egyptian prison, eventually rose to power as governor of Egypt. God’s plan was to get him there and use him to save countless people from famine. But Joseph only got there after a series of very confusing and hurtful experiences. The lesson is that there is a hidden design in our experiences of life. I don’t know what’s about to happen next. Maybe it won’t be what I want, maybe it will; but it will be what God wants, and I know he loves me.

Reading the Bible

In May last year, shortly after I put things right with God, I felt a bit lost at sea; all the important stuff I had learned about the Christian life in past years had now become vague memories. I remembered times when I was especially close to God, and it seemed like I knew him really well. But now God’s character was obscure; I didn’t quite know what he was like or what sort of things I could count on him for. That’s what I got for spending years ignoring him, I guess. So, I wanted to kickstart my relationship with him again, and fast. I starting reading the Bible again and made a commitment to get through the whole lot - something I’d never managed before. Crossed the finish line at Easter this year. Feels good to have read “the whole counsel of God.” Now, if you asked me to give an outline of, say, the book of Habakkuk, I’d be scratching my head, but I’ve realised from experience that things are going into your mind without you even realising it. Sometimes a particular circumstance will come your way and suddenly something you’ve read in the Bible will jump into your mind and help you out. Mind you, there’s no doubt I have forgotten plenty. So, got to keep reading! I imagine there will never come a day when I can say I’ve read it enough. And I don’t begrudge that. Sometimes it’s hard to read the Bible, and you’ve just got to treat it like homework, but other times it’s amazing.