Where's the Mystery?

I watched a sitcom recently where a married couple lamented that after twenty years, they had no secrets left anymore. They were struggling with the idea that they knew each other so well that there was no more mystery, nothing new to learn. Sometimes I feel that way about God. While I would never say that I know everything about the Bible, there are parts of the Bible I think I know so well that there is no mystery left.

In Sunday school, we’ve been studying Joseph. I was scheduled to teach about his time in Potiphar’s house and prison. These are stories I know. I’ve been hearing them since childhood. I planned the lesson without reading the associated passages in Genesis. I wrote a small skit for the children and downloaded a craft. Everything was ready.

Saturday night I started to feel like a cheater. How could I teach something I hadn’t read? I don’t need to read it, I reasoned. What kind of example is that for the children? They won’t know I haven’t done it, I thought. But I couldn’t erase the feeling that it was somehow wrong not to do all of the work.

So I turned to Genesis 39 and began to read. I’ve gone through many philosophies about Joseph’s life. I’ve thought that the tragic events just happened and God was able to redeem them in the end for His good purpose. I’ve thought that Joseph was arrogant in his youth and God needed to humble him before he could be entrusted with such a high position.

When I read it this time, I saw something I never considered before. Genesis 39:6 says “He [Potiphar] left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Now Potiphar was a high ranking official in Egypt, he didn’t have a regular house. He owned slaves and verse 5 tells us that he also had fields. Joseph was in charge of managing people and resources for an estate. Sounds like an excellent training ground for someone who will one day run a country and manage its resources during times of plenty and famine.

This correlation continues during Joseph’s wrongful imprisonment. Genesis 39:22 and 23a say “The warden put all the prisoners who were in prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there. The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority.” Once again Joseph was in a position of leadership and management.

I was rocked. I’ve often said that everything works for God’s purpose, but I felt like His purpose was an abstract thing. It seems like we suffer hardship for some reason God understands, but we may never comprehend. While I have trust in Him, the concept made me feel adrift. After reading this passage, I looked at it in a whole new way. God was training Joseph to be the leader Egypt would need in the future. On-the-job-training is not an abstract thing, it’s very tangible.

I reexamined my own time of hardship. For once, I looked at it as more than something I had to live through. I looked at it as a time of training, for what? I don’t know, but I’m hopeful God’s purpose will become evident in due time.Now these revelations didn’t affect my Sunday school lesson, but they did affect me. God reminded me that there is always something new to learn in His word; even in the stories we’ve known since childhood.

Poof!

I've been having an interesting phenomenon at Wednesday night kids church- all boys. Ten to be exact- Ten first through fifth grade boys. The dynamic of this kind of class is different than a mixed gender group. For example, they generally don’t want to do a craft or sit for that matter.

One night, I was teaching them about Philip ministering to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). As I read the story, I pointed out the Philip immediately obeyed God. That he did not argue or ask why he had to do the things God asked. I showed that through his obedience a man and possibly a nation were saved. Then I got to the part where Philip was translated. I'm talking to boys, mind you. I explain that Philip was there and then poof he was gone. The boys are enraptured. I tell them that Bible is way better than any sci-fi, because all of the cool stuff in it is true.

They began acting out the poofing, as it became known, and excitedly talking about what had happened to Philip. All of the lessons in the story were lost. All they wanted to know about was the poof. Inevitably, one boy asked if it would happen to him. All of the others chimed in wanting to know if this miracle could happen in their lives. I reminded them that Philip was only in the position to poof because he had obeyed God in the beginning. This fell on deaf ears.

We are no different than these young boys. We walk through our Christian lives hoping for one cool, goosbumpy feeling after another. Some even hop church to church seeking those experiences. Jesus said that a wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign. When we are seeking the miraculous, we are seeking what God can do for us instead of seeking God himself.

I have seen many people's faith derailed when they sought God's hand instead of God. "I don't believe in God anymore because I was praying for my mom to be healed and He didn't do it." God said that He is jealous. He doesn't want our attention divided from Him, even if it's by His own works. God wants us to seek Him. When we do so as Philip did, the miracles naturally follow.

I tried and will continue to try to steer my class to seek God and I pray that you will also turn your thoughts to Him this week.