The Power XIV

Sometimes in the face of “apparently” overwhelming evil our only first step is to agree with Joseph and say, “God did this”.  The explanation may or may not come later.

By the same token, if you have the ability to change the apparent evil – do something - that is Him in action, moving you into action.  When you can affect the change – do it – as Him doing it.  Never stand by silently, inactively, when others need you.  That is why you are there, precisely at that moment.

We have all faced a situation, or two, or a hundred, when it appears as though evil has won. It is that point where reality through faith must take over.  There are moments when we look in the mirror, speaking to Him, and the only thing we can say is, “I don’t know what You’re up to – I don’t like it – I don’t understand – but I accept this from You at the moment”.

We can, and often must, default to our basics.  There is only one God and He is the only Power in the universe.  Some call this the “seeing through” approach and I like that phrase. Can we look apparent evil in the eye and see through to Him – even if we don’t know why? 

Yes we can.  Yes we will. 

The Power XIII

So, I posed the question of how it was possible for Joseph to get the correct perspective that, regardless of the intent of his brothers or the appearance of evil, that it was God that purposed the events of his life.   

Well, for one, Joseph was no more or less human than the rest of us.  So, without a doubt he didn’t get it immediately.  Initially, probably, all he could see was the evil and a world controlled by the devil – with the “forces of good and evil” fighting it out.  All of which is incorrect, but sometimes our perspective, no matter how incorrect, can cloud and color everything we see, think or do.

And we don’t know exactly when Joseph “got it” and to what extent his statement to his brothers was simply a statement of faith.  In fact, even when he made his great statement to his brothers, he may have still been struggling with acceptance.  But, for our purposes, the most important fact is that he made the correct statement, “God did send me before you to preserve life.”  At minimum, speaking the word of faith, is the correct start.  Jesus, the One “Who made all things”, is described as the “Word of God”.  [John 1.3]  Accordingly, therefore all creation, including the creation of the right perspective on things, starts with a “word” – or, really the Word. 

More on this in Part XIV