Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.Genesis 47:27-28
I took my daughter for a walk in the park yesterday. We watched the ducks, which she learned to say for the first time, and walked through the trees and on the green grass. (By the way, for those of you far away, the color green is a rarity here. We specialize in cement gray). Neriyah fell asleep in her stroller and I found a quiet bench near a beautiful tree blossoming with the most striking pink shoots. I read and prayed. I felt like God gave me just a small breather in the middle of a challenging storm of circumstance. I was comfortable.
There is something to be said for the small moments of comfort. just a little bit can ease the worry and remind us that God is God and that even though all might not be right with the world, he is still in charge and still with us. I makes me think about Jacob in his old age.
God had used the evil act of Josephs brothers to make the way for his family to be saved from a seven year famine. On the way to Egypt, while riding in comfortable carts, wearing more comfortable clothes than they had before, and eating provisions from the comfort of Egypt Jacob stops to worship. God appears to him in a vision and reminds him of his promise. God tells Jacob that he will make him a great nation in Egypt and bring him back from there to the promised land.
The promised land was uncomfortable, Egypt was not. Joseph was a "big deal" and so his family had the choice of the land. They settled and owned land. Now if God prepared all these events to protect Israel from the famine, and that famine was seven years long, and they entered Egypt two years into the famine.... why didn't they leave after five years? Comfort.
You can have too much of a good thing. While I know God worked out a great gig for them in Egypt, I can't help but wonder... Shouldn't they have left when the famine was over? For that matter shouldn't Joseph have said to pharaoh, "thanks for everything, i have a promise to get back to?" Later, it would take slavery to dislodge the nation of Israel from their comfort.
When I worked at Vanguard University, I was very comfortable. No rent, utilities, laundry, internet bills. Three square meals with fresh fruits and vegetables for my family provided by the cafe at no cost. Oh and did I mention I had a parking space. I was very very comfortable, but it was a rest stop, a time of preparation for the work ahead. Not unlike my bench in the park. God gave me space to get me ready. If I would have settled down there I would have missed the joy and purpose found in the discomfort of launching Radiant Church.
Are you comfortable now? Thank God for the gift? Where is God calling us to greater purposes that may involve discomfort? May we have the courage to embrace them and not get stuck in the temporary comforts.
In Jesus' Name
Amen
Reading Schedule
Week 7
March 20th - Worship
March 21st - Exodus 4-6
March 22nd - Exodus 7-9
March 23rd - Exodus 10-12
March 24th - Exodus 13--15
March 25th - Exodus 16-18
March 26th - Exodus 19-20
