The Crock Pot

I'm up late or very early, depending on your point of view, nursing a headache. I've been thinking about the great stories of the Bible. Incredible men and women that have done outstanding feats with overcoming faith. They are legend of the past - the day's when God moved in the hearts of incredible people. I wonder if we miss out on the deepest applications of the Word by creating overly "beautiful" or flowery pictures of our favorite characters. I think one of the most encouraging benefits of God's Word to us is that the men and women of renown were simply men and women dealing with the same issues that we do today. They were emotional, made mistakes, lacked judgement, had deep character issues just like us today. I'm glad because this makes them "approachable". I can identify with idiots because I am one. (My wife say's this is true)

My favorite Biblical character is Joseph. Please do not be offended but I believe he was a real pain in the butt (stronger words come to mind). I cannot imagine a young teen being able to grow straight arrow with the disfunction of his family. I cannot imagine a young man not being warped in character by a father that publicly placed him in a higher "love" bracket than the rest of the son's. This takes nothing away from the power of His legacy. This actually increases the stock value of Joseph. It tells me of the incredible nature of God to be able to take a broken person and grow him in just the right way to be the vessel He needs at the time He need's it.

Joseph was in a prison. Yes it had bars and brick walls - but even beyond that - God himself confined Him. God's purpose was two fold Growth and positioning. Deepest growth comes through deepest pain. God knows just how to surgically cut in order to achieve the desired "health" in a life. I believe a time came in Josephs life where he had to admit that he was clueless with how God works - that God's way's truly are unsearchable - that He could not figure a way out. I think this moment for Joseph came after he requested to be remembered by two men of Pharoh's court and yet was forgotten for another 2 years. I can imagine his frustration. He had to become satisfied with God's choices for his life.

The story of Joseph is comforting to me because I have been going through a wilderness - a season of confinement - the "Crock Pot". I wonder how many of you are there also? Like Joseph I have done everything that I can to change my circumstance - to be released from the "prison". I have come to a place where with every disappointment of life is a challenge - "will you yet trust me?". "Mike - will you be satisfied with the choices I have made for your life?" "Will you Yield to my will?"

"For the eye's of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who's hearts are fully committed to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

We need to let God do His thorough work in us. God will not fail to be faithful during confinement. He has a plan far beyond our understanding. This brings unusual peace because it reminds us that there is a God, that He is great and wise, and that He is ours. God continues to move in the hearts of incredible men and women and just like in the "crock pot" - it alway's comes out right.