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JUNE 2022 |VOLUME 48| ISSUE NO.6
EVANGEL
OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF FIRST FREE CHURCH
Lessons From Joseph Written by Kevin Labby
Last month, two of my children made their annual pilgrimage to Kennywood for their school picnic. They spent the day laughing with friends, eating delicious treats, and riding a mix of rides, new and old. When it comes to rides, our family tends toward the traditional. Sure, we love new rides like the Steel Curtain. However, classics like the Racer, Jack Rabbit, and Thunderbolt hold the deepest places in our hearts - at least when it comes to amusement park rides. And so, perhaps not surprisingly, we received news of the Log Jammer's closing with heavy hearts back in 2017. However, particular sadness followed the closure of the Kangaroo in 2020. Amid Covid, we thought nothing could make 2020 worse; we were wrong. The Kangaroo, a Labby childhood favorite, appeared gone forever. Thankfully, as of this past Sunday, the Kangaroo is back! Full of ups and downs, it seems the ride will prompt uproarious laughter and squeals of glee for a whole new generation of Kennywood guests. If only all of life's ups and downs were so enjoyable! As we enter the summer and wind down our spring study of Joseph, the ancient patriarch of Israel, we look back upon Joseph's life - a life sometimes lived at dizzying heights, other times within deep lows, and (unlike the Kangaroo at Kennywood) few if any of them amusing. Thankfully, few of us will know someone like Joseph's stunning ascents and descents. Even so, our lives can be pretty turbulent at times. Everyday circumstances and challenges can toss us up and down, right and left.
The loss of a loved one Relationships experiencing a rough patch Children making heartbreaking decisions Job prospects dwindling Health scares and exhausting and costly treatments Unexpected bills Struggles with addictions How should we respond? Sometimes, it's tempting to reduce a biblical character like Joseph to merely an example of effectively navigating life's challenges and walking by faith. But, while he is a worthy example, and while we can certainly learn from him in many ways, Joseph's story is much more than that. Scripture ultimately includes Joseph's story not to point us to him but rather to His God. How did Joseph endure a notoriously turbulent life? Was it his character and integrity? Was it his great wisdom and extraordinary gifts of administration? Or was it his communication skills and charisma? While these were important instruments to God's gracious purposes, they were secondary. The deeper reason for Joseph's faithfulness to God was God's faithfulness to Joseph. During and even despite all of his life's highs and lows, the Bible repeatedly reminds and reassures us of a simple truth: "The Lord was with Joseph" (Genesis 39:2,3,21,23). The Lord's gracious favor was the root of Joseph's faithfulness and giftedness, not the other way around. As you face the turbulence of everyday life in a fallen world, remember that God's gracious favor - the grace enjoyed by Joseph - is now yours in Jesus Christ. Look beyond your surroundings and challenging circumstances to Jesus Christ, remembering that He is not only with you. He is for you.