God Never Makes Mistakes. Or Does He?

God Never Makes Mistakes. Or Does He?

On most Sunday mornings, I meet with a wonderful group of women in the Women of Faith Sunday School class. 

Ironically ~ WOF. I am not usually the “woofing” kind. But I love these gals. We have been working our way through What Happens When Women Pray by Evelyn Christenson. The book copyrighted in 1975 and some of her dated references are humorous.

But all in all ~ it’s a great study, that’s lead us on an amazing journey into prayer. Yesterday, we were addressing the chapter God Never Makes a Mistake. This was right on the heels of the chapter How to Pray in God’s Will. We asked ourselves the question, are we at the place where we can say and believe down to our tippy toes that God never makes a mistake? That in allowing suffering and accidents, can we ever truly believe that nothing is a mistake?

 Do we want to believe that?

Along with Romans, I am making my way through the book of Genesis. This morning’s reading was the Gen. 45: 1-28. The scene is when Joseph, by then a powerful man in Egypt overseeing the distribution of grain in a land in the grips of a devastating famine, confronts his brothers with his true identity.

Sure Joseph lived large now, second only to Pharaoh, but he had experienced a life filled with major suffering.  Being sold into slavery by his brothers. (And I think we have sibling rivalry around here.) Falsely imprisoned 13 years by accusations from the original cougar, Potiphar’s wife. Then the dude that said they would remember him to Pharaoh and remembered…nothing. Until the timing was right for God to use Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and begin storing grain for the seven years of famine.

So as the lightening and thunder rang out this morning…so did this reading hit me, especially in light of our WOF discussion on Sunday:

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. …. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ^[a]

 ⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ^{”      Genesis 45: 4 – 8.}

God sent Joseph into a situation that was filled with suffering to bring about a salvation plan during the famine not only for Joseph’s family ~ but for all humankind in the region affected by the severe drought.

I thought that was so cool. Not that I am volunteering for any big time suffering anytime soon ~ but God does have a plan and God doesn’t make mistakes.

But I do…did you know when I spell-checked this I misspelled Pharaoh…every time. (I think a different way each time.)

Day six of Lenten chips and sweets fast (I don’t skip Sundays.) Still strong. Though felt a bit weak about wanting something sweet after Sunday lunch. I guess a good portion of KFC salty grilled chicken might have that effect. But I had held fast.

What about you..do you agree or disagree about God not making mistakes? Not about KFC making you want something sweet.