Lessons Learned in 2020

It's been a difficult year, yet in the midst of difficulty is where God speaks the most clearly.

As we ushered in the year 2020 I could have never predicted how this year was going to play out. The ideas of social distancing, quarantine, Covid-19, businesses closing, working from home, staycations, zoom church gatherings, and the stock market crashing followed by government bailouts and stimulus checks were not on my radar.

I am reminded of the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Jacob, who was also named Israel, had a son in his old age named Joseph. The Bible says, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons because he was the son of his old age" (Gen 37:3 ESV). Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors that he would wear in front of his brothers. His brothers knew that Joseph was their father's favorite son, and because of this they hated him and were unkind in their speech towards him (Gen 37:4). God gave Joseph a dream that one day his brothers, father, and mother would bow down to him. For a reason, only God knows, he shared this dream with his brothers, and it only placed fuel on their hatred of Joseph.

The brothers despised Joseph so much they didn't even call him by name. They nicknamed him "the dreamer". One day when they were all working in the field they came up with a plan to kill Joseph and lie to their father that he was killed by a fierce animal. "They said one to another, Here comes this dreamer. Come now; let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits, Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams" (Gen 37:20-21 ESV). Reuben, one of the brothers, convinced the others not to kill Joseph but rather to sell him into slavery and lie to their father that he had been killed.

Joseph found himself in Egypt, where his master put everything that he had in Joseph's command. Joseph was a handsome man (Gen 39:6) and his master's wife wanted to have a sexual relationship with him, which Joseph refused, so she accused him of rape and had Joseph put in prison. After spending years in prison, Joseph was released by Pharaoh after interpreting a dream of the Pharaoh and God was with Joseph and allowed everything that he did to succeed (Gen 39:3-4). Pharaoh promoted Joseph and put him over the land of Egypt, second in command only under Pharaoh in authority. The Bible says, "And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him. "Bow the knee!" Thus, he set him over all the land of Egypt" (Gen 41:43 ESV).

Due to a famine in the land, Joseph's brothers, under the charge of their father, traveled to Egypt to get food and Joseph was the one in charge of handing out food. At first, his brothers did not recognize him, so he tested them and quizzed them, and finally revealed his identity to them. Joseph did not hold a grudge against his brothers, instead, he accepted everything that happened in his life as part of God's plan. Joseph moved his entire family to Egypt and through his life preserved an entire nation, which so happened to be the nation from which Jesus would be born and redeem the world back to God. When Jacob died in Egypt, his sons were still not sure if Joseph was going to seek revenge or not. His brothers came and fell down before him and begged for forgiveness, and Joseph responded, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones" (Gen 50:20-21 ESV).

There are many lessons that we can apply from the events in Joseph's life that will help us thrive in 2020.

First, even though things seemed to be out of control in Joseph's life, God was in control. God has a plan for history, a plan for nations, and a plan for individuals. God told the prophet, Jeremiah, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer 29:11 ESV). God had a plan for baby Moses when his mother hid him in the river. He had a plan for shepherd boy David when he was doing the lowest of jobs, tending sheep. He had a plan for Job in the midst of failing health and financial loss. The Apostle Paul who had nothing but difficulty after converting to Christianity wrote these words, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28 ESV). If we trust that our lives belong to God and that He is in control of everything and that He is working out everything according to His purpose, then we can live with the same peace and forgiveness that Joseph demonstrated toward his brothers.

Second, God will not forsake us. Living in a world under lockdown with little social contact and no public worship services can leave some feeling forgotten or forsaken. When the prophet Elijah was feeling forgotten, it was then that he was able to hear the voice of God. Have we ever thought that maybe we have been too busy with all the activities that we thought were "essential" to hear the voice of God? Elijah said there was a strong wind that tore through the mountains, but God was not in the wind, there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. There was a fire, but God was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." (1 King 19:11-12). It was when everything was quiet and Elijah was alone that he heard the voice of God. When Joseph was sold into slavery God was there, when Joseph was falsely accused, God was there. When he was sent to prison, God was there. Jesus gave us a promise that was recorded by the writer of Hebrews, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5).

Third, God will provide! God used Joseph to provide food for his whole extended family and save a nation. The first part of that verse in Hebrews reads, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." The Apostle Paul said, "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy" (1 Tim 6:17 ESV). Have you ever wondered why Jesus told the rich young man to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor (Mar 10:21)? The riches were a hindrance to his faith, they had become his God, the one in whom he trusted.

In 2020 God has allowed several of our idols to be destroyed.

The idols of financial security, job security, our health, sporting events, and politics; even more personal the church building, the programs of worship, the calendar of events, and rituals. Everything was turned upside down in the life of Joseph, but just like the prophet Elijah said, "after the fire a still small voice."

It is my prayer that 2020 will go down as the year that I learned through it all to trust in Jesus. The psalmist said that we will not fear even though the earth gives way and the mountains are moved into the sea, we will be still and know that He is God and that he will be exalted among the nations and in the earth (Psa 46).

Jonathan Miller