My coat vs. God’s plan

It was a nice coat that Joseph had. Full of color and such luxury as was possible for a family living in the wilderness. But, it wasn’t enough to keep him.

In a single day, his brothers stripped him of his coat, dipped it in animal blood and convinced their father — who had given the coat in a moment of unwise parenting — that Joseph had been killed and eaten by wild things.

The brothers were, in fact, the wild things. In a fit of jealousy, they had sold 17-year-old Joseph into slavery.

This Old Testament story and what happened as a result get a lot of ink in the Bible. As a writer, I have always figured that meant it was a story that God really wanted to be told and heard.

As a parent just a few weeks into empty nesting, I now totally understand why.

Of all the potential worst-case scenarios that can flit through a parent’s mind in the dark of the night, having one’s child sold into slavery by one’s other children and thinking — for years — that that child was dead has got to rank nightmare high. Yet, God took that even that hot mess and produced both family harmony and widespread salvation.

It’s true. God’s presence and plan did what a lovingly made coat never could.

Ah. Well played, Abba Father.

I’m hearing this story and, by God’s grace, I will recognize that I worked really hard and really long to “coat” my daughters against this world’s cold. But, my faith and their future cannot rest anywhere but in His hands and plan.

He sees every turn in the long road to and through Egypt and back to His land of promise. I do not. He sees every peril — including what youthful hubris and a parent’s best intentions could have done to Joseph. I do not. He knows all the characters in the drama — and how to diminish the roles of those who could ruin His story line. I struggle to separate even the villians from the heroes.

My coats were goodish, the best I could do. I am thankful I had the time and the opportunity to piece them together. Motherhood was and is a gift.

But, God’s ability and presence will never fray, never wear thin. He is the God that feeds billions of people and countless other parts of creation with the assistance of bees. He can surely be trusted with my children.

Yes! What He did for Joseph — and his family — He can do for my daughters. What He did for Joseph — and his family — He can do for your sons and daughters. Location is irrelevant. Circumstances are irrelevant. Time is irrelevant.

His plans are good. Always. Trust in that.

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