FORGOTTEN

Don't tell anyone, but back in the 80's Mike and I were teaching Sunday School and had taken our second graders off campus for a McDonald's treat.

When we loaded everyone back into the Suburban, somehow we didn't count right.  That's right, even back then it was a real life nightmare.

The missing boy had gone into the bathroom and when he came out, he  realized his class had left him.  He was forgotten.

To a much greater degree, that's how Joseph in the Bible must have felt.  We have been going through the life of Joseph at church this month and last Sunday, we talked about how Joseph was forgotten.

You may think your family is dysfunctional, but imagine being at the bottom of a well and hearing your brothers come to a consensus about how to finish you off.  Imagine the humiliation of getting sold into slavery to a caravan of Esau's pagan descendants.  Or what about Joseph's ascension to the top of Egyptian hierarchy, only to be falsely accused and thrown in the slammer.

Think Joseph didn't feel forgotten by God?

I try to imagine myself in those circumstances.  Could I have Joseph's attitude that displayed an amazing lack of bitterness?  Could I have squelched my inner "Poor Pitiful Pearl" and her whine "That's not fair!"?

As you read Joseph's story, all you see is his confidence that God is on the throne.  I want to be like Joseph, a "type" of Christ.

Last Sunday we also talked about the white spaces in our lives.  Ever felt like you were stuck in the white space?

Joseph was SEVENTEEN when his brothers sold him into slavery and THIRTY when he was raised to power in Egypt.  That leaves a pretty long white space of thirteen years.  Thirteen long, incarcerated years.

Joseph hoped for TWO YEARS after he interpreted the baker and cupbearer's dreams, thinking that would earn his release.

Had God forgotten Joseph?

God the Father was making Joseph more like His Son so that when Joseph's moment came and Joseph faced his brothers and saved his nation, he could say with certainty and forgiveness... "you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good".

WHEN WE RUN OUT OF STEAM IN THE WHITE SPACES AND QUIT, WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE END OF OUR STORY.  Joseph kept on.  David kept on.  Paul and Peter kept on.  We shouldn't quit in the middle of our story.

Know the rest of the story about our forgotten boy at McDonalds?  He was resourceful and started walking...alongside busy Rodney Parham Road!  The good news was someone from our church was driving by and stopped to pick him up.  The bad news was it was Robert Lewis (our pastor), so our sins found us out.  I can't believe his parents still speak to us.

Your story, my story, and the second-grader's story are all important to God.  He made you for Himself and His plans are for your good.  If you are in a white space, He is the Lifter of your head.  Lean into Him because He PROMISES to never leave you or abandon you...and God keeps all of His promises.

P.S.  If you are feeling forgotten and think Sunday's sermon would be encouraging, this will take you to an AUDIO FILE.