Don't ya just love it when God makes a connection for ya? Well, he sure gave me one today, and appropriate to the holiday too! I made a connection between St. Patrick and Joseph with his coat of many colors. I made this connection via Beth Moore. She wasn't talking about St. Patrick, she was talking about Joseph. I have just been thinking and reading about St. Patrick with the upcoming celebration. So it goes when you are in Bible study, God just puts stuff together for ya.
Now, Beth was sharing with us how Joseph's brothers had become entangled by the grudge they felt for their father's favorite son. She talked about how Joseph(17 yrs old) pranced around looking for his brothers while wearing his lovely coat and once he found them he ended up in a dry cistern and then sold off as a slave. Do you think he got a clue about rubbing that lovely coat in his brother's faces? Maybe, because then she spoke of how Joseph would spend his lifetime looking for his brother's approval, respect, mercy, apology, appreciation, and finally their welfare. As you read on in Genesis, we see how he staged the events to get these things out of them. She also pointed out, that God had Joseph in his hand and a purpose for his slavery. In the end, he was caring for his family and making sure that they had the best and prospered.
Patrick, before he was a saint, was a young man(16 yrs old) in Roman Britain, who was having a good time and not worshiping the one true God. He was busy, as most young men are, having the time of his life. All of a sudden, Irish raiders put an end to his high time and took him back to Ireland as a slave. Patrick was a slave for about six years. Somehow, I can't imagine he was to fond of the Irish when he was first taken. I know that as a slave, once he got past the anger and unfairness of it all, he certainly wanted their approval and mercy. As he stayed on and started to form some relationships he may have even been hoping for some respect and appreciation from them. Are you seeing the connection? God had Patrick in his hand and a purpose for his slavery. Patrick found his way off the island via God's plan and then he found his way back to the island via God's plan and Patrick's heart had been forever changed as he wished for the welfare of the Irish people.
God even gave Patrick the shamrock to help explain The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. I think God had that in mind when he created the shamrock!
Irish Link of the Day:
Stephen Lawhead wrote a great book, Patrick:Son of Ireland . In this book(which is fiction-but based on the story of Patrick), he explores what it must of been like for Patrick to be taken as a slave and his life in Ireland. The prelude, is at the beginning, but really is a clip of Patrick after he has returned to Ireland to spread the Good News! You can read a little of it by clicking on the name of the book above.
You can read Patrick's confession by clicking on Patrick's heart.
Gen 45:7-8
1 comments from my readers:
Good for people to know.
Post a Comment