This past Sunday, in our morning worship service at church, we focused on the life of Joseph as we addressed the question of how best to handle adversity when it inevitably comes our way.
I told the story of watching master weavers as they made carpets and tapestries in Egypt. During the process, when viewed from the back, things were just a discombobulated mass of colored strings with no apparent pattern. But when I stepped around to the front side, the emerging project made perfect sense.
This was most certainly the case for Joseph, who had gone from a favored son to a slave cast into prison in a foreign land. From his perspective, his life made no possible sense. But from God’s perspective up above, a beautiful picture was being woven together – one that would result in the salvation of not only Joseph, but also of his entire family.
Years ago, when Corrie ten Boom traveled and spoke around the world, she often quoted the poem titled The Master Weaver’s Plan. Unfortunately, the original author of this poem is unknown. But whoever wrote it has conveyed a reassuring message that has touched many hearts and lives through the years. I thought I would close by sharing it here today for anyone undergoing misfortune without a clear understanding of why…
My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;
I may not choose the colors –
He knows what they should be.
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the underside.
Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
SOURCE:
http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/02/the-master-weavers-plan/.
I told the story of watching master weavers as they made carpets and tapestries in Egypt. During the process, when viewed from the back, things were just a discombobulated mass of colored strings with no apparent pattern. But when I stepped around to the front side, the emerging project made perfect sense.
This was most certainly the case for Joseph, who had gone from a favored son to a slave cast into prison in a foreign land. From his perspective, his life made no possible sense. But from God’s perspective up above, a beautiful picture was being woven together – one that would result in the salvation of not only Joseph, but also of his entire family.
Years ago, when Corrie ten Boom traveled and spoke around the world, she often quoted the poem titled The Master Weaver’s Plan. Unfortunately, the original author of this poem is unknown. But whoever wrote it has conveyed a reassuring message that has touched many hearts and lives through the years. I thought I would close by sharing it here today for anyone undergoing misfortune without a clear understanding of why…
My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;
I may not choose the colors –
He knows what they should be.
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the underside.
Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
SOURCE:
http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2012/02/the-master-weavers-plan/.