No, I’m not talking about redwoods… Or Dean Karnazes, Ryan and Sara Hall, Joan Benoit, or Usain Bolt. I’m not even talking about runners who have been so hugely impactful, you know them by their nicknames: Meb, Flo Jo, Pre.
I’m talking about Bible giants. No, not Goliath. Giants of faith.
According to surveys, Moses and Joseph rank highest as favorite Old Testament peeps. Moses being a fave doesn’t surprise me. I mean, c’mon, parting the Red Sea, leading a few million people outta Egypt, and that Ten Commandment thing. Surprisingly, Joseph actually outranked Moses. Must be that coat thing. But there’s so many more layers to Joseph’s story than colors in his famous coat.
I know this only because for years I spent entire quarters teaching the Joseph lesson to third graders at a private Christian school. It was my favorite Bible unit to teach – minus the slightly awkward chapter where Joseph’s boss’ wife tries to seduce poor Joseph. Through 14 chapters and some 24 years during which time he was sold into slavery by his bros, taken to Egypt where he served Potiphar (captain of Pharoah’s guard) diligently for 11 years, spent 2 years in prison thanks to Potiphar’s wife, then was promoted to second in command to Pharoah after finally putting his gift of dream interpretation to good use. In fact, Joseph saved Egypt from famine and, in the process, saved his own family – the same ones who sold him for twenty shekels of silver.
Who doesn’t love a story with a happy ending? Joseph’s story literally brought me and many of my third graders to tears. But what was the big takeaway from his life? Joseph’s unwavering faith. Amazing to 50 year old teachers and 8 year old students alike. How is it he never complained or reveled in self-pity? I have certainly been guilty of whining in far lesser predicaments. Through thick and mostly thin, Joseph stayed the course in trusting that God had a plan.
I should’ve started this post acknowledging that I’m not the one who came up with the title “Running With the Giants.” Sorry, Pastor Steve, you kinda had me at “RUNNING.” In his message last Sunday, our pastor somewhat seriously said this New Year’s sermon series could also have the alternate title: “Giants Who Messed Up!” Wait a second, hold up there! How did Joseph, and for that matter, Moses, mess up?
In our lively third grade conversations, it was not hard to get eight year-olds to see what a spoiled brat Joseph had become and to momentarily side with his eleven brothers. As a mom, to this day, I can’t read about Jacob blatantly lavishing his fave son with that ornate coat without thinking “What a parenting fail!” But the real killer was Joseph’s flaunting which was not limited to the coat and his father’s affections. What sealed the deal was Joseph flaunting his God-given dreams. “Nee-ner, nee-ner! You’re all gonna bow to me someday!”
I admit I struggle with these juvenile actions being part of Joseph’s legacy after all he ultimately went through. Similarly, it seems harsh that after all Moses endured and faithfully accomplished that the “minor technicality” of striking instead of speaking to a rock as God instructed was the reason he would not get to enter the Promised Land. Once again, gotta love third graders’ reactions. “Awww, man! That’s not fair! The Israelites were being so whiny! Moses was just mad at them.”
Joseph was 17 and Moses was 70.
Whether you’re a spoiled, obnoxious teen or an accomplished senior with a glowing resume, one thing remains true: God is more concerned with who we are than what we do.
Well, when you put it that way, Pastor Steve…
Going into a new year – especially after the one we just had – who wouldn’t want a fresh start and renewed hope? Are there parts of 2020 I’d like to erase? Things I wish I didn’t say or do? Entire chapters I’d like to delete? Of course! I’ve probably said that every year. I’ve yet to find an undo or delete key. So, how is it that year after year God continues to bless, protect, and provide abundantly for me and my family? How have we somehow managed to find favor in the direst of circumstances? How am I still standing much less running??? Could it be as straightforward and simple as faith?
“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.” Genesis 39:1-5 NCV
“But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.” Genesis 39:21-23 MSG
You see, from a very young age, Joseph learned to trust God. Consequently, even in the direst of circumstances, his faith in God’s plan for his life prevailed. Be it feast or famine (see what I did there), Joseph was keenly aware of God’s presence, thus he did not waver in trusting that God was in control.
‘Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.” So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”’ Genesis 41:14-16 NKJV
‘“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. “Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.’ Genesis 45:3-8 NLT
I imagine if Joseph asked God what single accomplishment He is most proud, God’s response probably wasn’t “Yeah, that time you saved all of Egypt from famine!” No. He would say “You always trusted me. You knew I had it all under control. Your faith, dear Joseph…your faith in Me is what I am most proud.” In fact, Joseph’s faith earned him a spot in the ultimate Hall of Fame: Hebrews Chapter 11 “The Giants of Faith.”
I hope that no matter what 2021 brings, mistakes I will make, dumb things I might do, regrettable words I might say, countless times I might whine, and circumstances I have no control over, that one thing will remain constant: FAITH. How is that possible, you ask? And what does any of this have to do with running? Absolutely nothing and everything.
“We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NCV
Friends, whether your 2021 plan is to be a better parent, co-worker, or business person, or to run your first marathon, or to simply establish more consistent fitness habits, the goal is the same:
Stay focused on Jesus!
Like Joseph, may we experience the Lord’s favor and may it be evident to all that the Lord is with us in all that we do. In this way, we will be stretching and strengthening those faith muscles as we together run with giants.
