Monday Memo 1132: Wherever

Let's look one more time at the life of Genesis Joseph in our series 'Never Too Young for Purpose,' for there is one more important lesson for any young person who is searching for purpose. We read,

So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt (Genesis 37:28).

Joseph's brothers hated him and considered killing him until they had a better idea. They decided to make some money from their brother's misery by selling him to some merchants who just happened to be passing by at the time. These merchants were heading to Egypt which is exactly where they took Joseph and sold him at a slave market.

We saw the last two weeks that Joseph had two dreams confirming that he would someday lead his family. That became his life's purpose. What he didn't know, however, was where, when, or how that would take place. We also learned last week that his brothers did indeed come before him and bow down 22 years after Joseph had the dream, but little did Joseph realize that his dream would come true not in his homeland but in the faraway land of Egypt.

God is not only the God of your purpose, but He is also the God of where you will fulfill your purpose. We studied David in previous weeks and saw that he was able to be the king over his homeland. However, Joseph had to go to Egypt and learn a new language, culture, and customs in order to fulfill his purpose. And in the coming weeks, we will look at the life of young Daniel and see that he also had to go far away from his home to fulfill his purpose.

Even after God revealed Joseph's purpose in the dreams. Joseph still had to have faith that God would work out the details for it to come to pass, and you will have to do the same. You may know your future is in medicine, but where? Will it be close to your home, somewhere in the country of your birth, or in a land near or far away from where you were born? Will it require you to learn a new language, to study in a foreign land, or be among people who don't look think or talk like you? What will you go through to come into what God has for you? All that is part of your faith purpose adventure which requires that you get ready now for the future as best you can. How can you do that?

Can you study a foreign language? Can you read about or listen to the stories of people who have had to go away from home to find their purpose? Perhaps you can study other cultures and as you do, God may give you a fascination for the place you will eventually go? Maybe you can even go someplace to study as a foreign exchange student so you can have firsthand experience in travel and cross-cultural awareness? If you feel like you will stay home, then can you study your own country's history and culture to understand it more fully?

The point is that God is the one who oversees your purpose from start to finish. You can know your purpose but there are still many surprises ahead in which you will have to trust the Lord and His guidance and protection. Make a commitment now not only to fulfill your purpose but also to do it wherever God chooses for you to be. Then watch and see how God will move in your life to make it happen, just like He did in the life of Joseph. Have a blessed week.