The Game's Not Over until the Field Goal Kicker Kicks!!

Read: Genesis 39:2; Genesis 39:21; Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:38-39

I smiled this morning when I thought about it. That football game in the early 90s where the Buffalo Bills trailed the Houston Oilers by 32 points at half time. My husband was watching that game, and one of our friends laughed at him because she knew he was going to watch the second half. She told him that he was wasting his time. Thousands of fans held that same opinion and in disgust, left the game early. In fact, a Houston radio announcer was immortalized on NFL Films with the statement "The lights are on here at Rich Stadium, they've been on since this morning, you could pretty much turn them out on the Bills right now." Except, the Buffalo Bills ended up winning in overtime 41-38 having overcome that "insurmountable" hurdle. Thanks to a tie breaking field goal. For bragging rights, what was the name of that kicker? Don't check your phone. Okay, time's up. It was Steve Christie, and he was kicking in his first playoff game. The shoe he wore that day to kick the winning field goal is now in the Pro Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. And those fans who left in disgust? Many who heard some of what was happening during the third quarter on their car radios as the Bills were making their comeback, climbed over the fence to get back into the stadium. They wanted to see what might happen now that there was at least a glimmer of hope that the Bills just might be victorious, and on that day, they weren't disappointed.

A glimmer of hope. It is a precious thing and not primarily in football games. It is what we long for in every-day life. Call it light at the end of a tunnel or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. We love it when there is hope. Real hope. Not some fabrication that is merely cotton candy feel good information; however, if I may paraphrase a song title, sometimes, we're "looking for hope in all the wrong places." We do what is natural. We search for hope within circumstances, and seeing none, we settle into thinking that no hope exists because we see no trace of it. At this point, please allow me to confess that I have made assessments like this; so, I'm pointing first at myself, but there is, praise God, a bigger picture than the one I can fathom. As an example, let's look at Joseph's life. As if we don't know the outcome. Just as Joseph didn't know how his story would turn out. Even as I type those words, I realize that putting aside what we know isn't easy. After all, our thoughts about Joseph, if we are familiar with his story, slip to the end. The good part where he is elevated to second in command in Egypt. The place where his prison garments are replaced by luxurious attire. Even so, let's try to walk in his shoes before Joseph's world turned right side up.

When we meet Joseph in Genesis 37, his life hadn't yet gone South. He was the favored pampered son. One of the two sons of his father's loved wife Rachel. Enter jealousy. Joseph's ten brothers weren't happy about Joseph's status in the family, and they reached a point where they couldn't speak peaceably to him. When Joseph's father asked Joseph to check up on the brothers, the stage was set for trouble. The time was right to get rid of this favored one; so, they sold him into slavery after having thrown him into a pit. Let's stop here. Joseph was 17 years old. Thrown into a pit while his heartless brothers ate a meal. They heard his cries, but they ignored him. How awful it must have been. Would the story end here? Joseph didn't know. What did he see if he assessed things? What about when his brothers sold him for money and he was taken away far from the ones he knew and all that was familiar? Any glimmers there? If Joseph's story were a play, and we didn't know its outcome, would we be tempted like those Buffalo Bills fans to leave in disgust because there was no hope? How could this end well? Yet, in Genesis 39, one little phrase provides both us and Joseph with a bit of candlelight hope because in verses 2 and 21 of that chapter, we read the words: “But God was with Joseph.”

At this point, we don't know for certain if Joseph realized that truth or if that truth became evident further down Joseph's road. No matter because God's activity in any situation doesn't cease simply because we aren't aware of it. Yet remembering that God has promised us that He will never leave us, Hebrews 13:5 is surely a beautiful truth/hope glimmer when we cling fast to it. Back to Joseph. Genesis 39 tells us that God gave Joseph favor in the household of his master, but then darkness threatens to snuff out Joseph's hope glimmer again. Enter wickedness. Joseph's master's wife tried to seduce Joseph on several occasions. His love for God and his loyalty toward his master caused Joseph to reject and finally flee from her. The result? Was Joseph rewarded because he acted honorably? No! Joseph ended up in prison!

Once again it is important for us to remember, Joseph didn't know the end of his story. He didn't know how long he would be incarcerated. We know that it was longer than two years, Genesis 40:23-Genesis 41:1. Through all those months, we know that God was, once again, with Joseph even though there must have been times when that wasn't apparent to him. Yet, he was faithful and did his work with integrity. He noticed those around him and cared about them. Even so, the official whom he hoped would put in a good word for him forgot him for two years. If Joseph had a glimmer of hope gleaned from his dealings with the cup bearer, it was likely flickering or perhaps it had gone out completely. People surely let Joseph down. His brothers hated him. His master's wife tried to entrap him, and when that failed, she lied about him. The official he cared about and used his God-given gift to help forgot him, but we know that God never forgot Joseph. Even if Joseph experienced times of bewilderment and sadness, God never failed to be with him and always had timing for the plans He had for His man, Genesis 50:20. In all kinds of circumstances, we are like Joseph and everybody else. We experience many things without knowing how things will turn out. However, it's only "half time." There is a lot more time before the final play of the game because God's work is so vast. We can only see the tip of the iceberg because His wisdom and everything about Him is so immense, Romans 11:33-36. It is likely that we won't comprehend most of what God has done in and through our lives until we are with Him in heaven, but remembering His providential care and His unlimited power and love can cause hope's flickering candle to shine brightly, and even when we aren't being buoyed up by that hope, nothing can separate us from God's love, Romans 8:38-39. The outcome of God's unfading love is settled in heaven. More certain than any temporary victory that we enjoy here on earth.

Lord, when we are weary and need hope, please remind us that Your work in all of our stories is not yet complete. You have surprises that haven't yet been experienced!