This morning, I finished reading Genesis.
I have enjoyed moving through it slowly over the last few weeks. The Popcorn Devotions I’ve shared along the way are an extension of my own time with God. They are a glimpse into the details, questions, and moments that caught my attention.
As I end the book, one thing stands above the rest:
The God of heaven is intimately present in the mess of earthly life.
Genesis begins with God bringing order out of chaos. By chapter three, chaos enters the human story. From there, we encounter fear, jealousy, murder, deception, manipulation, family conflict, abuse of power, and generations of dysfunction.
The main storyline of God’s redemptive work unfolds through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Yet none of them are presented as perfect examples of what human beings could be. Their families are often painfully honest pictures of what human beings actually are.
They are shaped by their cultures, limited by their understanding, and guided by the common wisdom of their time. Sometimes they trust God. Sometimes they take matters into their own hands. Sometimes their choices create wounds that last for generations.
And yet, God remains present.
He enters their world as it is. He works within their customs, relationships, failures, and limited understanding. He does not simply discard everything human and replace it with something detached and otherworldly.
He redeems.
He restores.
He elevates their understanding and slowly reshapes their lives.
God’s purposes are not dependent on their ability to understand everything correctly. His promises do not collapse every time they stumble. Even the harm people cause cannot prevent him from continuing his work.
Joseph captures it near the end of the book:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
— Genesis 50:20
That does not make the harm good. It means the harm does not get the final word.
My story has broken parts too.
There are things I misunderstood, choices I regret, and seasons I would never want to relive. But I can also trace the patient presence of God through them.
He did not wait for my life to become orderly before entering it.
He met me in the chaos.
And he is still redeeming, restoring, and reshaping me.
Next stop … Exodus!
Même chose pour Dieu, Il reste le même! C’est bien ça qu’Il fait dans ma vie:
« Et pourtant, Dieu reste présent.
Il entre dans leur monde tel qu'il est. Il travaille au sein de leurs coutumes, de leurs relations, de leurs échecs et de leur compréhension limitée ».
Et l’histoire se répète encore aujourd’hui avec nous: « Ils sont façonnés par leurs cultures, limités par leur compréhension et guidés par la sagesse commune de leur époque. Parfois, ils font confiance à Dieu. Parfois, ils prennent les choses en main ».