Blindsided

It is finally football season!!! One of the terms that you will often hear during a game is "blindsided." It is often used to describe what happens when a linebacker runs fullspeed into the quarterback from behind. It simply means that the quarterback did not see it coming.
Have you ever had that kind of experience. You thought everything was opening up well down field, and just when you were ready to act on something "BAM"! It can take the breath out of you. It can put you on the sideline for a few plays. It hurts and can cause you to become fearful of the next time. Unfortunatly we all have "blindsided" moments. The key is how we respond to them. We can let them take us out of the game or we can tighten up our straps and go again. Genesis 37 describes for us one of these moments. Joseph is on his way to check on his brothers who have been in the fields taking care of the flocks. When he arrives they attack him and throw him into a dry well. As the story goes, he is sold into slavery and winds up in a prison cell falsely accused. Joseph had been blindsided! However, he did not allow this to destroy him. He kept his faith in God and eventually was given the postion of second in command for the entire Egyptian empire. I like what Joseph says in Genesis 50:20 when addressing his brothers, "You thought evil against me, but God meant it for the good." We don't understand "blindsided" moments when they come, but if we will allow God to work it out we will see His plan in the end. Have a great day and God bless.