Yet, as I read through Genesis again I’m utterly amazed at God’s career plan for Joseph. Through Joseph’s dreams it appears that God had given him an inkling of what the future might hold for him. His brothers and even his father interpreted this as arrogance. In fact, his brothers were so incensed by Joseph’s dreams and preferential treatment by his dad that they hated him (Genesis 37:4).

So at about the young age of 17, Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him, then thought better of it and sold him as a slave to Midianite merchants who in turn sold him to one of Pharaoh’s officials in Egypt. Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers cunningly convinced their father that Joseph was dead, having been torn apart by some wild beast.

As bleak and hopeless as Joseph’s situation appears, the Scriptures inform us, “The Lord was with him and gave him success in all he did” (Genesis 39:2-5). It’s so easy to read that and just plow on in the text oblivious to what was happening behind all of this, so let’s ponder this for a moment. From the time Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt until the time when he was promoted to second in command over all of Egypt was about thirteen years. He spent some of those thirteen years as a slave in Potiphar’s household and the remaining years in prison.

In planning my own career path, neither slavery nor a prison sentence ever entered my mind as a possible stepping stone toward promotion! Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Joseph was falsely accused of trying to seduce his master’s wife. Precisely where Joseph has determined to keep his integrity intact, his reputation was soiled by this false accusation and circumstantial evidence. (Potiphar’s wife had grabbed his cloak as “proof” that he had tried to rape her.)

In several places in Scripture we gain insight into Joseph’s trials. He himself refers to “all his trouble” and his “suffering” in Egypt. And the Psalmist explains of Joseph, “They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons” (Psalm 105:18). Add to his physical suffering, the loneliness and oppression of slavery, a tarnished reputation and the hardships and humility of prison.

Surely through all those years Joseph must have wrestled with God frequently! Joseph was a man like we are. Would he not have cried out to God, “Why? Why me? Why this? Where are you, God? Why don’t you answer my prayers for deliverance? Why do my brothers hate me so? Don’t you care about me? Have I done something terrible to warrant this treatment? If so, reveal it to me so I can repent!” Do you feel the turmoil and desperation he must have experienced?

And yet, the Scripture says, “The Lord was with him . . .  and gave him success in all he did” (Genesis 39:2-5). The implication here is that Joseph worked diligently and God prospered him in his work. In other words, Joseph rose above his circumstances and kept his integrity intact by working hard and doing well for his bosses. In his diligence God blessed him. However, Joseph’s diligence was coupled with his dependence on God. Notice that in his conversations with the cupbearer and baker and later with Pharaoh, Joseph credits God with the interpretation of dreams.

Again, we find something amazing going on here in the background. In the middle of all his struggling and suffering Joseph’s relationship with God had deepened profoundly. With the interpretation of these dreams it’s clear that Joseph had learned how to listen to God. Joseph was alert to the working of God and he also knew God’s character. Remember his words to Potiphar’s wife when she was trying to seduce him? “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)

Joseph clearly saw his dependence on God and lived dependently on him trusting him for all things. Joseph had lost his standing as a favored son of a wealthy rancher. Then he lost his position as a trusted slave. His reputation was slandered and his freedom taken. But Joseph continually cultivated his relationship with God.

Later on as second in command over all Egypt, Joseph possessed all the power and authority to bring justice upon his scheming brothers. But Joseph freely forgave them. His words of encouragement to them are incredible! Joseph consoled them, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:4-5) Joseph’s relationship with God had worked in him a forgiving, loving response to those who had hurt him.

And later, when their father had died, Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” (Genesis 50:19-20)

Joseph’s words also demonstrate that he found great joy and purpose in knowing that God was using him and that his life was impacting others for good. Too often I find myself more concerned with how fulfilling my job is for me. What I see in Joseph was a godly diligence and fervor for his job and then asking a chief question, “How is my work benefiting others?”

Finally, I find three prominent characteristics that stand out in Joseph’s story: 1) God’s presence, faithfulness and sovereign ability to turn awful circumstances into something wonderful; 2) Joseph’s trust in God and ability to see God’s care for him in spite of horrible trials; and 3) Joseph’s preoccupation with spending his life in the service of others.

©2010 Rob Fischer

Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?

This may seem like an odd question, but it’s one I’m wrestling with in a very personal and practical way. You see, I just learned that I’ve been taken advantage of by someone. This person had been posing as someone with a chronic illness and in dire financial need. I and others rose to their alleged need by paying some of their bills, serving them and praying for them. This has gone on for a couple years. Now that their deceit has been exposed I feel violated, foolish and a tremendous sense of grief for them.

What should I have done differently? Did anything like this ever happen to Jesus? If so, how did he respond? How does he want me to respond? How do I guard myself in the future—or, should I?

These questions take me to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:27-31: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Jesus’ words really get under our skin because they demand living in a way that is far too vulnerable for comfort! If we live like that aren’t we opening the door for being taken advantage of? And yet he calls us to this lifestyle precisely because it demonstrates God’s character.

We can consider the question, “Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?” in two ways. First, because Jesus is God and therefore all-knowing and all-wise, we conclude that Jesus was never taken advantage of in the sense that he was fooled or that someone tricked him. John 2:24 bears this out when it explains, “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.” Jesus was fully aware of the motivations of their hearts.

There’s a second way we can think about the question whether Jesus was ever taken advantage of. This viewpoint does not result from foolishness, naivety or lack of knowledge, but due to his virtuous character.

For example, in John 5, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. One Sabbath day, Jesus told this man to get up, pick up the mat he was lying on and walk. The Jewish religious leaders reprimanded the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. In response the healed man replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”

Later on, Jesus found this guy in the temple and warned him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” At this, the man went back to the Jews and informed them that it was Jesus who had made him well. And as a result, the Jews persecuted Jesus for doing these things on the Sabbath. (John 5:1-16)

How could this guy turn against Jesus like this right after Jesus healed him? And, why did Jesus allow himself to be taken advantage of like this? Then something occurred to me. Every time one of us, who has experienced Jesus’ forgiveness for sin, rebels against him and willfully sins again—are we not taking advantage of our Lord’s grace and goodness? We are taking advantage of him, to be sure. And yet he humbly endures it when we defraud him and he remains gracious and ready to forgive when we return to him! 1 John 1:9 explains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus asks us to endure the same treatment from others. In 1 Corinthians 6:7 he says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” Enduring this mistreatment from others allows us the opportunity to “participate in the sufferings of Christ.” (1 Peter 4:12-13.)

If we are living and becoming more like Jesus, it should not surprise us when we are taken advantage of like he is. May we also learn to bear it humbly like he does!

©2010 Rob Fischer

Webster defines adventure as “an undertaking or experience that involves hazard and requires courage.” My mind went to Luke 9:22-23 where Jesus called disciples, “And he said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’ Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

Wow, based on that passage, a life of following Jesus definitely involves hazard and requires courage. I guess that qualifies as an adventure!

But aren’t we fickle and half-hearted at times? For as soon as we encounter hazards and trials we cry out for deliverance, “God, get me out of this!” And we long for normalcy, “When are things going to settle down again?” We go to great lengths to make our lives easy so we can avoid hazards and trials. We say we want adventure, but when the trials come what we really want is amusement. The amusement park offers a temporary rush of adrenalin in a controlled environment. But true adventure is unpredictable with real consequences.

The courage it takes to ride a roller coaster is not the same kind of courage required to go the distance in a true adventure. If we stop to think about it, courage is only needed when fear must be overcome.

All of us at times find our adventure with God to be scary and unnerving. Here’s where it helps to have a firm and accurate picture of God whom we’re trusting. He is infinitely loving, kind and compassionate. Yet he is all-powerful and all-knowing. He knows no surprises and needs no contingency plans. He wants to be intimately involved in our lives and loves it when we trust him without reservation. He is worthy of our trust because he is trustworthy. Those who trust in him will never be disappointed.

There’s a great passage in Hebrews 12:12-13 that God provides for our encouragement as we trust him in the adventure he has for us. “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” The writer of Hebrews is quoting Isaiah 35:3 here. The context there finds Israel in its hour of greatest need when things truly looked hopeless. But the prophet encouraged Israel to trust in God and watch him work on their behalf—and he did! The point is, when things look most bleak on this life adventure with God, look to him and be strong in him.

© 2009 Rob Fischer

All of us from time to time experience an “inversion” in our spiritual lives as well. We seem to get buried under the clouds of our daily grind. We forget the sunshine of God’s grace and presence and feel oppressed by trials and hardship. If relationships around us have grown cold our discomfort deepens and we may become joyless, sad and even depressed.

When we begin to feel a spiritual inversion coming on, the worst thing we can do is isolate in the valley and dark corners of our existence! And yet that is precisely what we are prone to do. Instead, climb above the oppressive spiritual fog and expose yourself to the warmth of God’s presence and love. There are several ways we can do this.

If you find yourself slipping into or immersed in a spiritual inversion, spend time in God’s Word—lots of it. Devour it like you would a favorite novel. Let his Word warm your soul and lift you up. Spend time in the Psalms or the Gospels. Rehearse the promises of God from great chapters like Romans 8 or Hebrews 11. Go to God’s Word to meet with him. “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

Another method for climbing out of the fog and dampness of spiritual inversion is to spend time talking to God, thanking him and praising him for his goodness and faithfulness. In the face of trials and even the humdrum of daily life, we so quickly forget how awesome, how great, how majestic our God is! Tell him anew what you know to be true of his character and works in your life.

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1-2) Read the rest of that Psalm and make it your personal prayer!

A third powerful means for getting out of the spiritual fog and darkness of despair is to spend time with a trusted friend or spiritual partner. When we’re hurting we often crawl into a hole and mope, which only worsens our condition! Force yourself to seek out someone who can pray with you and challenge you. Don’t be satisfied with a friend who adds to your gloom. Spend time with another follower of Christ who will lift you up.
 
The following Proverbs describe the kind of words you want others to speak into your life: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. The lips of the righteous nourish many. The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom. The lips of the righteous know what is fitting. The tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 10:11, 21, 31, 32; 12:18)

©2009 Rob Fischer

 In year 39 of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness two men woke up one morning. One man got up, put on his outer garment and lifted the flap over the door of his tent to step out into the desert morning. As he ducked under the tent flap it dumped a load of sand down his neck. He cursed under his breath and angrily shook out his clothes muttering, “I am sick and tired of this infernal sand! I’ve got sand in my bed, sand in my hair, sand in my food! Everywhere there’s sand! I hate this life of constant moving and upheaval. And guess what’s for breakfast? Manna—again!” 

 This man’s mood was no private matter, but spread unmercifully like cancer to his wife and children. With his incessant bitterness, anger and complaints he poisoned the minds and attitudes of his family and friends. His poison took its toll on his relationships replacing intimacy with isolation, trust with suspicion and love with self-centeredness. This man truly lived out the miserable life he envisioned for himself. By making much of himself and his circumstances, he lived as though God were puny and others insignificant.

 Across the vast camp of the Israelites that same morning another man awoke. This man’s circumstances were in no wise different than the first man. But as this man stepped out of his tent that morning shaking the sand from his clothes, he stood up and filled his lungs with the fresh, cool desert air. He looked to the east watching the glory of the sun as it began to dispel the night. He thought to himself that the sunrise was but a tiny reflection of the magnificent glory of its Creator.

 He expectantly looked out over the hillsides around their camp and saw the familiar blanket of manna in the receding shadows. Suddenly he was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s presence, faithfulness and love for him and his family. Without inhibition he raised his hands and looked up into the sky and worshipped out loud, “Thank you, my God, my King, my Shepherd! Thank you for another “manna-day”, a day in which you show yourself faithful and loving toward me and your people. Thank you for providing for us, O gracious Lord!”

 This man’s mood was no private matter either, but spread to others like the warmth of the rising sun. His humble gratitude made him a delight to be around! His family and friends found his faith and joy contagious, so that they too gave God glory. By making much of God, he saw more of God and his greatness and love. And by experiencing God’s love, he could not help but love others around him on whom God had also poured out his love.

Which man are you?

Prayer: Lord, I desperately want to be the second man in this parable! Each day, let me turn my eyes toward you and off myself and my circumstances. Let me see you in your awesome splendor and majesty and worship you as you really are. I long to draw near to you today with the knowledge that in doing so, I cannot remain unchanged. Therefore, I invite you to change me. Make me more like you in character—more loving, more generous, more thoughtful of others. Thank you for your abundant provision in my life and for being so faithful. I praise you with my entire being! In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen!

© Rob Fischer 2008

I was riding a 1968 Sears and Roebuck ten-speed racer with a hard plastic seat. Others rode heavy Schwinns and quite a few bought brand new Gitanes—a super light-weight French bike. But no matter what we were riding, by the third day our butts were sore! Past that third day mark we began to get into a groove in which we felt good and rode hard.

On one particular day I remember a 40-mile stretch of very flat road in Wisconsin. We had the wind to our backs and took turns drafting behind each other to maximize our efficiency. We rode that stretch in 90 minutes! We felt exhilarated and frankly a bit cocky that we could ride so far so fast on our bikes.

Each night along the way we camped in tents. The first half of the trip was great! The weather was warm and balmy. We found wild blueberries growing near one of our campsites in Michigan and added them to the pancake batter. We burned a lot of calories and ate a lot. We even found a sandy beach on Lake Superior that invited a refreshing swim. Life on this ride so far was good!

But in White River, Ontario, we woke to a cold, relentless west wind driving fine rain that pierced like needles. The temperature had plummeted to 35 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. Until now we had enjoyed weather that allowed us to ride shirtless with shorts. We simply weren’t prepared for this! We were soaked and numb with cold.

The rain made it more difficult to ride. Later in the day it was raining so hard, we couldn’t see well. We also became less visible to traffic and several of us had close calls with cars and trucks that forced us off the road. The terrain had also changed. We began encountering hills that were so long and so steep that the locals had given them names. All of these factors mounted to discourage and dishearten us and by that afternoon all I wanted was to call my dad and have him come pick me up!

As a 16-year-old I had not yet endured the experiences of life that toughen one’s spirit and resolve. So I was ready to give up. Our leader, Larry, recognized what was going on in me and challenged me. He pointed out that I had already successfully ridden half the trip and these trials were not a good reason to quit. Larry told me I could make it and that he knew I had it in me. Besides, the weather might improve.

But most importantly Larry challenged me to draw on God’s strength and his reserves. He introduced me to Isaiah 40:31 NLT, “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” That verse stuck in my head and heart and I truly found new strength in the Lord as I leaned on him.

With Jesus Christ as my Leader it was as though I was drafting behind him up those long hills. Even the cold, driving rain didn’t seem so bad anymore. In spite of the fact that the weather did not change for the next few days, I now approached the challenge differently. What had started out as a lark, was now significantly more difficult, but I found great joy in trusting Christ through it all. He gave me the strength to enjoy the ride on a new level.

On the final stretch as we pedaled into Minneapolis someone had tipped off the city and they provided a police escort in honor of our homecoming. That day we experienced the thrill and satisfaction of having completed that epic ride. But more than the ride, I’ve never forgotten how God rode with me and strengthened me.

For a 16-year-old that 1300 mile bicycle trip was a monumental trial. Since then, I’ve experienced many obstacles and trials that make those on the bicycle trip look puny. But I’ve found that by trusting Christ for successively bigger hurdles my faith in him grows each time. Now, over 40 years since that bike trip, my confidence in Christ continues to swell. To be honest, I still occasionally experience a trial so daunting that I feel I’ll be crushed under it. But every time I trust Christ and experience his faithfulness my foundation for weathering the next trial becomes even more firm and unshakable.

©2009 Rob Fischer

As a 12-year-old I received a dollar per week for my allowance, so I couldn’t simply divert what was already coming in to my giving. I prayed that God would give me opportunities to earn enough to meet my pledge of $4.00 per week for the next year. I still remember how excited I was that morning in church when I turned in my pledge card. I knew I was embarking on an adventure with God and I could hardly wait to see how he would work in my life!

That afternoon I began going around to our neighbors asking them if I could mow their lawns and do other yard work or odd jobs. God went before me and I found several neighbors who were willing to employ me weekly around their homes. When fall came I raked leaves and in the winter I shoveled driveways and sidewalks.

Sometimes I would begin a week not knowing how God would provide that week, but he always did! In fact, God provided $4.00 per week faithfully all 52 weeks of that year. I cannot describe the joy I experienced to be able to give “beyond what I was able” by trusting God to give through me.

Watching God provide like this also catapulted my faith and trust in him. I began to see what a BIG God we have and that nothing is too hard for him. Growing in my faith and trust in him back then was like exercising a muscle. I saw my faith muscle begin to grow and looked for new ways to exercise it.

In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul describes how the followers of Christ in Macedonia “gave beyond what they were able” because they had trusted God to provide through them. They also gave in the context of extreme trouble and even poverty. The secret to their ability to give like this was their trust in God to provide through them (2 Corinthians 9:10). Giving like this produces in us extreme joy, glorifies God and generates thanksgiving by those who receive the benefits of our giving!

Paul urges us to “excel in this gracious act of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT). Let me invite you to step into a great adventure with God–especially during these times of financial uncertainty. Get to know how BIG our God is and trust him for things beyond our ability.

©2009 Rob Fischer

Reading through that Psalm it’s hard to miss the joy, gladness, joyful songs, thanksgiving and praise! These are all right responses to God in worship because of who he is. We often mistakenly think we have to feel joyful before we can worship God with joy. Typically what that means is that we behave as though our joy was tied to our circumstances—which manipulate our feelings—which drive the tone and intensity of our worship. For many years I was caught up in thinking like that. But that’s all upside down thinking that stifles our freedom to worship God joyfully!

Just this morning I read one of the most remarkable passages in the Scripture on this matter. In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah laments the horrors that had befallen Israel as a result of their forsaking God. Israel’s enemies had destroyed Jerusalem—the crown jewel of Israel, ransacked and demolished its temple, carried off into exile those they hadn’t killed, and pillaged and raped their land until nothing was left. The resulting famine was so bad that the few remaining Israelites had resorted to cannibalizing their children!

My description of the horrors does not do their situation justice. But look at Jeremiah’s response to it all in Lamentations 3:21-24. You may recognize some of the lyrics from the famous hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness! Jeremiah writes, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’” (NLT)

When we can worship God and make much of him in spite of our circumstances we experience joy that transcends! John Piper explains, “All of life for the Christian is meant to magnify Christ. This can happen through pleasure, and it can happen through pain. God’s glory shines more brightly when he satisfies us in times of loss than when he provides for us in times of plenty.” (John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life, p. 72.)

I’ll never forget the shock and terror of the September 11, 2001 attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. My wife and I were scheduled to meet with our small group that night. As we came together, the only appropriate response was to pray for all those impacted by that act of terrorism and to worship God. Worshiping God is always an appropriate response!

There are also many situations in which God’s glory is so obvious, so apparent that worshiping him simply flows from them. These too are occasions in which we don’t want to miss the opportunity to worship the Lord! “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2)

©2009 Rob Fischer

Just a few verses further Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:1-2 NLT)

By trusting Christ and what he did for us, Jesus makes us right with God. He does for us what we could not possibly do for ourselves. He gives us right standing with God, peace with him and makes us his children. In fact, verse 5 goes on to explain, “For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (NLT)

So what does all this have to do with rejoicing in trials? Romans 5:3 (NLT) says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Paul is tying these thoughts right back to what he just shared with us about Abraham.

Look at Romans 4:20-21 (NLT) again, “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”

God has promised us full and complete salvation including ultimate salvation from all sin, sickness, death, decay and evil. In this passage he says, “And we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:2 NLT) This is God’s promise to us. He has also given us his Holy Spirit as his guarantee that his promise will be fulfilled.

But when we experience trials and suffering we basically have two choices in how we react. Either we moan and groan, “Why me, God? What did I deserve to do this?” And we question God’s goodness, love and ability to fulfill his promises. The second response is to do as Abraham did and not waver in trusting that God loves us and he will fulfill his promises to us. In fact, such faith sees God as so much bigger than any trial or suffering! Another way to view these two responses is that the first one results in our pushing God away, while the second one results in drawing near to him.

Remember, faith or trust in God is a highly relational response. Putting this in terms of Abraham’s situation, he simply took God at his word and acted on it. That’s exactly what God wants us to do when we encounter tirals. He says to us, “Trust me. I’ve got this covered!” And as we trust him, we draw near to him. And in his presence we cannot remain unchanged!

That’s what the passage means when it says that trials “help us develop endurance”–that is endurance in our faith or trust in God. “And endurance develops strength of character” because as we endure in faith and draw near to God, he changes us and makes us like his Son in character.

What trial or tough situation are you experiencing right now that you need to trust God for? Take him at his word that he loves you in spite of that trial and he will fulfill his promises to you. Then watch God change you!

©2009 Rob Fischer

“God ordains suffering because it displays to the world the supremacy of his worth above all treasures.”  – John Piper

When Linda and I got married, I had one more year left to serve in the US Army in Berlin, Germany. At the time there were at least three good reasons for us to stay in the military. First, the military was providing a steady income, while the US economy was in recession. Second, my job classification was in high demand and the Army offered me a $10,000 bonus to re-enlist. (This was a lot of money in 1975!) And finally, after seven months of marriage, we had decided to start a family and Linda was now pregnant. To stay in the military meant full health coverage for Linda and the baby. To leave the military would leave us without health insurance.

This may seem like a pretty straightforward decision—except for one thing. Linda and I had sensed God’s clear leading in our lives to serve him as missionaries on a foreign field. In order to accomplish this, I needed to leave the military and go to Bible college. After praying, seeking counsel and being unified in the decision as a couple, we embarked on what we viewed as an adventure with God. We left the military and headed for Bible college.

God had begun to pave the way for us even before we set out, although we didn’t know it at the time. For when we landed in Chicago, Linda’s grandmother surprised us with $1,000 that bought us our first car and the gas to get us to Spokane, Washington, where we applied to a Bible college.

In Spokane, we found a modest apartment and had just enough money for the deposit and first month’s rent, but not enough money for phone service. A telephone booth a block away served for out-going calls. I had built our furniture that summer using tailings from a local lumber mill and masonite that I had picked up on clearance for ten cents a sheet. We had no TV, but a radio provided some entertainment.
 
As soon as we landed in Spokane, I began diligently searching for a job. The job market was extremely tight and I was turned down time and time again. Ironically, I was eligible for VA benefits for college, but the Bible college was so new it was not yet authorized by the VA to grant benefits! Yet we were sure God had led us to this school.

Right before the semester began, I explained our job and financial situation to the dean of the college. He told me that if we were willing to trust God for the funds, then so would they. The day after we registered for school, the Lord gave me a part-time, seasonal job in a feed warehouse. This job paid just enough to cover the rent on our apartment.

Meanwhile, we found a doctor and Linda went for her first checkup. We learned there that she had pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition threatening both hers and the baby’s life if not kept in check. The doctor prescribed strict bed-rest for the last two months of her pregnancy. So I took on responsibilities as nurse, chief cook and bottle-washer as well.

Over the next two months, Linda and I had the privilege of experiencing first-hand the truths of God’s promises to take care of us. Funds were so tight that I’d walk over to the phone booth to make a needed call, praying as I went that God would provide a dime for the call. God always provided. He would provide a dime on the sidewalk, in the parking lot, on the floor of the phone booth, or in the coin return.
 
Another time, a particularly large bill arrived from the doctor. I remember it was almost as much as our monthly rent. We had no money to pay it, but we prayed asking God to meet our need. A day or two later we received an anonymous cashier’s check for the exact amount of that bill! This provision of God was particularly amazing considering the fact that we knew no one in Spokane and had not yet been able to find a church home due to Linda’s illness. We were constantly overwhelmed with the goodness and provision of God!

One day, Linda needed to fill a prescription, but again, we had no money. We prayed together that God would provide for the prescription and then I drove to the grocery store convinced that God would somehow provide. As I pulled into a parking space and opened the door to get out, I looked down at a large pile of change in the parking lot. This change was just enough to cover the cost of Linda’s prescription!

During these two months, people kept dropping by our apartment leaving us fresh vegetables from their gardens. I had shot a black bear in early September, which provided surprisingly tasty meat for us. God just kept on meeting our needs, often in very creative ways.

Two weeks into the fall semester at Bible college, the dean approached me and asked me to consider serving as the interim speaker at a small nearby church. Scared but willing, I agreed to speak for them over the next few months. But a couple of weeks later the church invited me to be their pastor and insisted that I continue attending school full-time. I accepted the job.

The church offered the us a parsonage to live in. The house was nearly 100 years old and had sat vacant for seven years. It was in pretty bad shape, but we eagerly agreed to fix it up and the church providing the materials.

My new job at the church more than doubled our income and provided a home. At the end of October, our baby was born healthy and strong. Also around this time, the Veteran’s Administration authorized the Bible school to process VA benefits for eligible students. This occurred three years ahead of normal VA protocol! Because of my military service, my schooling was now paid for in full.
 
In fact, God so graciously provided that we were able to pay off our entire doctor and hospital bill for our baby by the end of January, just three months after our son was born! Isn’t God good, gracious and loving!!! “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20 NLT

©2009 Rob Fischer