Your Redeemer Lives

Today I am reading in Genesis 46; it is about the reunion of Joseph and his father Jacob.

This story brought tears to my eyes. Can you imagine after all the years you thought your son was dead and mourned him every day, but in actual fact he was alive? The memories you never got to make together, the milestones you missed and the trials you never got to support him with. What an unimaginable agony, no wonder the bible says Joseph sobbed for a long time, embracing his father.

I suppose the reason for my tears was because of something I personally went through. I am sure it is nothing compared to what Joseph and Jacob went through, but emotions are emotions. My mind was cast back to when my brother and I took our first trip back to Ghana, our country of birth. My father had made the decision for us to join him in the UK in 2001. Soon after our arrival we spoke to our mother on the phone to alert her that we had arrived safely. I could count on one hand the amount of times we got to hear my mother's and my grandma’s voice. We sent letters and my mother would consistently send us birthday cards and Christmas cards but that was about it. We didn’t have money to buy a phone card to ring her, so we just had to make do with what we had.

In 2008, after my first year of University, with some saved up student loan, my brother and I boarded the plane to Ghana after 7 years. Oh, how excited we were to be finally seeing our mother and grandma. I remember the clothes my mother was wearing so vividly upon meeting her. Her hair style, the smile that pierced through her face with tears in her eyes.

My grandma was wearing one of her favourite flowery dresses and walked gently towards us with arms wide open and great excitement. My strong grandma, the woman who could take out anyone was now looking frail and small in weight and height. How could this be? Is this what 7 years does? So I can relate to Joseph’s story to some extent, the joy as well as the pain he may have felt when he glanced at his beloved father.

I began to weep, and my grandma asked, why are you weeping, have I changed that much? I said no as I did not want her to feel sad. We stayed in Ghana for one whole month and we got to spend quality time with my mum and grandma. At least we got to send them letters.

Joseph on the other hand did not have any form of contact with his father for all those years, including the time he was in prison for a crime he did not commit. Joseph was his father’s favourite child; he must have thought, if my father were here or if my father knew where I was, this would not be happening to me.

Sometimes life can be so cruel, but God is a restorer. He can restore everything the enemy tried to steal from you. Jacob got to spend the last days of his life with his beloved son. My brother and I got to spend quality time during the various holidays we had in Ghana with my mum and my grandma. My grandma graduated to heaven in May 2019 and I was heartbroken when I heard the news. Unfortunately, we were in the UK when it happened.

However, upon reflection, the memories of our time together after our 7 years reunion and beyond were priceless and simply beautiful to behold. Job 8:7 states: “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” God does not exempt us from troubles, but He promises to be with us in every step of the way. Was the journey hard? Absolutely, but He brought us through it, He so did, just like He did Joseph.

Whatever trials you may be facing, God can, and God will bring you through. Trust in Him and His timing, your redeemer lives.

Remain blessed,
Love Mav