pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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God with Joseph

Readings: Genesis 37, Genesis 38, Genesis 39, Genesis 40, Genesis 41

Genesis 39:2 – “The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.”

Chapter 37 gives us some great foreshadowing. Within his family, Joseph is both the most favored and the most deeply hated. He is Jacob’s favorite. He tattles and shares his dreams boastfully, leading his brothers to despise him. The ability to interpret dreams will come in useful in the next parts of Joseph’s life. The brothers’ hatred of Joseph eventually leads them to sell him into slavery and to lie to Jacob about it.

Chapter 38 interrupts Joseph’s story with the story of Tamar. Here we become more familiar with the practice of “levitate marriage” – a method of protecting widows and of insuring possession of ancestral lands. But greed gets in the way. This places Tamar in a very vulnerable position. She takes matters into her own hands and tricks Judah into sleeping with her. Tamar becomes pregnant. One of her twins is Perez, a direct ancestor of King David and, many years later, of Jesus.

Chapters 39-41 return to Joseph’s story. Three times we see this pattern play out: Joseph is wronged, he remains true, God blessed him and brings him success. Sold into slavery he is bought by Potiphar. Joseph excels and is made #2 in the household. Potiphar’s wife lies about him and Joseph ends up in prison. Here he excels and ends up #2 in the prison. He meets Pharaoh’s cup bearer and bread maker. God gives him the interpretation of their dreams. Joseph asks the cup bearer to remember him. Two years pass and Pharaoh has a dream that no officials can interpret.

The cup bearer remembers Joseph and God once again gives Joseph the interpretation. The healthy cows and grain are 7 abundant years followed by 7 years of famine – the sickly cows and grain. Joseph lays out a plan to survive the famine. Pharaoh is so impressed that he makes Joseph #2 in all of Egypt. Joseph is married to Asenath who bears two sons – Manasseh and Ephraim. The 7 year cycles unfold exactly as Joseph said they would. Egypt has bread during the famine and the world comes to Egypt to buy grain.

Today we again see God choosing the unlikely and then transforming and shaping them, leading and guiding them, eventually revealing God’s power. In Joseph’s story we see yet again how God can work all things for God’s purposes. As we allow God to work, trusting in God’s unfolding plan, we too will see God’s power at work.

Prayer: Lord God, soften me as you need to in order to use me as part of your plan. Fill me with a steadfast faith that yields to your will and to your ways. Amen.


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A Twisted Tale!

Readings: Genesis 25:19-34, Genesis 26, Genesis 27, Genesis 28:1-9

Genesis 27:27: “So he came close and kissed him. When Isaac smelled the scent of his clothes, he blessed him.”

Continuing with the rest of chapter 25 today, Jacob and Esau are about to be born. The violent fighting in the womb leads Rebekah to seek the Lord. God reveals to her two truths: the twins will be two nations and the older will serve the younger. This revelation drives the story going forward. Esau loves the outdoors, Jacob the indoors. Esau is loved by Isaac, Jacob by Rebekah. As the chapter ends, the heel-grabber takes advantage of Esau’s hunger, stealing the birthright for some stew. Esau is short-sighted. Jacob is calculating.

In chapter 26 a famine forces a move. Once in Gerar, Isaac lies about Rebekah: “She’s my sister.” Same lie, one generation later. King Abimelech discovers the rouse and prevents any curses. God blessed Isaac and the Philistines get very jealous, forcing Isaac to move away. There’s some fighting over wells but finally Isaac finds space and good water – signs of God’s blessing. Abimelech realizes this and comes and makes a treaty with Isaac.

Isaac has grown old as chapter 27 begins. As death nears, it is time to bless Esau, the oldest and his favorite. Going against cultural norms, Isaac invites only Esau to the blessing. But Rebekah overhears and schemes to steal the blessing for Jacob. Or is she just trying to make sure God’s revelation comes true…? The planning and execution are thorough – food, animal skins, clothing. It all works only after Isaac smells “Esau.” In verse 27 we read, “So he came close and kissed him. When Isaac smelled the scent of his clothes, he blessed him.” Afterwards, both Esau and Isaac are furious. Esau plots to murder Jacob. In response, Rebekah tricks Isaac into sending Jacob away to find a wife from their kin. In spite, Esau married yet another Canaanite woman, this time it is Ishmael’s daughter.

What a twisted tale we weave! Lies, deception, theft, anger, revenge. Or… is it all just God’s plan working itself out?… Before we dismiss these evil actions, let us realize that we too can go down these roads (or make similar evil choices.) As was the case long ago, in the midst of poor choices and evil actions God can and will work to accomplish God’s plans. For this unending grace and love that we too experience, we say thanks be to God!

Prayer: Lord God, as it was with our ancestors, so it is with us. These evil traits displayed long ago are certainly alive and well in our world and even in our lives. Lord, first help us to see this in ourselves. Then bend us towards the good. Give us the patience to trust into your plans. Grant us the courage to be grace and love when others are unkind to or are deceitful with us. Lead us in the way that we should go. Amen.


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Family Dynamics

Reading: Genesis 37:1-4

Verse 3: “Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons.”

Today we begin the next chapter in the story of God’s chosen people. The focus shifts from Jacob/Israel to Joseph, one of 12 sons. As we have learned the last few weeks, this is a pretty dysfunctional family. The 12 sons come from 4 different mothers, all who are still part of the family. As in some families, in this family there was a “favorite.” Although often the oldest or the youngest, in this case it is not. Joseph is the 11th son. He is the favorite because he was the first child of Israel’s beloved Rachel, born after years of waiting.

Photo credit: Ruthson Zimmerman

The story today begins in Canaan. Joseph is 17. He helps tend the flocks. In verse 2 we learn that he is a little immature still. Some might say spoiled. Joseph brings Dad a “bad report” about his brothers. They must’ve been horsing around or otherwise being mean to their little brother. So he tattles on them. Not good for their sibling relations. In verse 3 we learn that Israel made Joseph a “richly ornamented robe” – the cost of many colors. This only adds to the animosity between Joseph and his older brothers. “They hated him.” It is not a good relationship.

Jealousy and anger and envy and other negative emotions can affect all of our relationships. We often first experience these within our families, as this family did. Maybe you were the “favorite” or maybe you were jealous or envious of him or her. Maybe you were blessed and were raised by parents who loved all equally. These experiences shape and form us. They affect how we go on to parent and even to grandparent. As we learn from Joseph and his family may we also reflect on our own families. In all things may God guide us in the ways that God desires us to go.

Prayer: Lord God, teach us your ways. Help us to understand that all relationships affect us. In that understanding may we seek to follow your example, loving and being grateful and generous to all. And may it begin in our homes. Amen.


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After God’s Heart

Reading: 2nd Samuel 5: 1-5 and 9-10

Verse 2: “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler”.

Today’s passage begins with leaders from the tribes of Israel coming to David, asking him to be their king. David has already been made king over Judah and Simeon, the two southern regions of what was once a united nation. After Saul’s death David took up residence in Hebron, a major city in this region. A civil war had torn the nation apart. The ten northern tribes retained the name “Israel” and were under the control of Saul’s army and family. During the war David’s position grew stronger and Saul’s forces grew weaker and weaker. As the ugly civil war ends, representatives of the northern tribes come to David and ask for him to rule them too. They quote from the time when the prophet Samuel anointed a young shepherd boy, saying, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler”.

God’s words come to fruition as David moves his capitol to Jerusalem and builds up the city and the fortifications. God continues to bless David as he grows “more and more powerful”. The one who anointed him and led him all these years continues to guide David.

David is one of my favorite Bible characters. While God was always with David, as he is with us, David was not perfect. The civil war and the establishment of Jerusalem as the capitol are filled with stories that turn the stomach. David’s affair with Bathsheba, the murder of her husband, and his poor parenting techniques reveal plenty of flaws in David. Yet just as grace and forgiveness are not about us, so too was the case with David. Grace and forgiveness come from God, a free gift to us. Over and over David experiences God’s grace and forgiveness not because he was perfect but because he had a repentant heart. David remained a man after God’s own heart. May it be so for us as well.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the example of David, one who was truly a man after your own heart. Even though he stumbled and failed at times, he always came back to you, the source of his hope and strength. When I stumble and fail, draw me back to you over and over. Thank you for your great love. Amen.


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Serving God, Serving Others

Reading: Mark 9: 33-37

Verse 35: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all”.

The disciples are arguing about something we can argue about from time to time. As kids, we all argued with our siblings about who was our parents’ favorite. As we got a little older, we discussed who was the teacher’s or coach’s favorite. As we entered into adulthood, the discussion took place most often in our heads. Whenever we did voice our opinion concerning someone being the favorite, it was usually a manner of complaint or gossip.

Unfortunately, most people want to be #1. Some express this by being large and in charge. Some simply want to be the one others look to. Deep down, we all want to be important, to matter. Society teaches us that worth is in our possessions, our titles, our status. This equates out to being the greatest. Faith runs counter to these values and ideas. Knowing what the disciples were arguing about, Jesus says, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all”. If you want to be the greatest in God’s kingdom, be the last to consider yourself, be the first to offer yourself in humble service to one and all. How counter-cultural this is. What a radical way to consider greatness.

To drive His point home, Jesus has a child stand among them. In His day, children were at the bottom of the social and familial ladder. Jesus tells His disciples that when we welcome one of these – the least – we welcome Jesus and we welcome God into our lives. When we feed the hungry, visit the sick and the lonely, clothe the naked… then we are serving our needs last, we are being the servant of all. In the process, we often see the face of God in those we meet.

Lord God, this day may I seek to be last instead of first. May I be a giver and not a taker. May I be a person of humble faith, not a person of aloof religion. In all I do and say, maybe serve you as I serve others. May it be so each day. Amen.


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Favorites

Reading: James 2: 1-7

Verse 1: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism”.

James is addressing our tendency to play favorites today. In reading his short illustration we think that we would never do such a thing. We also think that we would be glad to equally welcome one and all into our meetings on Sunday morning. In reality, sometimes our practice does not match our actions and sometimes we are just not very welcoming.

We tend to gravitate to people we know and to people who we think are most like us when in a crowd of strangers. This is true of almost all people, regardless of level of wealth. Observe any gathering – church potluck, community event, ballgame… – and you will see this play out. Here us an example. Folks walk into our monthly Fellowship Meal at church and they look around the room to decide where to sit. They survey the open seats and select to sit by their closest friends currently present. If they are the first to arrive or if they arrive early and no close friend is there, they sit and watch the door, hoping to see a familiar face to wave to as an invitation to join them. We often have guests from outside the church come too. They are the same way! They took seek out a familiar face amongst a group of relative strangers.

The true test of how welcoming and nonjudgmental we are comes when a person or couple comes in alone. They will get food and find a place to sit. Sometimes, if they do not know anyone, they will sit by themselves. Usually someone from the church will go over with a cup of coffee or lemonade and will sit down to chat with them. This gesture is an important way to let our guest know that they are welcome and it can begin to build a sense of belonging. It is an essential first step to sharing God’s love with others.

Ideally we are welcoming to one and all. James sums up why in verse one: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism”. Why Jesus as our example? Because He truly loved and valued and honestly engaged with one and all. When we study Jesus in the Gospels, we do find an awesome example to follow.

Father God, help me to love as Jesus loved. Help me to see all people as You see them and to treat them as Jesus did. All people are your children. Lord, help me to love them like I know you do. Amen.