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Let us be like Joseph

(Gen 45:1-8 NIV) Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. {2} And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. {3} Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. {4} Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! {5} 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. {6} For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. {7} But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. {8} "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

When you read Genesis until the chapter where Joseph enters the story, you will read of individuals who do believe in God, but they believe in situations where they have very little to lose or where it becomes convenient to believe in God.

Some people, yes - and even Christians are "convenient believers". They believe in God, but they believe even more in God when they benefit from it.

We become sick. . .we believe even more in God. We are in a desperate situation. . .we believe even more in God. We need God to help us to make in a decision. . .we believe even more in God.

And then when God -as we think- does not come through for us {did you hear what I just said?} when we believe God left us alone to the our own "fate", we sometimes start struggling with God and we wonder if God is really on our side.

Until the chapter where Joseph appears in the story of Genesis we find individuals who live by their choices. . .and often they make wrong choices and these choices have a detrimental effect on either themselves or on those whom they live with.

In this story brothers of Joseph, whose father was Jacob {Israel}, sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites who then sell Joseph to Pharaoh’s court. You read the story and it is a terrible story. It is terrible why his brothers did this act (because he was favored by their father, because he had vision of their submission to him, etc.) And it is terrible because it reflects the story of ourselves, who cannot stand people who try to make themselves out to be better then we are. To be loved more then we are, etc.

If we would have been the one who were in Joseph’s shoes, who had become a very powerful (the second powerful man in the kingdom of Egypt) man, we would have had probably all sorts of ideas go through our head. I.e.: "If I ever meet these guys. . .I will pay them back", I show no mercy on them. . .I will hunt them down. . .I will break all family ties with them. . .I will make them feel guilty

The fact is that the story tells us that his brothers lived in fears of Joseph and they were deeply afraid of him.

I remember when I overheard as a young teenager a conversation between an about 35 year old man and my mom in the store, who recognized him, but had not seen him for a long time and then she believed that he was accounted as being a "Missed Person" in our town for a long time.. He began to tell his story. He said that he had joined the French Legionnaires for ten years, because he was able to receive a new identity. He said he needed to leave because he committed a crime at his fraternity. . .he had stolen money as he was treasurer. He was afraid that they would turn him over to the legal system and that he would serve time in prison and that he would disappoint his friends and those who had trusted him.

This young man had lived for ten years without any identity and had fought battles in far away countries, was wounded and served as a paid soldier for anyone who hired him. But then he said that no matter where he was he was afraid his fraternity brothers would find him. He said that there was not a single day that he did not think about the thing he had done to them.

The week before, after ten years he had returned and a day after he returned he called the fraternity brother he knew and he told him the story and he apologized to him for what he had done. . .he said there was long silence on the phone. . .and then the other person said that he was so glad that he was back and that there was not a single day that went by where he did not think about his "brother" and he had always wondered where he was or how he had possibly died.

And then he said: "The fraternity brother not once mentioned anything about the money. Not once."

At the time I overheard the story I did not think much of it. It was just another story in my young days.

Lately this story comes to me frequently and brought especially a new meaning to me while we were studying the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph.

The fraternity brother that never said anything about the criminal act really did not need to say anything. He knew that this poor soul had suffered enough and that it was time for mercy.

You see redemption can only come through mercy. . .we are forgiven, because our God had mercy on us. The word mercy derives out of the legal system and it is opposite to justice. Justice is when the law is followed, when the appropriate penalty is given for a crime. We as humans sinned and the penalty was death. . forever. God is a just God and he had to follow through with his justice. . .so one of His died instead of us. His son Jesus Christ, fully human. Why did he die? Because he had mercy on us!

Remember what I said earlier?

I.e.: "If I ever meet these guys. . .I will pay them back", I show no mercy on them. . .I will hunt them down. . .I will break all family ties with them. . .I will make them feel guilty

Well, there was no pay back here. Neither did the fraternity brother break all ties. Why? Because what or who would be served?. What would it accomplish for him and for the Legionnaire?

Finally in the entire conversation he did not make the betrayer feel guilty! You know. . .when you sin. . .you either know it or you will know it later. The bible tells us that we are all sinners, and that we all need forgiveness. Forgiveness is not always a human aspect we have. . .because if we have forgiveness we have can allow mercy to come though.

But there is even one more point which I have not mentioned yet: It say in the text of where Joseph speaks o his brothers: Gen. {5} 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. {6} For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. {7} But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. {8} "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

What Joseph is saying is this: It is fine that you guys are feeling guilty, but the truth is that God had a plan in all of this. . .so how can I be against you?

Joseph turns this misery into a purposeful act. Remember when I spoke about being a convenient believer in God? Joseph did not fall into that category! Joseph was a firm believer in God and he believed that he and his bothers fulfilled the plan of God

STOP. . .it gets better yet. Joseph understood the covenant between God and Abraham and Isaac and his father Jacob! Joseph was focused upon the will of God for the people of Israel. He was focused upon the promise of God for His people. Nothing was more important for Joseph then to follow God’s will and to understand God’s will and plan.

Can you say that? Repeat it after me if you truly mean it: "God, I am thankful that you gave me this life. I am thankful that you confronted me with challenges. God, I am thankful that I can see purpose in your will. . ."

HOLD IT! Purpose? What is the purpose for me and us? Am I going to the promise land? I like it in West Alexandria.

Here is the new covenant for us: (Mat 28:18-20 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19} Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And here is the promise of an eternal promised land: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

So. . .there is your promise and the will of God for you. Don’t be mad, upset, seek revenge, show no mercy, cut your ties, denounce those who offended you. Look at the purpose of God for you as an individual. You are valuable to God. Don’t become a Legionnaire, seek forgiveness, show remorse and obey God’s will to the world.