The Grand Story

Genesis 50:26 "So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt."

Joseph, one of the main characters in Genesis has died.  He is embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.  The story of Genesis is over.  But the grand story is still just forming.

Genesis ends with a daunting sentence.  Joseph is dead and is in a coffin in Egypt.  The story appears to be over.  But of course there is so much more to come-slavery, exodus, law, judges, kings, civil war, prophets, exile and then Jesus and redemption!  When the story seems to be wrapping up, it is often just getting warmed up.  There are certain stories in my life that seem to be drawing to a conclusion.  Perhaps they are just a page turning to the next chapter?  I need to have my eyes open and my radar active to see what God may have in store for me next.

Dear Jesus, help me see what's next in your grand story today.  Amen.

Joseph's Glass Half Full

Genesis 45: 5 "But don't be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it.  He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives." 

Joseph has just revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt.  He tells them not to be sad because of what was done. Instead, Joseph claims God orchestrated events for the good of their family.

We all want to believe that Joseph is correct and that God intended this to happen.  We want to believe this is true in our own lives but it is difficult.  When you receive the news from the doctor, get the pink slip from your boss, answer that phone call you've been dreading-in that moment it's very difficult to believe God is behind it all.  And I guess some people don't.  Some take God out of the equation altogether and blame Satan.  That's a topic for another day.  Needless to say, in Joseph's mind, God has all things in his hands and at the end of the day, we must put our trust in him.  I tend to believe him.

Dear Jesus, help me trust you today.  Amen.

Crystal Ball Gone Bad!

Genesis 40:19 "Three days from now Pharoah will cut off your head and impale your body on a pole.  Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh."

Joseph is in jail in Egypt and is asked to interpret a few dreams for some fellow inmates.  One guy gets a favorable interpretation but the poor chief baker receives this gloomy forecast.

The Bible is awesome!  If only Sunday school actually taught the good stuff!  Here's what I take from this story...Joseph could have put on his rose colored glasses and sugar coated the interpretation.  He could have said something nice and lie.  But Joseph chooses to do the hard thing-tell the truth.  Now I imagine Joseph could have, and maybe did use a little more tact and courtesy than what is recorded in Genesis, but at the end of the day he tells the truth.  He defines reality for the chief baker.  This is what leaders do.  Speak the truth in love as Paul once wrote.  Today I need to be brave and speak truth. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for who you are.  Help me be more like you.  Amen.

Assume the Best

Genesis 39: 19,20 "After hearing his wife's story, Potiphar was furious!  He took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king's prisoners were held."

Potiphar's wife has lied about Joseph attempting to rape her so Potiphar sends him right to prison.

Potiphar jumps to conclusions without hearing all the facts.  To be fair, if you're a smart man, you listen to your wife and don't ask questions!  But, Potiphar did not hear the whole story.  And before gathering the facts he rushes to a conclusion-a false one.  How often do I do the same thing?  Sometimes we are too impatient, too emotional, too naive, that we rush to make assumptions and end up making rash decisions.  As Phil pointed out in his cyber update today, love is always hopeful and love always assumes the best.  I need to give people the benefit of the doubt, avoid making assumptions, and understand love always assumes the best.

Dear Jesus help me assume the best today.  Amen.

No Perfect People Allowed

Gen. 37: 27 "'Let's sell Joseph to those Ishmaelite traders.  Let's not be responsible for his death; after all, he is our brother!'"

So Joseph receives these crazy dreams where everything and everyone bows down to him.  Joseph makes the mistake of telling his 11 brothers and naturally they end up hating him.  They decide to kill him, then change their minds and decide to leave him for dead in a pit.  That was too cruel so they change their minds again and decide the humane thing would be to sell Joseph as a slave!

Genesis and the first families make me smile, laugh, and cry all at the same time!  It seems there is no end to their depravity and sinfulness.  I am not sure what to take from this story or how to apply it to my life.  I just find it very true that everyone, as Pastor Phil says, has hurts, habits, and hang ups.  We are all messed up.  Some more than others-Joseph's brothers for example!  It just shows why we need God's grace every day.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your word.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Amen.

Kiss and Make Up

Genesis 33:4 "Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him.  Both of them were in tears."

Jacob and Esau have reconnected after years of separation.  In their early days, Jacob tricked Esau a couple of times and Esau grew to hate Jacob.  Yet after all this time, the two brothers were able to forgive and forget. 

This story shows that no matter what, reconciliation is always possible.  And I guess sometimes it takes years and years and thousands of miles of separation to bring people back together!  I don't feel like I am at odds with anyone in my life but this serves as a good lesson that no chasm is too wide to not be bridged.  It's never too late to say I'm sorry, I forgive you, and I love you.

Dear Jesus, help me be aware of who I wrong and make me quick to heal and restore.  Amen.