4 March 2010
Psalm 71; Gen. 42:29-38; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; Mark 4:21-34

Did Joseph know the test that was in store for the brothers? He and they all knew how Jacob would react to the suggestion that Benjamin needed to go to Egypt with them in order to ransom Simeon but did he know that this would pose an additional test for them in that they would be again relegated to second class status by their father? Jacob clearly cares more for Benjamin than his brothers, preferring the children of Rachel to the children of Leah. The original jealousy against Joseph was for this very reason and here it was going to raise its head again, yet another repetition of the story of Cain and Abel within the book of Genesis. Reuben offers two of his own children if anything happens to Benjamin, and it isn’t for the sake of food that he makes this offer. You can easily imagine the scene when they see that all the money is there and the expectation of the accusations against them when and if they return to Egypt. They have every reason to fear that journey.

Jesus continues to speak in parables and use common examples of life in that time and place to explain the kingdom and the role of the people of God within that kingdom. The kingdom is a mystery to us in many ways. In Isaiah 55 He spoke through the prophet to say that our ways aren’t his ways nor his thoughts our thoughts. The ways of God are known only to Him and to those to whom He chooses to reveal them. In the story of Joseph we see the mystery of the working of God in one man’s life through trials and adversities and then His work in the lives of his brothers through famine and adversity, all of this to reunite the family and restore it in wholeness that it did not possess prior to all these things.

Everything you do matters. If the body is a temple then we should treat it with great dignity and respect. The temple in Jerusalem was a perfect example of how our lives should be lived, what we allow into that temple determines what kind of temple it is and what god it is dedicated to. What does Paul mean, however, when he says all things are lawful? I believe he is saying that none of those things of which he speaks are bad in and of themselves but the way in which they are used makes all the difference. Sex isn’t wrong between a husband and wife but it was meant to serve the purpose of making one flesh of two and if we misuse it or abuse it, it continues to unite flesh and our flesh is meant to be united with God in Spirit. In Joseph we see him flourishing in Egyptian culture and speaking its language but his love for his family is something quite apart from that, they are one flesh.

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.