Joseph reveals his true identity and if he expected a
wonderful and warm reunion he was mistaken, his brothers were dismayed at his
presence. Whatever they thought the man
would do to them when he invited them to the banquet last time they certainly
expected worse treatment now they knew who he was. To their utter amazement, Joseph is gracious
and forgiving. He is able to have
perspective on things, past, present and future. He is not lord over them as he envisioned, he
is their savior in many ways. Joseph
knows that God sent him to Egypt to preserve life, particularly the lives of
his own family. In Joseph we see some of
the story of Jesus, mistreated by his brothers yet his purpose was to save
them, even the purpose of His suffering.
In all things God is sovereign and His purposes are being worked out,
even in painful and seemingly inexplicable circumstances.
Jesus’ credentials are questioned. How can He do these things should have caused
them to believe and marvel. They knew He
didn’t have the credentials yet they knew also that He was doing incredible
things and His teaching had authority.
Surely that would lead them to conclude that Jesus was empowered by the
Holy Spirit. They knew something about the Spirit, the Lord put His Spirit on
the prophets like Elijah and Elisha and others.
A man like Amos, a vinedresser’s son could be called to be a prophet, so
why could the same thing not happen to one they knew? It is always difficult at home, there are too
many who know a person, who are jealous of their success, who will doubt. Jesus, however, sent out the disciples with
authority to do miracles and to proclaim the kingdom to all. Jesus, like Joseph, experienced scorn from
His family and those closest to Him. One
day, however, every knee will bow.
Paul wants everyone to be free from other concerns and cares
to give their undivided loyalty and attention to the Lord. His belief is that if we remain unattached in
male/female relationships we will then be completely focused on the Lord and
His agenda. I will say that in that Paul
is idealistically naïve in a way that is compelling. I know myself well enough to know that I can
fill my life with a great many cares that have nothing to do with pleasing my
wife and if I were unmarried I would still not be giving my complete attention
to the Lord but the ideal is no less the standard for my failure to achieve it
or pursue it. Jesus said we are to seek
first the kingdom of God, period, everything else is a matter of trusting the
Lord. Joseph seemed able to manage that
and it gave him perspective on everything else in his life, whether good or
evil. He allowed the Lord to determine
even those categories, so that what looked like evil to others he could affirm
as God in God’s economy. Let us have
that mind among us.
Be Thou my Vision, O
Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to
me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought,
by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and
Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and
Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father,
I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling,
and I with Thee one.
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