The story of Joseph and his brothers. I really have a hard time reading these passages because Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat keeps running through my head. While it is an excellent rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it misses some of the key elements that the actual story of Joseph possesses.
Webber does not focus on, well, the whole God element, and that is really key to the whole story. That is what makes it more than just another story.
Joseph didn't interpret Pharaoh's dreams, God did through Joseph. That is something Joseph makes very clear. Again, when his brothers doubt Joseph's goodness toward them he points to God. That doesn't mean that he doesn't give them a run for their money first. They really kinda deserved it though. Time and time again, Joseph bring the focus back to God. He's come to be reconciled with the fact that "I am where I am because this is where God wants me to be. Okay."
Joseph's emotions are real though. Here he is miles from his family and he must have thought time and again, I'll never really see them again. I mean who wouldn't think that being constrained by geography, duty, and life. He was in Egypt. His family was in Canaan. Joseph weeps over seeing his full blood brother (Benjamin) again - the only other piece of his mother, he weeps over seeing his father again - whom he had perhaps had given up as dead, and he weeps when after his father's death his brothers are still afraid of him. Years of pent up emotion, sure Joseph was probably angry in the beginning, but I think by the end, all he wanted was his family back. When he finally had that, it meant the world to him. Joseph's road was not easy. It sucked. But I can identify with the weeping Joseph, as you come to more fully understand what God is doing and are unabashedly amazed at his ultimate goodness. To be reunited, that is one of God's great gifts, and God did what he did to ensure that Joseph's family would survive - ALL of his family. I would weep too. In the end it was reunion and sweet forgiveness. The brothers one last time really wanted to show how sorry they were, and Joseph, one last time, really wanted them to know how much he loved them and had forgiven them. In the end a piece of Joseph still wanted to be home in the land that he would never see again, Canaan. He knew God was faithful to him and God would be faithful in bringing his people back to the land he promised Abraham. Perspective is a great thing, but sometimes it comes at great price. Through it all though, I'm with Joseph, it's worth it.
"Don't be afraid of me. Am I God that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No don't be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children." (Gen 50:19-21, NLT)
"Soon I will die," Joseph told his brothers, "but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (Gen 50:24, NLT)
The Challenge
Here is the challenge: to read the Bible in 90 days, sounds daunting, but not really if you look at the reading plan. If you're Bible was say 1790 pages long, which apparently some are, that's only 20 pages a day. So doable. :)
So here's the plan, set to embark this Saturday, June 19. I encourage you to join me. Here's the little tagline from Steven Furtick and Elevation church.
"B90X is a revolutionary system of intense, truth-absorbing,
brain-busting Bible reading that will transform your
understanding of Scripture from intro to nitro in just 90 days!
Your personal trainer, Ruach "The Breath" Yahweh, will drag you
through the most intense infusion of His vision that you have
ever experienced and you won't believe the results!"
My plan is to read and journal and I'd love to share with anyone who'd like to join me.
So here's the plan, set to embark this Saturday, June 19. I encourage you to join me. Here's the little tagline from Steven Furtick and Elevation church.
"B90X is a revolutionary system of intense, truth-absorbing,
brain-busting Bible reading that will transform your
understanding of Scripture from intro to nitro in just 90 days!
Your personal trainer, Ruach "The Breath" Yahweh, will drag you
through the most intense infusion of His vision that you have
ever experienced and you won't believe the results!"
My plan is to read and journal and I'd love to share with anyone who'd like to join me.
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