February 20, 2022 Text: Genesis 45:3-15
Dear Friends in Christ,
Let’s have a little Pastor talk in layman’s terms. I got excited this week about this text. Joseph and his brothers was one of my favorite Bible truths in Sunday School. But I have rarely preached on it if ever. The reason? The timing of Easter. Today is the 7th Sunday after the Epiphany. We don’t often get this Sunday, which means we don’t often get to hear about Joseph. Lent is usually starting by February. Not this year. We could have an 8th Sunday after Epiphany but that is even rarer. Easter can be no earlier than March 22 and no later than April 25. You have to live to 2038 to see that latest date of Easter. So this text is not heard often.
Today we walk in Joseph’s shoes. What is he going to do? How will this play out? How is Joseph going to dispense his power? Life or death?
“BREAD….OR REVENGE?”
Joseph is the de facto ruler of Egypt but how did he get here? He has power. He has riches. But the story never looked like it would turn out that way.
Many years ago Toni and I heard this comment about someone close to us: “All the boys want to be him. All the girls want to be with him.” This is what caused all the problems for Joseph.
His brothers were jealous of him. They all wanted to be him. They were so angry that Joseph was their father’s favorite that they decided to kill him. They throw him into a pit as they think about their 1st degree murder plans but then they think of a better option. They sell him into slavery.
Now comes his second problem. The girls or more specifically a girl who wants to be with him. Joseph works for Potiphar, a rich Egyptian. Potiphar’s wife notices this handsome young man and works to seduce him. The Bible says to “lie with her” but she wasn’t thinking footsie. Got the picture? He didn’t return the attention and when he fled and she had his garment, the husband put Joseph in prison. This favorite son had lost everything. Family, freedom and reputation.
While sitting in prison God gives him wisdom. Joseph never lost his faith and he starts to interpret dreams. This puts him in front of Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world. His gift of dream interpretation makes him invaluable. Pharaoh puts him over his house and all the people.
Back in Israel, Jacob, Joseph’s father, hears there is grain in Egypt so he sends the brothers there. They stand before their brother but because of the passing of time they don’t recognize him. He tests them. And then comes the great reveal and where our text picks up the story. “I am Joseph.” The brothers are dismayed. Wouldn’t you be? Is it going to be life or death? Will it be bread…or revenge? What would you do?
He gives them life. He gives them bread and grain. He tips the scales in their favor by his mercy. The brothers don’t need to fear Joseph. He is going to take care of them. “God sent me before you to preserve life.” What you can’t miss in these last chapters of Genesis is how many times it says, “The Lord was with Joseph.” God had a plan for Joseph and Joseph sees it.
Wouldn’t you like to see that in your own life? If all the stress of what you do could be lifted. Every night you could sleep soundly because you knew what God wanted you to be. Don’t you want to look back on your life as a man or woman and see God’s hand? How He guided you. Instead the struggle, even in our prayers, is maddeningly unclear at times. Joseph lived with a clear head because He always trusted in the Lord. He knew God’s plan. He lived God’s plan. The hurts along the way made him the man you see in our text. Confident. Merciful. Forgiving. Loving.
Walk in Joseph’s calloused feet. He could have claimed victimhood. Life had beaten him down. Instead he waited patiently for the Lord’s victory to be revealed.
As Joseph limps victoriously through life maybe you see another who was despised by his brothers, the favorite of His Father. He entered the pit and made residence in prison. He had his character questioned. His morals were tempted. When he was finally publicly crucified, He chose to give life instead of death. He offers bread for your hunger, and mercy for your revenge. He tips the scales in your favor by His favor. He asks nothing of you than that through the Holy Spirit you cling to His grace. You offer that grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged you. You live with a merciful heart because the Merciful One accepted you into His family.
I am so glad I was allowed to give this sermon. Through the agony of it all, like Joseph, in Christ, you will be living God’s plan for you. Not climbing ladders to the top, but lying at the bottom of the pit, with trust in your heart and patience born of faith. Knowing that God can lift you up from your pain.
Amen.