Curious

Dear Family,

I have wrestled with our text all week, and i dont have any clear approach to the text. If you have had the chance to read Genesis 42, you know that it is the rehearsal of Joseph's brothers journeying into Egypt for food, only to have Joseph, whom they did not recognize, speak harshly to them and treat them as suspected spies. Again, we are in the section of Genesis that is more often worked through, so we are more familiar with the texts than we might have been otherwise. But that doesn't mean we should just gloss over it and assume it has nothing new to reveal to us. Because i think it does.

The small group looked at the narrative through the lens as "what goes around comes around." And that Joseph had every right to treat his brothers that way. Some claimed Joseph was setting the stage for his dad, Jacob, and his brother, Benjamin, to make the trip, so that Joseph could have his entire family there. And others feel like Joseph's replacement of the silver was a trap to make the brothers feel worse and be more paranoid. One mentioned Reuben's willingness to give up his two sons, so that they could go back and and do as Joseph commanded.

Whatever we glean from this story, my sense is that it has plenty to say to us, today. I have a friend who refuses to forgive McPherson College for what he perceives is a wrong they did to him, specifically, he refuses to forgive the former athletic director and a president that was in the administration when my friend was slighted. My friend still jokes about how to "get even" with those persons who hurt him, and to some extent he is serious. He wants them to feel his pain, even if he has to inflict pain upon them. At times it can consume him.

Joseph seems to be, at least to a certain degree, consumed by the need to inflict as much pain on his brothers as he has felt, and i wonder if this is honorable? Is it right to punish those who hurt us? Is it right to make them feel as bad as we do? Is it right to hold a grudge? Is it right to verbally destroy or abuse someone when they hurt us? Is it right to treat anyone, no matter who they are, as if they were some social parasite that needs to be extuinguished?

I dont think so. But how hard is it to forgive AND forget? Without God, i say impossible. But it is a commandment, from Jesus, so perhaps we should get moving on that forgiveness thing? I know I have a lot of work to do before i honor the commandment to forgive those who hurt me, completely forgive them. But then so does Joseph. Here's the beautiful reality of walking with God, as Joseph proves, God enables us to forgive and move on and see those who hurt us as blessings. Isn't it time we live that way too? Then ask God to remove our scales of anger and hurt and give us eyes to see ALL as He does. Amen.

Shalom, Salaam, Peace...

Jerry

PS. Please continue to pray for the clean up efforts in the gulf, pray for the people of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama as they recover from the floods, and pray for our church that we might, once again, catch the fire of God. Thank you for being my fellow pilgrims on this amazing journey...