Hesed....

Dear Family,

In the movie "Saving Private Ryan," Tom Hanks leads a group of soldiers, during World War II, into the heart of Europe, to rescue one man, the man: Private Ryan. This order to rescue Private Ryan, in the heart of the battle of WWII came to be, because Ryan's three other brothers were killed in action, and his mother got the notices pretty much all at once. The US Government recognized the need to rescue Private Ryan, so his family could have some hope, some belief that things could go on. Hanks and his fellow soldiers had to track through serious battles just to save one person. And they did.

But it was at a serious loss. Most of the men, in the original company, were killed in action. They gave their lives for one man, one young man, in the middle of a war, who no one would ever have thought twice about had they simply stated that they were too late. He had been killed, or they just couldn't find him. For these men, however, their word to follow Hanks and the US Government meant more than their own lives. That faithfulness, that loyalty is what the Hebrews call "Hesed."

And in our chapter for this week, my sense is that "Hesed" is at the foundation of what is happening. First Joseph's "hesed" to God enabled Joseph to be in a position to save his family and the rest of the Israelites from the severe famine. While Egyptians sell themselves into slavery, the Israelites prosper. Joseph's "hesed" to God produces fruit. Joseph proves that God's promise to walk with us, guide us, anoint us, enable us to bear fruit in all seasons is true, if we, like Joseph, remaine faithful, or give God, "hesed."

Joseph's "hesed" doesn't stop there. At the end of the chapter, his father, Jacob, asks Joseph to swear an oath, a "hesed," to Jacob. What was that "hesed?" That when Jacob died, Joseph would bury Jacob with Jacob's father: meaning Joseph would take Jacob home. Jacob trusted Joseph's word, because Joseph's life reveals a person of incredible character and loyalty. Jacob knew that Joseph would show "hesed" to him, if Jacob asked for it. And Joseph kept his word.

In our world, we hesitate to let people in. We lock our doors. We stash our cash. We block our cell numbers. Why? Because we don't trust people. We don't trust their intentions. So we build walls up, literally and metaphorically, to keep people out. And that's sad. It really is. Whatever happened to God's people being a people of incredible "hesed?" Our world needs it. We need it. It will change our lives. And change, whether we want to hear it or not, is a good thing. Amen.

Shalom,
jerry