Rev. Dane Womack Fort Smith FUMC June 5, 2016 11am Connexion THE GREAT ADVENTURE: Bible Heroes Come To Life Joseph: Food for the Famine Genesis 45:4 15, 50:15 21 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, Come closer to me. And they came closer. He said, I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there since there are five more years of famine to come so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty. 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here. 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.... 15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph s brothers said, What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him? 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you. Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, We are here as your slaves. 19 But Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones. In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. 1
A Brief Outline of the Story of Joseph: Gen 37 Jacob loves his youngest son, Joseph, the most. Joseph dreams and interprets his dreams to mean his brothers will one day bow before him. Joseph s brothers fake his death and sell him into slavery. Joseph ends up as one of Pharaoh s official s top servant. Gen 39 Joseph becomes a successful manager in Egypt. The Lord remains near to Joseph and causes him to prosper. Joseph s master s wife falsifies a scene and accuses Joseph of trying to lie with her. Joseph is imprisoned, but remains in the Lord s favor and becomes the top servant of the chief jailer. Gen 40 Joseph interprets other prisoners dreams correctly. These prisoners include the Pharaoh s chief cup bearer. Gen 41 2 years later, the Pharaoh has mysterious dreams including 7 healthy cows vs. 7 unhealthy cows. Joseph predicts the Pharaoh s dreams to mean 7 years of fruitfulness followed by 7 years of famine are coming. Pharaoh agrees to appoint Joseph to prepare and lead Egypt through the famine (at 30 years old). Gen 42 During the famine, Jacob sends his 10 oldest sons from Canaan to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not know him. Joseph demands to the see the youngest brother (Benjamin), the brother from the same mother as Joseph. Joseph allows 9 of his brothers to return to Canaan with grain (and their purchase price) but holds one brother (Simeon) in jail. Gen 43 When Jacob s family runs out of grain, they realize they must buy from Egypt again and must take Benjamin along. Joseph sees Benjamin from a distance and cries. When Joseph greets his brothers, they bow before him. Joseph sends his brothers home with grain and gifts, but plants his silver cup in Benjamin s bag. The cup is found and his brothers are arrested. Gen 45 Joseph clears the room of everyone else and unveils his true identity, I am Joseph. God sent me before you to preserve your life. Joseph asks brothers to bring his father and entire family to Egypt so Joseph can care for them. Everyone hugs and weeps. The Pharaoh pledges support of Joseph and his family. Gen 46 Jacob s family moves to Egypt. Gen 49 Jacob blesses his sons before he dies. All of Egypt mourns Jacob s death for 70 days. Pharaoh and his elders help bury Jacob back in Canaan. Gen 50 After their father s death, Joseph s brothers worry he will seek revenge. They bow before him and beg forgiveness. Joseph explains, Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 2
Sibling rivalry. Deceit. Lying. False accusations. Dreams. Prison. Death. Triumph. Reconciliation. These are themes we find on our television every day. Scandal. Grey s Anatomy. House of Cards. Even Star Wars. We know a good story when we see it. And so it is with today s Bible story. Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father to Jacob (and Esau). Jacob had 12 sons. In his old age, he became the father of his youngest sons, including Joseph. Joseph was his father s favorite. Joseph was the son he wasn t sure he would have. Joseph was a surprise, even a gift. Jacob loved Joseph the most. And his brother s knew it. When Joseph was still a young boy he dreamed dreams. His dreamt odd scenes. He once saw that he and his brothers were working a field binding sheaves. Suddenly, Joseph s sheaf stood up and rose above the others. His brother s sheaves all bowed down to his sheaf. Joseph interpreted this dream to mean that his brothers would one day bow before him. Their father s favorite. He dreams that he will one day rule over his brothers. His brothers do not take too kindly to this interpretation and decide to get rid of their nuisance baby brother, Joseph. They originally plot to kill, but deciding that is maybe too harsh and looking to make a buck, they sell him to a band of Egyptians passing by. 20 pieces of Silver. Not bad. Of course, their father will be most upset. They agree to soften the blow by drenching their brother s infamous coat in animal blood. They ll return the bloody coat to their father. Clearly Joseph has been killed by a wild animal were working as shepherd. Their father cries endlessly. His youngest and favorite son is gone. The apple of his eye has been taken from him. Joseph ends up in Egypt working for one of the Pharaoh s top aides. Joseph has favor with God and finds much success, becoming a leader in Pharaoh s house. Joseph s master s wife takes a liking to Joseph. He refused her requests. To punish him, she makes it look like Joseph was coming on to her, even accusing him of asmuch. Joseph is punished by being sent to prison. But he remains in the Lord s favor and becomes a top aide to the chief jailer. While in prison, the Pharaoh's chief cup bearer and baker are also imprisoned. And they dream dreams. The cup bearer dreams of 3 vine branches with grapes and the Pharaoh s cup in his hand. Joseph interprets his dream to mean that in 3 days he will return to his position as cup bearer. The baker dreams of 3 baskets of food on his head with birds eating from it. Joseph interprets the baker s dream to mean that in 3 days he will be hanged by the Pharaoh and birds will eat his flesh. In both cases, Joseph was correct. Joseph remained in prison for 2 more years. Then the Pharaoh met with a challenging dream. He sees 7 full, fat and healthy cows on one side of the river. On the other side are 7 ugly, thin cows. The thin cows consume the fat cows. At the same time, he see 7 full and healthy ears of grain that are swallowed up by 7 thin head of grain. The Pharaoh knows not what any of this means. In searching for an interpreter, the cup bearer remembers Joseph the prisoner who had interpreted his dream. The Pharaoh agrees to hear from him. Joseph explains that the Pharaoh s dreams are an indication of an upcoming famine. Egypt and its surrounding area will first experience 7 years of fruitfulness and plenty before experiencing 7 years of drought and famine. Joseph suggests the Pharaoh should appoint a wise leader to gather up the grain from the fruitful years in preparation for the 7 years of famine. The country needs sound 3
leadership to survive. The Pharaoh agrees to appoint Joseph to the task. Joseph continues in the favor of the Lord. The fruitfulness and famine unfold just as Joseph has said. He helps the Egyptians store grain and distributes it back to them as needed. Jacob and his eleven sons begin to suffer the effects of drought and famine. They hear that grain is sold in Egypt. Jacob sends his 10 oldest sons to buy grain. When they arrive, Joseph recognizes them and weeps. They do not know him. Joseph treats them harshly and asks them to defend themselves. He demands to see their youngest brother, Benjamin who was left at home. Benjamin is Joseph s full brother, a son of the same mother as Joseph. Joseph holds one brother in prison (Simeon) while the others return to their father with grain. Upon their return, they realize the money they used to purchase grain is in their grain sacks. They do not understand why. After more years of famine, Jacob and his sons realize they must buy more grain from Egypt. But the brothers know they cannot return to Egypt without taking their youngest brother, Benjamin. This grieves Jacob greatly because he has already lost his favorite son Joseph and another son, Simeon, is imprisoned in Egypt. He cannot bear the thought of losing his youngest son, Benjamin. But the brothers convince him they have no choice. When Benjamin and his brothers arrive in Egypt, Joseph weeps again. The brothers bow before him and beg for more grain. Joseph sends them off with more grain but plants the Pharoah s silver cup in Benjamin s bag. The cup is found by Joseph s aides. Joseph s brothers are arrested for stealing. When they are brought before Joseph, he cannot keep the truth inside any longer. He clears the room of all his aides. Breaks down and cries in front of his brothers I am Joseph. God sent me before you to preserve your life. He asks about his father health. Demands his entire family move to Egypt immediately so that he can care for them. And so, Jacob and his 12 sons are reunited in peace and harmony in Egypt. In due time, Jacob dies. He is buried back in Canaan with the help of Pharaoh and his men. After their father s death, Joseph s brother s worry he will seek revenge. They (again) bow before him and beg his forgiveness. Joseph relents Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones. In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. We just returned from vacation on Friday night. We had a very good week. Nothing major to report. Just lots of naps and taking it easy on the beach. One thing I especially enjoyed about vacation was doing some unhurried reading and listening to music. I love both, but rarely focus on either. I even read some fiction on vacation (Hemingway!). Pretty rare for me. Driving allows for lots of time to listen to music. I am a music junkie. I love all types and always enjoy something new. A band I ve picked up lately is Dawes. This is not a new thing for many people Dawes is quite popular and they ve been around for a little while. I m a little late to the game. 1 One of their sons, a favorite of mine, quite catchy is a beat called Things Happen. It really is a great song. I quite enjoy it. Some of the lyrics go this way: I could go on talking or I could stop 1 http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dawes/thingshappen.html 4
Wring out each memory til' I get every drop Sift through the details of the others involved The true crime would be thinking it's just one person s fault Like an honest signature on a fake ID Like the guilty conscience with the innocent plea You can just ignore it, put it out of mind But ain't it funny how the past won't ever let something ly In a different time, on a different floor I might mourn the loss of who I'm not anymore So I'm driving up to Oakland for a good look back And a few revisions to my plan of attack Let's make a list of all the things the world has put you through Let's raise a glass to all the people you're not speaking to I don't know what else you wanted me to say to you Things happen, that's all they ever do Let s make a list of all the things the world has put you through Lets raise a glass to all the people you re not speaking to I don't know what else that you wanted me to say to you Things happen, that's all they ever do That's all they ever do That's all they ever do That's all they ever do That message really resonates with me. Things happen and we do the best we can to cope with it. I really like this song. It s a good rock song. But if I listen to it too much, if I take that message too seriously, it kind of gets me down. Because what I think is behind those catchy lyrics is a message of indifference or ambivalence. Life happens and we do the best we can to cope with it. Some good things come our way. Some bad things come our way. Just do your best and hope you re still standing at the end. I think that s pretty much the gist of it. If we got real critical, we might say this is an apathetic view of the world. Things come and go. Nothing happens for any good reason or cause. There is no deeper meaning or beauty. God must be absent. This a view of the world where God is a long ways away. Maybe God created the world but God is not too involved at this stage. God is out there somewhere and we are here just doing the best we can. Maybe God doesn t exist at all. Whether God exists and is uninvolved or does not ext at all what does it matter. Everybody s just doing the best they can: Things happen, that s all they ever do. I don't know what else that you wanted me to say to you Things happen, that's all they ever do That's all they ever do, That's all they ever do, That's all they ever do 5
Also, while on vacation, I came across a recent, popular video interview with three highly respected pastors and authors. Their talk was titled God s Goodness in Our Pain. I watched in detail, 2 knowing these three men represent a little different version of Christianity than I am used to. It was actually kind of painful to watch. They talked about God ordaining all things especially suffering because it is good for us. One pastor confessed that it would be TERRIBLE news to have to admit that God is not entirely in control of everything (paraphrase). They talked about cancer and infertility. They even referenced the death of a one year old child. And according to their logic, all of these things were ordained by God for God s glory and our sanctification. Within this framework, everything happens for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. Therefore, every bad thing becomes an act of God. We must learn to deal with it and praise God anyway. Notice these two extremes. On the one hand, God is absent or at least totally uninvolved. Nothing that happens has any spiritual meaning or purpose. Life just happens and you deal with the best you can. On the other hand, God is not only present, but entirely present. God micromanages and fore ordains every detail of the human experience. Nothing just happens. Instead everything happens because God said so and because God chooses to reveal God s glory in that way. On the one hand, Good and Evil things just sort of happen. Deal with them the best you can. On the other hand, God causes all Good and Evil things and you have to learn to accept them from God. Those are two extremes on the line of understanding God s agency. I want to suggest to you today that the story of Joseph offers a third option for understanding God s agency, God s involvement in the world. Joseph is a dramatic, entertaining story but it s larger questions are about the interactions between humanity and God. Jacob. Joseph. His brothers. Cup bearer. Pharoah. These are the characters that are driving the story. These are the people making the decisions and executing the actions. Much like our lives. These are real people causing problems, sorting out problems, lamenting loses, finding solutions and reconciling relationships. These are regular people. These are not abstractions. Like all good stories, this is a story about you and me. Us. And yet, the Scriptures are so clear that God is active too. God is something of a secondary character. God gets involved, makes moves, makes decisions, pushes the plot along too. But in more subtle ways. His brothers sell him into slavery? That s okay, God helps Joseph to find a job of great honor. Joseph is framed and wrongfully imprisoned? That s okay, God stays near to Joseph helps him to interpret dreams so that he might be of use to the Pharaoh later. Egypt and the surrounding land will experience famine? That s okay. Joseph will rightly interpret the Pharaoh s dream and become his chief office. Jacob s family and the chosen people of Israel are in danger of famine? God s covenant with Abraham may be struck down before it even gets off the ground? Not so. Joseph will care for his family and keep the hope of Israel alive. 2 https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/piper platt and chandler on gods goodness in your pain 6
For every human act of ill will or even threat of natural disaster, God intercedes and even overcomes those dangers for the sake of the care and security of Israel and God s covenant with Abraham. The story of Joseph is how God is involved in the world. Humans do this and that. God does that and this. Humans act out of sin and selfishness and anger. God is at work in the background redeeming their pitiful actions for greater good. See, it s neither of the first two options. It s not simply, Things happen, that s all they ever do. I don't know what else that you wanted me to say to you. Nor is it, God fore ordains everything, even evil, for God s glory. It s more dynamic than that. It s not that God causes or needs bad things to happen, but when those bad things do happen and when we do bad things God is in the middle of it all, redeeming it, rectifying it, seeking to make peace and bring about a holy solution. God is in a constant struggle against the evils of this world (including us) constantly redirecting and reorienting those evil acts for God s good. This is the Good News of our faith that God is constantly involved in this world. That our God is dynamic and not only able, but willing to intercede without micromanaging to the point of ordaining evil. God does not need evil for the sake of accomplishing God s purposes. Quite the contrary! God s purposes are overcoming evil! God overcomes and even, as in the case of Joseph, subverts evil. This is especially Good News for us, because though we rather not admit it, we are often the evil ones. We are Joseph s brothers. I love my brother dearly. He means the world to me. But I can say with little doubt there is no one in the world for whom I have caused more personal pain. Haven t we all? We hurt each other. We betray one another. We tell lies. We mislead. We sell out. Not just one another, but God s own self. Jesus very friends. Judas. Peter. They deny. They forget him. They literally watch him die. And yet, Jesus does not give up on them. He is resurrected. Despite their disobedience, lack of faith even selfishness God continues to use them. Joseph looks at his brothers. Jesus looks at us. Though you intended this for evil. Though you continually hurt one another and me. God is here, working for good. Though we are selfish, greedy, hateful people God continues to redeem the messes we make and bring something beautiful forth. This is the God of redemption. This is the God of Good News. This is the God of Resurrection. Breathing life back into this broken down, hate filled world. Thank God for this type of God. (turning to the Table) In the story of Joseph, his jealous brothers sell him into slavery and fake his death. God chuckles, They think that was a good trick. Wait till they see what I can do! And this forgotten, left for dead brother becomes the means for feeding an entire subcontinent. Joseph s defeat becomes for an entire region their means to food, to survival, and the continuation of God s chosen people. In the story of Jesus, the jealous powers of the world hang the Son of God on a cross and bury him behind a rock. God laughs! They think that was an act of power. I ll show them power. And God breathes God s own life back into God s Son. And God calls him the Bread of Life so that by this 7
broken body, left for dead, the entire world might be fed. Today, God feeds out of the life that is his own broken body. Though we have often intended evil. God is here, working for good. 8