Plague to Promise

We have probably all read through the plagues in Exodus 7-12 many times. It is a favorite Sunday School lesson with children because quite honestly, they are pretty bizarre.  

Reading through this time (and using commentaries), I discovered that each plague was God's confrontation of an Egyptian deity.  God knew He needed show the Israelites (and Egyptians) that He alone was God.  Even though the court magicians could somewhat replicate the first few plagues, "they did the same thing", they could not change the plague but only made the plague worse by creating more 'bad'.  With each plague their perceived power became weaker until they didn't stand a chance against God's power.  

So other than just reading an amazing story how can the story of the plagues apply to us?  My thought is that when God calls us out (out of a life of sin), He begins to confront the ‘gods’ in our lives.  Many Christians are confused on this point because they don’t feel like this applies to us much today.  Really few people I know have 'idols or gods' in their homes but I think this is HUGE problem today.  The gods in our lives are as much or more controlling possibly than the Egyptian gods.  The gods of my time, my money, my entertainment, my sports, my way are hindering the church's ministry today.  God is greater than each one of those and He has already proven Himself through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus!  The last plague - the death of the firstborn- was so symbolic of Jesus.  The blood of the lamb on the doorpost, the institution of the Passover meal, even the plunder of the Egyptians were all a picture of God’s great grace.  Despite all that, the Israelites in just a short time, worshiped the golden calf.  Despite all that, many people today still won't study God's Word or spend time in worship.  

I read this quote from the She Reads Truth Bible “The words ‘Let my people go!’ not only meant freedom from slavery, but freedom from idolatry.”  The Israelites, like us as Christians today, had to know and act on the belief from Exodus 6:6 “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and rescue you from slavery to them.  I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgement.  I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.”  They had to know and move forward knowing the LORD God, He is the one and only.  May God open our eyes to the gods we serve in place of Him.

Joseph's Decision

When you watch a TV show or movie you want the ‘bad guy’ to get caught or for justice to be served.  Genesis 42-45 gives us the perfect set-up of just this kind of justice.

Joseph at this point in the narrative has been promoted to second in command of ALL Egypt.  He is married with two sons and things are going great.  His plan of storing up the grain has resulted in Egypt’s survival during a time of famine.  People from neighboring countries are coming to them buying grain.  The economy is looking great even during the famine due to Joseph’s wisdom and planning.  

In a parallel story, the eleven brothers are back in Canaan with their aged father.  The famine has struck all of the land and extreme measures must be take in order for them to survive.  The brothers have to go to Egypt.  Jacob will not allow Benjamin (Joseph’s brother; son of Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel who died giving birth to Benjamin) to go with them but he sends the ten brothers on their way.  

This is first class drama.  The ten brothers come to Joseph to get the grain.  They of course don’t recognize him-at all.  Based on the conversations recorded between the brothers during this journey I’m pretty sure not a day went by that they didn’t think of shame, guilt and heartache they had brought upon their family by selling Joseph into slavery.  I’m also pretty sure that even though Joseph named his son Manasseh meaning ‘God has made me forget all my hardship’, it did not mean that he had forgotten his family ‘back home.’  So here we see the brothers (minus Benjamin) reunited after about twenty years.  The brothers didn’t recognize Joseph BUT Joseph recognized them.  

Joseph ‘played it cool’ and questioned their intentions using an Egyptian interpreter to throw them off.  Through some more questioning and even keeping Simeon as a guarantee, the brothers were sent back to get Benjamin to bring him to Joseph.  The brothers were still clueless as to who Joseph but believed all this was happening to them as punishment to what they had done to their brother.  

The details of this interaction are recorded in Genesis 42-45 but the part that brought me to tears is found in Genesis 43:30 and Genesis 45:1-3.  Joseph, this high commander in the world’s greatest power at that time, was absolutely overcome with emotion and broke into tears.  The first time is when he sees Benjamin.  He has to leave the room because he does not want to cry in front of the brothers or the servants.  He still has not revealed his true identity but seeing Benjamin who had been just a toddler when he was sold brought this ruler to tears.  Finally in Genesis 45, we read Joseph can no longer keep his identity a secret.  Just before he told the brothers who he really was the scripture says he wept so loudly the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s household heard it.  This was not a quiet sob, this was an outburst.  The old saying ‘big boys don’t cry’ was just thrown out the window and Joseph’s tears poured from the depths of his heart all over that room, all over the palace.  

Were these tears of joy at the family reunion?  Were these tears of sadness for lost years with family?  Were these tears that wanted revenge but now could not give it?  Were these tears of a realization of answered prayer? We don’t know but I think it could be a little of all.  All that had happened was of course God’s plan.  The timing for everything was perfectly executed even though at the time, Joseph or even his brothers could not see it.  What could have been a horrible vengeful family reunion was actually a beautiful picture of God’s grace and mercy. 

Isaiah 40:31 says “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Even though that scripture was written years after Joseph lived, it reminds us of God’s promise.  Our past does not have to define a present decision which affects future consequences. 

B & H Book Review "The Marvelous Mud House"

I work in our children's mission education program and The Marvelous Mud House is a perfect resource.  The book not only is beautifully illustrated but helps children (and adults) look beyond themselves to a world that may be completely different than the one in which they live.  I am always looking for opportunities to connect the children to other cultures and I am excited to how a book to help me in that endeavor.  There is a teaching/parent guide in the back of the book.

Even though this is an excellent book for mission education, it would be a great book for families to begin conversations about the needs of people around the world.

Joseph's Dilemma

I love to read the story of Joseph.  His story (even though his birth was recorded in Genesis 30:22-24) begins in Genesis 37.  

Red flags show up early in his story when we read his father (Jacob) loved him obviously and visibly more than the other children by making a colorful robe for him.  I also am betting Joseph’s name didn’t show up on the chore chart as often as the other sons, maybe not at all.  Joseph didn’t help the situation by sharing his dreams of superiority with the brothers.  (We know the dreams were prophetic but his brothers certainly didn’t at this point.)

After some time Joseph is mistreated by his brothers and then sold to the Ishmaelites as a slave!  He ends up in a foreign country away from family and the comforts of home.  The key point of Joseph’s story is in Genesis 39:2 “The LORD was with Joseph”.  Things didn’t come easy for Joseph though.  Even after a period of success he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison.  Yet we see in Genesis 39: 21 and 23 “The LORD was with Joseph”.

Joseph found himself more than once in a place he did not seek.  He (even though he may have been a bit of a brat about his favored status and the coat) didn’t ‘deserve’ what happened to him.  We would say that’s just not fair.  And honestly it wasn’t.  

The key to Joseph’s story wasn’t what happened to him but how he responded to what happened to him.  Joseph took a bad situation (being a slave) and did his job so well he was promoted to a high clearance status in his master’s house.  When confronted by his master’s wife to compromise his trust he didn’t try to reason with her, he fled.  He finds himself again at the bottom of the pit even when he did the right thing.  

The encouragement for us is that we find ourselves many times in unfair situations and circumstances.  Why me, why this trouble we ask but just like Joseph -the LORD is with us.  We find that promise in many places but one is Matthew 28:20. I think it also teaches us that just because we find ourselves in difficult circumstances we tend to think God has forgotten us.  Joseph’s story teaches us quite the opposite is true.  

Because of Joseph’s difficulties, we eventually see the salvation of his family and the promises of God unfolding just as He said.  God had a plan all along for Joseph and He does for us as well.