© 1998-2014
Fellowship at Cross Creek
Gen. 37:12ff
13 Years a Slave!
2-2-14

Last week began a new unit or section or person of study. So far we have explored, Abraham and Jacob in depth. Now the Bible’s story of Beginnings or Genesis…turns to a very special character or person, the story of Joseph. Essentially, the story of Joseph, is for the most part, the Christian’s story. Joseph’s story is our story. Certainly chosen by God for a special purpose, Joseph must first endure much suffering and injustice before reaching his God-ordained purpose, and what a purpose it will be. As we read, I want you to continue pondering, your special identity in Christ, and that just because you may be going through difficult days, your suffering, your waiting is NOT in vain. As God’s child…as God’s children, just as with Joseph and his brothers, you…we…have a purpose (Romans 8; Eph. 1; 1 Peter 1).

Intro… Sometimes life comes at you fast. It certainly did for Joseph. He was simply going in search of his brothers at his father’s request. Little did he know he was walking into a trap? Ever done that before? Everything seemed okay, normal, but you didn’t see it coming. Suddenly, WHAM! And the next thing you know, like being tossed by a tornado or bounced around in a car accident, you are just hanging on for dear life. Well, that was the way it was for Joseph. At first his brothers were going to kill him, then they put him into a pit, then they sold him to slave traders, and finally he ends up in Egypt as the servant of an Egyptian officer.

Ever had an experience in which life was happening so fast, there was nothing you can do until it stopped? How did it feel? What was the end result? If so, then be Joseph in this story and imagine what it feels like to have this much life thrown at you at once. If Joseph was naïve before, by the time, he reaches Egypt, he will have certainly learned a lot. And yet, he has still not seen the end of misfortune…not by a long shot. You might call this part of the story, The Education of Joseph.

Your servant,
jc

Series INTRO…

The Bible’s very first word is the Hebrew word Bərēšīṯ, which means “in [the] beginning.” “Genesis” is actually the Greek word for “beginnings” or “origins,” and thus the origin for both the Latin and English transliteration: Genesis.

So what’s our goal? Just to explore. Like an archaeologist exploring ancient ruins, we are going back to the Scriptures beginnings to do a little Spiritual digging and poking around to see what was God doing before God’s Son was Spiritually conceived in his mother Mary’s womb? What were the world, people and life like from the very beginning?

Summary of Recent Explorations…

• The Creation: The Creator Creates His Creation and its Caretakers (Adam and Eve). Gen. 1-2.

• The Fall: But a Crafty Adversary Emerges, Infecting the Creator’s Caretakers with a Virulent Strain of Deceptive Evil (non-beneficial actions). Gen. 3-4.

• The Flood: The story of the righteous Servant and a devastating Flood. In order to Save his Creation from a self-destructive and merciless evil, the Creator Must radically purge or cleanse his Creation Gen. 5-7.

• Creation’s New Beginning…Gen. 8-11.

• Creation’s New Caretaker: The Creator Raises up, Chooses and Greatly Blesses a righteous and trusting Caretaker named Abraham. Gen. 12-25.
• The Torch of the Creator’s Trusting Caretaking Now Passes to Succeeding Generations (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Joshua…)

The Story of Jacob…Gen. 25-35

• Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham dies leaving everything to Jacob’s father, Isaac. Gen. 25.
• Isaac has twin sons, Esau and Jacob.
• While the twins jostle within their mother’s womb, their mother Rebekah discovers from God that the two sons within her womb are really two contending nations and that the older twin’s descendants will serve the younger twin’s descendants (25:23).
• After the twins are born and become young men, one day, the starving, impetuous older twin Esau foolishly sells his sacred first-born birthright to his wiser, younger twin brother Jacob for a bowl of stew (25:27ff).
• Aided by his sympathetic mother, Jacob shrewdly deceives his blind, elderly father Isaac into giving his older brother’s blessing to Jacob. 27:1ff.
• As Jacob flees from his now angry, older twin, Esau, at Bethel (house of God) Jacob has a dream in which he not only witnesses angels ascending and descending from heaven, but God reveals to Jacob that indeed he is the true and rightful heir to same special promises that God made previously to his father and grandfather. Gen. 28:1ff.
• In the land of his mother’s clan, Jacob is blessed by God and grows a very large family of eleven sons and a daughter. Gen. 29:
• After 20 years have passed, God prepares Jacob for his return back to homeland by blessing him with massive herds of sheep, goats and other livestock. Gen. 30:25ff.
•As he flees, Jacob enters into a peace treaty with his father-in-law Laban. Gen. 31:22ff.
• After wrestling with God all night at the ford of the Jabbok and surviving, Jacob receives a new name from God–Israel…One who strives with God. Gen. 32:1ff.
• Jacob’s greatest fears do not come to pass. Instead a now blessed Esau welcomes home his brother Jacob. Gen. 33:1ff.
• Now back within the land, in revenge for their sister Dinah’s having been raped by the village chief’s foolish son, Jacob’s sons mercilessly and shrewdly kill all the village’s men. Gen. 34:1ff
• Jacob returns to Bethel to build an altar of thanksgiving to God; in response, God renews his covenant promises to Jacob. Gen. 35:1ff.
• Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel dies while giving birth to their youngest son, Benjamin. Jacob buries her at Bethlehem, and then soon after he buries his father, Isaac as well. Gen. 35:16ff

And Now Joseph’s Story…Gen. 37-50.

• Joseph’s older brothers grow deeply resentful of their favored youngest brother, Joseph. Gen. 37:1ff.

Pray; read three times (perhaps just twice) and ask questions…

12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem.

Does the village of Shechem have any correspondence to the person of Shechem whom the brothers murdered for his having sexually taken advantage of their sister in an earlier story?

13 Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.”

Unsuspecting of any foul play?

14 Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Had the brothers tarried? Had they not reported in for awhile? Why was Jacob seemingly so concerned? How long a journey was this for Joseph?

15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

What does this man or Joseph’s wandering function within this story?

16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.”

17 Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

How much further is Dothan? Is this why Jacob had heard nothing from his sons…because they had moved on from where he previously thought them to be?

18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer!

They had to act, discuss and plan quickly…

20 Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

This reveals Joseph’s brothers low state of morals. They thought very little of having massacred Shechem’s village; they seemingly think nothing of killing their brother. Where or what are their values? They seemingly act as mob or sub-tribe…they certainly are flawed people.

21 But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”

One brother, the brother who earlier slept with his father’s lesser wife and two of his brother’s mother, now intercedes on his younger brother’s behalf.

22 Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

So Reuben has his own flawed plan to save his brother?

23 So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;

What must have a stunned Joseph been thinking?

24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

How deep was the pit?

25 Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt.

Are we to assume that these Ishmaelites were descended from their great great half-uncle Ishmael (Abraham’s oldest son by his wife’s maidservant Hagar; 16:15)? If so, these were their cousins, perhaps second or later, cousins? Did they view them as such? The passage doesn’t seem to indicate any kind of close familial bonds.

26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?

27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.

So a second brother has other thoughts as well?

28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Is there any connection between Midianites (also descendants of Abraham, but through his later wife, Keturah…25:2) and Ishmaelites? Was twenty shekels very much (8 oz. of silver BKC vol. 1 p. 88)? At the current prices of silver, this doesn’t amount to very much.

29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?”

So why doesn’t Reuben ask what happened to the boy or why do the brothers not tell? Because of Reuben’s loyalties to the boy? If they tell him where, then Reuben will pursue the traders and redeem the boy back?

31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;

32 and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.”

33 Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

So this is the unexplained explanation—wild beasts came and dragged the boy off? So now, this becomes the cover story?

34 So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.

35 Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Our first mention of sheol…the place of the dead?

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Who?

Where?

When?

What?

• Jacob, perhaps foolishly, sends his most favored son to check upon his jealous older brothers who were shepherding in a distant village.

• As Joseph approaches his brothers, from a distant the brothers ponder the actual murder of their younger brother.

• But the oldest brother Reuben is able to persuade them to only throw in a pit; his plan is to return to the pit and rescue his younger brother.

• But as he is away, the brothers end up selling him to some traveling traders.

• When Reuben returns to the pit, he finds it empty. The brothers don’t tell Reuben what they have done, leaving him to assume the worst.

• To continue the charade, the brothers decide to kill a goat, stain Joseph’s coat of many colors with the goat’s blood and then let their father assume the worst.

• When Jacob identifies his son’s now-bloodied coat, his grief is inconsolable.

• Meanwhile, Joseph is sold to one of pharaoh’s captain of the guards down in Egypt.

Summary: Joseph is sold into Egyptian slavery by his jealous brothers.

Why did God include this event in his record or what would we not know–about God, life, myself, others, etc.–if this story were not in the Bible?

• Good people can be quite naïve sometimes? If we don’t think of doing evil, why would others? But that is a false assumption. Others quite often don’t think like us. Jesus exhorted his disciples that he was “sending them out as sheep among wolves,” and in doing so they were to be as innocent as doves, but wise as serpents (Matt. 10:16). It would seem that neither Jacob nor Joseph saw this coming, but with each step farther away from home, Jacob was sending Joseph right smack into the jaws of his jealous brothers’ dangerous plotting.

• Good is not always rewarded in the short-term. Why? Often times, jealousy. Quite often, people think because they are good at something, they will be liked, loved or praised, and that may be true for some, and yet for others, talent only results in others’ envy.

• Group-think or the mob mentality is an interesting phenomena. Apparently, there is power in numbers. Most of the brothers it seems are ready to kill their younger brother. This is very serious, while two brothers, Reuben and Judah, while not standing up to their brothers, attempt to negotiate some compromises that eventually do save Joseph’s life.

• Lies and deception may lead to short-term gain, but have their perhaps longer-term even greater costs. Yes, perhaps in the short run Jacob’s sons have disposed of their problem, but have they really? NO! This is only the beginning of the story. Not only will they cause their father great grief and their younger brother significant sorrow, but in the end, their deception will be exposed and guilt revealed.

• Can we live with short-term pain? Can God’s people suffer, and suffer in the moment? Can we endure others’ sin and injustice for a time? I mean, this is NOT heaven! People lie, steal and cheat. It’s paramount that God’s people endure or weather the temporary storms, because sometimes, it may takes years for the chickens to come home to roost, but come home to roost they do, and if NOT in this life, in the life to come. The paradox of all this though is that it gives God’s people tremendous short-term and long-term power. If truth is on our side, then we can act differently; we can be mentally stronger, and in doing so, preserve or act courageously whether others quit and fail. Belief, confidence, trust and hope are powerful, powerful tools or weapons in surviving our hybrid existence.

So What?

Praise… I am burning wood this morning because of the graciousness of others. God provides. Another good teaching Sunday. Another good worship. Rhonda and I got to walk today because of a momentary break in the harsh winter. Another good home church evening. I think I have my sluggish computer finally backed up. That’s a relief, depending upon what happens with it next. It’s hard to wrap my mind around how central it has become to my life.

Struggle… The same…pacing, balance, trust, focus. A lot to do, it would seem. But remembering to do or be lead by what God wants or leads me to do is so so critical because I can get out there so far in front of myself, get lost and crash, because I am doing what I think needs to be done, as opposed to listening or sensing what God may have for me.

Truth… Good’s naivete; the Search; Evil plots its diabolical schemes…even seemingly by the normal Joe; the mob or group think’s power; cooler heads prevail in curbing the mob’s insanity; deception’s costs, both short and long term; the ability to suffer in the short-term until God or justice rights the wrong.

Application… There are no promises in the short run. One can go in search of his brothers, even going the extra mile, even doing or attempting to do what is right, hold others accountable for the greater good, at others’ orders, and it can still all go wrong. Life is NOT fair, at least not in the short-run. Expect jealousy; expect difficulty; expect suffering; expect lies; expect deceit. I have seen it again and again and again, sometimes within my own church, and definitely quite often in life, and certainly in the majority of churches. Why? People are sinful. Eternal salvation does not always mean change in the short-term or a change in heart or a change in attitude or belief or action. Often times, we cloak ourselves in the robes of religious ritual, but underneath we are quite modestly, Spiritually clothed. We are NAKED! Joseph’s brothers were morally naked. They crucified their brother over what turns out to be truth. Thank God the story is NOT over. This is still a time of suffering and suffering is okay. God still provides for us when threatened by death, as Potiphar’s slave and in prison. It’s not my outward circumstances that make me happy. It is the LORD, first, last and always.

Your application:
Biggest Struggle at the moment:

How does what happen here relate to you?

What about your kids?

Biggest Struggles (Imagine these or several–put yourself in their shoes–walk through a day with them at school, at home. What might they encounter?)
Now how does what happen here possibly relate/ (Remember this is only to give you a feel or an introductory hook or a reinforcing hook; in their looking, they may come up with something entirely different.)

Remember to have fun, sense the Spirit’s leading and develop a love for these kids.

As always, thanks!
Joe

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.” (www.Lockman.org).

© 1998-2014
Fellowship at Cross Creek
Gen. 37:1ff
Family Dysfunction…
1.26.14

This Sunday begins a new unit or section or person of study. So far we have explored, Abraham and Jacob in depth. Now the Bible’s story of Beginnings or Genesis…turns to a very special character or person, the story of Joseph. Essentially, the story of Joseph, is for the most part, the Christian’s story. Joseph’s story is our story. Certainly chosen by God for a special purpose, Joseph must first endure much suffering and injustice before reaching his God-ordained purpose, and what a purpose it will be. As we read, I want you to continue pondering, your special identity in Christ, and that just because you may be going through difficult days, your suffering, your waiting is NOT in vain. As God’s child…as God’s children, just as with Joseph and his brothers, you…we…have a purpose (Romans 8; Eph. 1; 1 Peter 1).

Intro… As teachers do your best to explore, petty family rivalries and jealousies. Who are the family favorites? Who feels slighted and why? And how are both the offended, and yes, perhaps jealous party, as well as, the golden child who seems to do no wrong dealing with it? Stir up the kids. Stir up the family dysfunction.

Get it out there, because brother, it is there. Do not kid yourself. Church, home churches, the Learning Center do not exist to make everyone feel good about their family or personal Spiritual dysfunction. It is about growth, change and maturity. It is about becoming more Christ-like. If you need to tell a story about your own family dysfunctional history or ask them about theirs to get things going. Get them going. And don’t even think about getting it all solved. Not in a million years. But what you can do, is get kids to thinking how we all play the family game. You can help them to understand that just as they are imperfect, so are their families. The question is are we going to allow Christ and the Scriptures to affect how we deal with our rivalries, pet jealousies or insecurities. Does the world win? Will Evil win out? Or can God use us to be his Spiritual lights within our family dysfunction…even if that is bringing up something difficult within the family…and not just because I have something to gain, but something that seems out-of-whack? And am I willing that I may even be dismissed, laughed out or ignored. Why? Because my family is NOT perfect. God’s grace to you. There’s a real opportunity here…

Your servant,

jc

Series INTRO…

The Bible’s very first word is the Hebrew word Bərēšīṯ, which means “in [the] beginning.” “Genesis” is actually the Greek word for “beginnings” or “origins,” and thus the origin for both the Latin and English transliteration: Genesis.

So what’s our goal? Just to explore. Like an archaeologist exploring ancient ruins, we are going back to the Scripture’s beginnings to do a little Spiritual digging and poking around to see what was God doing before God’s Son was Spiritually conceived in his mother Mary’s womb? What were the world, people and life like from the very beginning?

Summary of Recent Explorations…

• The Creation: The Creator Creates His Creation and its Caretakers (Adam and Eve). Gen. 1-2.

• The Fall: But a Crafty Adversary Emerges, Infecting the Creator’s Caretakers with a Virulent Strain of Deceptive Evil (non-beneficial actions). Gen. 3-4.

• The Flood: The story of the righteous Servant and a devastating Flood. In order to Save his Creation from a self-destructive and merciless evil, the Creator Must radically purge or cleanse his Creation Gen. 5-7.

• Creation’s New Beginning…Gen. 8-11.

• Creation’s New Caretaker: The Creator raises up, chooses and greatly blesses a righteous and trusting Caretaker named Abraham. Gen. 12-25.

• The Torch of the Creator’s trusting caretaking Now passes to succeeding generations (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Joshua…)

• The Story of Jacob…Gen. 25-35.

• Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham dies leaving everything to Jacob’s father, Isaac. Gen. 25.

• Isaac has twin sons, Esau and Jacob.

• While the twins are still in their mother’s womb and jostling, their mother Rebekah discovers from God that there are two nations within her womb, that the younger twin’s descendants will be stronger of the two and that the older twin’s descendants will serve the younger twin’s descendants (25:23).

• The starving, impetuous older twin Esau foolishly sells his sacred first-born birthright to his wiser, younger twin brother Jacob for a bowl of stew (25:27ff).

.• Aided by his mother, Jacob deceives his blind, elderly father Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau. Gen. 27:1ff.

• As Jacob flees from his now angry, older brother, in a dream at Bethel (which means house of God), Jacob not only witnesses angels ascending and descending from heaven, but God reveals to Jacob that indeed, through his father and grandfather, Jacob is the true heir to God’s special promises. Gen. 28:1ff.

• Jacob is blessed and grows a very large family of eleven sons and a daughter in the land of his mother’s clan. Gen. 29:1ff.

• After 20 years away, God prepares Jacob for his return to home by blessing him with massive herds of sheep, goats and other livestock. Gen. 30:25ff.

• As he leaves, Jacob enters into a peace treaty with his father-in-law Laban. Gen. 31:22ff.

• After wrestling with God all night at the ford of the Jabbok and surviving, Jacob receives a new name from God–Israel…One who strives with God. Gen. 32:1ff.

• Jacob’s greatest fears don’t come to pass. Instead a blessed Esau welcomes his brother Jacob back home. Gen. 33:1ff.

• Jacob’s sons mercilessly wipe out an entire village in revenge for their sister Dinah’s having been raped by its chief’s son. Gen. 34:1ff

• Jacob returns to Bethel to build an altar of thanksgiving to God; in response, God renews his original Covenant promises to Jacob. Gen. 35:1ff.

• Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel dies giving birth to their youngest son, Benjamin. Jacob buries her at Bethlehem and then buries his father, Isaac as well. Gen. 35:16ff

Pray; read three times (perhaps just twice) and ask questions…

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. So if only tending flocks with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, and NOT Leah’s sons, that that would mean he was tending flocks with Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. What was the bad report? Apparently the writer did not think it pertinent to the story, but it does make one curious, and apparently, it was bad enough for Joseph to “rat” on them, or was Joseph a “brat”?

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.

4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Jealousy. It seems to be the nature of human attraction or love that the less-loved are often envious of the more-loved or attracted to…interesting…the nature of sin or imperfection? One can only imagine what was said amongst themselves or to others. Often times, it becomes an unaccountable “piling on” of the victim–an orgy of spewing venom.

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. It only gets worse…fuel to the fire…

6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:

7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. So, a bad report, jealousy of a father’s favoritism and now two dreams…

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” It does appear that Joseph is a bit naïve, trusting that telling his brothers and father the truth about his dream would not further incite even greater jealousy…

11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. What does a father do? Or this just another case of Jacob avoiding the difficult? Oh my, will it momentarily cost him, and yet God has a plan.

Who?

Where?

When?

What?

• Joseph brings back a bad report to his father from when four of his older brothers were tending sheep.

• Born to Jacob late, Joseph is the most beloved of his father’s eleven sons. Because of this favoritism, his father makes for him a beautifully ornate coat.

• When his brothers’ see their father’s favoritism towards Joseph they become extremely jealous of Joseph and having nothing good to say about him.

• Joseph tells his brothers of a dream he has in which they were all binding sheaves in field when the sheaves his brothers were binding bowed down before his suddenly exalted and risen up sheaf.

• Of course, this only infuriated his already jealous brothers all the more, who mocked him, asking do you intend to rule over us?

• Then Joseph has another dream in which the sun, moon and stars all bowed down to him. Once again, naively, he tells his father and brothers. This time it is his father who rebukes Joseph asking, do you think your mother and I and your brothers will bow down before you?

• Despite Jacob’s rebuke of his son, he is well aware of their jealousy of Joseph, but keeps this all to himself.

Summary: Because of Joseph’s bad report concerning four of his brothers, his father’s favoritism towards Joseph and two dreams in which his family is bowing down to Joseph, Joseph’s brothers’ anger, jealousy and hatred towards him is about to reach a boiling point.

Bottom line… For three significant reasons, Jacob’s older ten sons deeply resent and hate their youngest brother and their father’s favorite, Joseph.

Why? did God include this event in his record or what would we not know–about God, life, myself, others, etc.–if this story were not in the Bible?

• Whether we like it or not, people are born sinners; we are flawed, selfish, self-interested human beings; some, worse than others. Put them together; grow them together, and just as there is the potential for love, cooperation and togetherness, there is also the potential for much sin, imperfection, insecurity, jealousy, anger, hurt…even hate. In fact, whether we like it or not, all families have some level of dysfunction within them, and some more than others–even large families. And apparently, Jacob’s now very large and extended family is no exception. I say, “extended” because for the most part, if Joseph is the youngest at 17, one would have to imagine that most of his kids are now married and are either having children or beginning to have children. So as is the case with most families, as this family as grown, children have gotten married, had children of their own, and perhaps almost all have remained in the family occupation of shepherding large herds of flocks of sheep and goats, this family is prime for family infighting and jealousy. In this case, Joseph has become the family whipping boy where all of this immaturity can momentarily focus upon.

• People, even parents, teachers, bosses…everyone has their favorites. Right. Who knows why? Perhaps they are alike; perhaps one sucks up to the other or tells the other what they want to hear; perhaps the one being favored is really just more competent or gifted; perhaps they are less trouble; perhaps they are the goody two shoes, but for whatever reasons, and it too happens everywhere, with respect to favoritism, one quite often takes the lead or separates him or herself from the others, and then the others complain to one another, He or she can do no wrong. Now all of sudden, the one or ones not favored are strapped with a liability and unequal playing field; they must do more than the favored one in order to survive, and so the game begins to play itself out. Now while children will complain, and complain loudly, that they are being discriminated against— It’s not fair!–even if it is not true in order to manipulate or guilt their parents into getting what they want, adult children, it would seem, complain less to the authority figures, or to the ones allegedly doing the favoritism, than to others. Whereas children are pretty much safe in knowing that if they complain their parents are not going to dump them, adults with jobs are different. If they fear loss of their employment, rather than complain to the powers that be, they will passively-aggressively whine to others, while still maintaining their job, with the whine becoming their psychological vent. I remember sitting down with a group of teachers for lunch on the first day of school. They were all grossing about their jobs, the kids, teaching…I couldn’t take it. It was the last day I ate with teachers. After that, I ate with the kids, mainly younger. It was tons more fun.

• So, family dysfunction, favoritism and the passive-aggressive response by others to alleged favoritism. What’s next? Ganging up; naivete; the costs of telling the truth; prophetic dreams and a father’s alleged helplessness or denial in dealing with his family’s sin or dysfunction.

• With respect to “ganging up,” isn’t it interesting to watch, observe and follow the progress of how alliances are birthed and forged? Not, if you have been the victim of one of these someone grouses. I have been there and experienced that, and not just once, and not just by a few, but by many. It is painful, scary and a ton more feelings, thoughts and emotions. The mob loved Jesus, then crucified him. The mob was against Moses, then for him, then against him, then for or with him. Mobs are like fire, fickle where they lead and destructive. Seemingly they take on a life of their own. And some are fire starters. In essence, they are cheaters. They will not play by the rules or be accountable or fair. They cheat, including downright lying and deception, gossiping, using innuendo, passive aggressive communication. To them it is about the numbers—who is my side? Who can I win over? Like Satan, who can I steal? Who can I get to first? It makes me sick just thinking about it. Rather than searching out the truth, or hungering for the truth or righteousness, or being accountable in their communication and tactics and allowing the chips to fall where they may, it is a war of attrition. Only, in the end, eventually the chickens will come home to roost—alliances will be broken or threatened and emperors will be betrayed and assassinated. The same tactics used to climb the ladder will bring the ladder down. Such will be the story of Jacob’s sons. Ill-achieved, initial victory will NOT be final victory—thank God! And perhaps, that is the larger lesson in all of this. Despite man’s ill intentions, God is still in control; God is still sovereign and will work his will for his glory and his children’s Spiritual benefit. So never despair over Evil’s temporary victories, my children. Our God reigns…

Gen. 50:19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.

Psalm 146:10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

• Finally, with respect to Jacob’s denial or helplessness in dealing with his extended family’s dysfunction, jealousy and rumblings…deal with it. Deal with it, even at costs. Odds are, it will NOT get better. At the same time, don’t micromanage either. People should be accorded the freedom to choose and live. Dictatorial too tight is NOT good, that is if you want children to turn into competent self-sufficient adults, making wise choices. On the other hand, have some boundaries; be willing to jerk the chain or choke collar; be willing to endure some family conflict. Pay me a little now or pay me a whole lot later. If you need help, then get help! Get to the truth, then stay on top of it. You were placed here on this planet for a purpose. It’s a fallen, sinful world, and you being placed here wasn’t just to take up space or use up good air. Make a difference—a useful, beneficial difference. Be used by your Creator with the Spirit’s inspiration to intervene with respect to or curb evil. In doing so, you will grow up yourself.

So What?

Praise… I am very thankful for the time I had, experienced and enjoyed with my adopted family in remembering our very special, unique and especially later-in-life, peddle-to-the-meddle, Spiritually-thriving mom. It was a heck of a send off, good-by, remembering and imaginary family documentary…of a large family running behind and alongside the chugging, overloaded family van through the Eisenhower tunnel, or of a smart-alec teenager who said in the presence of a policeman, “I smell bacon,” to which his mother responded by immediately grasping him by his shirt collar and informing him that he would smell NOTHING! in her presence!…or of a stepson describing, in tears, how his step-mother became his mother…or how a husband gave up the comforts of alcohol because of his wife’s discomfort with it and in so doing saved his marriage… Perfect. Special. Beautiful. Thanks, God. Thanks, my beautiful adopted family. I also witnessed another family, a little lighter this week. Not out of the woods by any means, but in what has been a long struggle within a vastly-changing business in a difficult economy…a moment of lightness. And though I have known them for a long time, this may be their finest hour. Someone brought me wood when we were out this week, and it has been very cold…with the prospects of cutting more this weekend, and not just for me, but for others as well. Thank you, Lord. Got a ton of writing done last week, with Shelly continuing to work out the kinks in getting what I write posted to my blog. I am very blessed.

Struggle… Balance. Indoor work versus outdoor work; writing versus teaching; pastoring versus studying; the week versus the weekend; energy versus fatigue; rest versus stress; the Story of Sin versus Sustainable Love; Spiritually more secure families versus Spiritually less secure and less present families; financially more secure families and financially less secure families. Balance.

Truth… Families, because they are made up of imperfect sinners, will struggle…with either genuine or perceived favoritism, jealousy, complaining and even unrighteously “ganging up” upon one of its individual members. It’s just a fact. And as opposed to avoiding it, dads and leaders should wisely face the family dysfunction. And yet despite, all this family dysfunction, including dads or leaders avoiding the dysfunction, as we will find out, God is still in control and can and will bring about his greater good and purposes.

Application… I am imperfect; my family of origin is certainly imperfect; my own family is imperfect and my Spiritual family is imperfect. God give me the wisdom and grace, not to pull the trigger too soon…to be a hovering helicopter pastor as some moms or sports dad are alleged to be towards their children. At the same time, please don’t allow me to put my head in the sand and ignore the conflict. Give me the balance, the wisdom, Your Spirit, truth, courage…to face the difficult, particularly at the edges where sheep may go astray. And in fact, I am Spiritually grinding on several as I write. Just pulled the trigger on one of them; may pull the trigger on another very quickly and wait on a third…and that is just three. No doubt there are many many more. But despite what I try to do under your leadership, I rest in the truth that you have a plan, despite man’s flaws…including mine (Rom. 8:28; Gen. 50:19-21).

Your application:

Biggest Struggle at the moment:

How does what happen here relate to you?

What about your kids?

Biggest Struggles (Imagine these or several–put yourself in their shoes–walk through a day with them at school, at home. What might they encounter?) Now how does what happen here possibly relate? (Remember this is only to give you a feel or an introductory hook or a reinforcing took; in there looking, they may come up with something entirely different.)

Remember to have fun, sense the Spirit’s leading and develop a love for these kids.

As always, thanks!

Joe

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.” (www.Lockman.org).