The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 21 July 2016 - “Joseph, Joseph, is it really you?”

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 21 July 2016 - “Joseph, Joseph, is it really you?”
Daily Scripture: Genesis 45:1 At last Yosef could no longer control his feelings in front of his attendants and cried, “Get everybody away from me!” So no one else was with him when Yosef revealed to his brothers who he was. 2 He wept aloud, and the Egyptians heard, and Pharaoh’s household heard. 3 Yosef said to his brothers, “I am Yosef! Is it true that my father is still alive?” His brothers couldn’t answer him, they were so dumbfounded at seeing him. 4 Yosef said to his brothers, “Please! Come closer.” And they came closer. He said, “I am Yosef, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But don’t be sad that you sold me into slavery here or angry at yourselves, because it was God who sent me ahead of you to preserve life. 6 The famine has been over the land for the last two years, and for yet another five years there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me ahead of you to ensure that you will have descendants on earth and to save your lives in a great deliverance. (iii) 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his household and ruler over the whole land of Egypt. 9 Hurry, go up to my father, and tell him, ‘Here is what your son Yosef says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt! Come down to me, don’t delay! 10 You will live in the land of Goshen and be near me — you, your children, your grandchildren, flocks, herds, everything you own. 11 I will provide for you there, so that you won’t become poverty-stricken, you, your household and all that you have; because five years of famine are yet to come.”’ 12 Here! Your own eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Binyamin, that it is my own mouth speaking to you. 13 Tell my father how honored I am in Egypt and everything you have seen, and quickly bring my father down here!” 14 Then he embraced his brother Binyamin and wept, and Binyamin wept on his neck, 15 and he kissed all his brothers and wept on them. After that, his brothers talked with him.

16 The report of this reached Pharaoh’s house: “Yosef’s brothers have come”; and Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Tell your brothers, ‘Here is what you are to do. Load up your animals, go to the land of Kena‘an, 18 take your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you good property in Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.

45:25-46:7Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

25 So they went up out of Egypt, entered the land of Kena‘an and came to Ya‘akov their father. 26 They told him, “Yosef is still alive! He is ruler over the whole land of Egypt!” He was stunned at the news; he couldn’t believe them. 27 So they reported to him everything Yosef had said to them; but it was only when he saw the wagons which Yosef had sent to carry him that the spirit of Ya‘akov their father began to revive. (v) 28 Isra’el said, “Enough! My son Yosef is still alive! I must go and see him before I die.”

46:1 Isra’el took everything he owned with him on his journey. He arrived at Be’er-Sheva and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitz’chak. 2 In a vision at night God called to Isra’el, “Ya‘akov! Ya‘akov!” He answered, “Here I am.” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt. It is there that I will make you into a great nation. 4 Not only will I go down with you to Egypt; but I will also bring you back here again, after Yosef has closed your eyes.”

5 So Ya‘akov left Be’er-Sheva; the sons of Isra’el brought Ya‘akov their father, their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry them. 6 They took their cattle and their possessions which they had acquired in the land of Kena‘an and arrived in Egypt, Ya‘akov and all his descendants with him — 7 his sons, grandsons, daughters, granddaughters and all his descendants he brought with him into Egypt.

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Reflection Questions:Joseph had recognized his brothers as soon as they first appeared before him. But it’s not surprising that when this commanding “Egyptian” official told them he was their brother Joseph, “his brothers couldn’t respond because they were terrified before him.” However, Joseph had let go of any ideas of revenge he might have had, and he set about to reunite his family with generosity and grace.

• Given what we know of Israel’s developing view of God, it’s very possible that Joseph and the writer(s) of Genesis believed that God caused everything that happens, and therefore caused his brothers to sell him to slave traders. Do you know why many believers today do not view God in that light? (If not, see passages like John 9:2-3, James 1:13.) In what ways does Joseph’s story bear witness to God’s providence in using even bad actions to accomplish good ends?
• “Don’t be angry with yourselves that you sold me here. Actually, God sent me before you to save lives,” Joseph told his brothers (Genesis 45:5). Can you recall a time when someone harmed you? Do you believe God caused them to do that bad thing? Are you letting God redeem that evil, and bend it for good purposes? Do you trust God to be as creative and redemptive in your life as he was in Joseph’s?

Today’s Prayer:
Merciful God, how powerfully Joseph exemplified the spirit of your kingdom in the way he treated his brothers. Keep growing in me a capacity to embody and act out your mercy. Amen.
-------Insight from Evan Palmer

Evan Palmer has been a member of Resurrection since 2002. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in International Relations and worships at Resurrection’s Downtown campus.
About a month and a half ago, one of my friends was hit by a drunk driver and died on impact. She was 24. Earlier this summer, I was brought to tears due to hurtful words and actions from my own family. Just this week, I received the news that one of my youth group pastors, Julie Frazier-Peters, passed away from cancer.
Life is not fair. At times, it can be overbearing. Undoubtedly, Joseph can relate. He was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers. Today’s passage beautifully illustrates how opportunities for grace and redemption arise from hurt, evil, and adversity.
I’m sure Joseph had feelings of questioning and disappointment when his brothers deceived him as a means to exterminate him from their family. I imagine his brothers’ actions left him angry, saddened, and confused. Instead of seeking revenge, or trying to understand why his brothers acted in the way they did, Joseph clung to his faith. He trusted that even though his life’s circumstances were hurtful and didn’t make sense, God would bring good from it. Joseph focused on how he could respond instead of dwelling on why he was in his situation. Verse 14 of today’s passage (Genesis 45:1-18, 45:25-46:7), explains how Joseph reacted when reunited with his brothers years later. “Weeping with joy, he embraced Benajmin…” Joseph embraced his brothers who had wronged him. He was even crying tears of joy as he did so!
I don’t know why my friend was killed in a drunk driving accident. But I do know God has brought hope to her community. I find rest trusting that God has only just begun a tapestry of grace and mercy to follow this horrific tragedy.
I’m not sure why we fall into hurting one another with our words and actions— especially when we hurt those we love most, or are hurt by those who love us most. But I do know that through this, we’re given an opportunity–an opportunity to offer grace and redemption and to embrace those around us.
I don’t understand why terrible diseases take our loved ones from us every single day. Being able to witness Julie’s last year of life was an honor. She held tight to her faith, and continued her life-long testimony that proves “the worst thing is never the last thing.”
I don’t think God calls us to understand the “whys” of life. There are “whys” we just can’t answer: losing a loved one, being betrayed by a friend, or a host of other circumstances. I think what God is calling us to is to work toward understanding the “how.” I think He wants us to ask ourselves, “How can I respond to this situation?” and/or “How can I offer redemption and grace?” Sometimes we need to extend this grace to others, and sometimes we need it ourselves. My hope is that we strive towards the embodiment of grace while understanding our own need for it on a daily, momentary basis.

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