It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. When God presented Eve to Adam the man shouted with joy about the "bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." Somehow that joy lost its luster over the generations. By the time Jacob's sons threw Joseph in the pit the term "our flesh and blood" had become a term not of endearment but of derisen. That reality did keep the brothers from killing Joseph out of jealosy, but that was the extent of their concern. We too face the same struggles; when those closest to us become our adversaries. We must grow to depend upon God grace, not only in living our lives but also in loving our siblings.
Stuart
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Genesis 37-39
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1 comment:
Alex,
I am not equipped to study the meanings of the Hebrew words in Genesis 37 in any great depth. Therefore, I can neither support or refute Obadiah Shoher's thoughts in the post you provided. I believe the best person to comment on the situation of Joseph's enslavement is Joseph himself.
In the words of Joseph, recorded in Genesis 45:4-13, he stated three times that it was his brothers who had sold him into slavery. Also in Genesis 50:19-21, Joseph told his brothers that they had intended to harm him, but God used their actions to bring about good. These words indicate that Joseph viewed the perpetrators of his enslavement as his brothers, and their intentions as malicious.
There are many lessons in the life of Joseph, but the biggest one I see is that God's sovereignty is not threatened even when the people of his choosing act with evil intent. Joseph lived out his forgiveness of his brothers evil actions by displaying the love and grace that God had poured out on Joseph while he was in Egypt.
Just my thoughts.
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