The Locator, perspective and forgiveness

Today: Genesis 43-45

Have you ever watched a reunion show?

I'm not talking about a YouTube video of a 10-year high school reunion in Milwaukee where everyone does the macarena. I'm talking about a show where people are reunited with someone really special to them...like a sister they were separated from in the foster system, a son they didn't know they had or a father they had never met. A few weeks ago, I was at my parents' house and watched such a show called "The Locator." It's a show where this guy (Troy Dunn) helps people find their long-lost loved ones.

I watched one episode where a woman was looking for her biological father. She always wondered, "Does he look like me? Does he know if I exist? Does he have the same laugh?" The Locator found the woman's biological dad...a man who never believed he was her father. He felt guilty and wondered, "Will she forgive me for not looking for her? Will she forgive me for not being there?"

When I read today's passage, I felt a bit like I was watching that show again. This reunion story between Joseph and his brothers was so emotional and inspiring. It was charged with all of the feelings I listed above--I'm sure some of Joseph's brothers thought he was dead. They thought they'd never see him again. Some of them probably felt scared--I mean the brother they betrayed and sold as a slave was one of the most powerful men in the world! And at least one (Joseph himself) was (surprisingly?) thrilled to see them again.

I just wrote surprisingly with a question mark because I don't know how many people would be thrilled to reunite with those who caused them such sorrow and pain. We already know that Joseph was an incredible guy with an incredible heart. He walked with this mature perspective that allowed him to forgive--truly a gift from God.

Rather than writing any more about it, I thought I'd let you read some of his words to his brothers again:

"I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt.

But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me.

God was behind it.

God sent me here ahead of you to save lives.

There has been a famine in the land now for two years;

the famine will continue for five more years—

neither plowing nor harvesting.

God sent me on ahead to pave the way

and make sure there was a remnant in the land,

to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance.

So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God.

He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh,

put me in charge of his personal affairs,

and made me ruler of all Egypt.
"Hurry back to my father. Tell him,

'Your son Joseph says: I'm master of all of Egypt.

Come as fast as you can and join me here.

I'll give you a place to live in Goshen where you'll be close to me—

you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds,

and anything else you can think of.

I'll take care of you there completely.

There are still five more years of famine ahead;

I'll make sure all your needs are taken care of,

you and everyone connected with you—you won't want for a thing.'

Tomorrow: Genesis 46-47

The dream haters

Today: Genesis 35-37

Dreams are fascinating. Most of the time, I don't remember the dreams I have at night. I definitely have strong daydreams...or maybe it's the work of a creative imagination? :)

I don't ever remember being hated for my dreams, though. But in today's passage, we read about a guy named Joseph whose own family hated him...in part, because of his dreams. Take a look:

Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons

because he was the child of his old age.

And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat.

When his brothers realized

that their father loved him more than them,

they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him.
Joseph had a dream.

When he told it to his brothers,

they hated him even more.

He said, "Listen to this dream I had.

We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat.

All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up

and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine."
His brothers said, "So! You're going to rule us?

You're going to boss us around?"

And they hated him more than ever because of his dreams

and the way he talked.

To be fair to the context of the passage, Joseph's brothers likely hated him for other reasons, too--he was Jacob's (their father's) favorite and he received (at least one) special gift because of it. But in addition to those factors, the passage says that they hated him "because of his dreams."

Perhaps Joseph's brothers disliked the fact that he told them about his dreams (a lesson for dreamers perhaps?). I don't know about you, but I wouldn't exactly be thrilled if someone described a dream that put me in a very bad light. It wouldn't make me feel great, but I don't know if I would hate the dreamer--hate is a very strong word.

It's an even stronger word when paired with the actions of Joseph's brothers. The dream haters thought about killing the dreamer, but chose instead to sell him--their own brother!--as a slave.

Wow. Those must have been some dreams...

Tomorrow: Genesis 38-40