I don't know about you but when something goes wrong my first inclination normally is the blame game. If you would have done this then that wouldn't have happened. Or, if you would have just listened to me, then we would have this. Joseph knows there is a chance for the blame game with his brothers.
In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals who he really was -- Joseph son of Israel -- and the brothers were "stunned," "speechless." They were not only in front of the person that could provide for them they were also in front of the judge and jury for their behavior towards that person. Joseph, however, doesn't mention one word of what took place in the past except for "don't be angry with yourselves." I think this is so because Judah (the tribe where Jesus came from) offered take the place of Benjamin in jail. Quite a stark contrast to the last encounter with a brother (selling Joseph into slavery).
Joseph tells them to get his father and says, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” Joseph knew there would be the blame game. He stopped it. And, he had the authority to because he had forgiven his brothers of their debt completely. This brings me to marriage and our response to our spouses.
In the story of Joseph -- while literal -- it is also depicting God's plan for all of us. Judah offers himself for Benjamin (as Christ did for us). Joseph, acting as king, forgives them all (as God did for us). And, then says, no blaming.
If you think for a moment that God has canceled your debt and then says this in Eph. 5:21: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." No blame game for what the other did.
1. How does what Christ did for you impact how you submit to your spouse?
2. Read 1 Pet 2:21-31 and just pray and ask God to guide your thoughts and practices re Eph. 5:21.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Forget Me Not
All of us want to be wanted. We want to be remembered. Please, forget me not. Joseph can tell us a story of when he felt forgotten. Forgotten by man. Forgotten by his brothers. Forgotten by his father. And, perhaps, he felt forgotten by his heavenly Father.
In Genesis 40, Joseph is asked to interpret the dreams of the baker and the cup bearer while in the dungeon. He does and gives all the credit to God "Do not interpretations belong to God?" One is to be killed (baker) and the other is to return to his position out of the dungeon (cup bearer). He asks one thing, "But when all goes well with you, remember me [forget me not] and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." All Joseph had done was honor God and refuse to sin with potiphar's wife. We are told that "the chief cup bearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him."
How many of us feel forgotten? By our bosses? By our friends? By our spouses? By God? We have done all that we have known to do. And, all we ask is that we are remembered for the good that we did, and, yet, it seems as though no one remembers. Aren't you glad that our feelings don't dictate reality? There's more to Joseph's story.
In Genesis 41, we learn, "when two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream .... In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him....Then the chief cup bearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings....[Joseph] interpreted them [our dreams] for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."
God caused Joseph to be remembered, and he was asked to interpret the dreams. This was an emergency for the king and the only solution was Joseph. Once again, he gave credit to God saying,"I cannot do it ... but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Because of his ability to interpret the dreams, he was "put ... in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
Some basic thoughts:
1. Do you feel forgotten, overlooked? Joseph had to wait two years for the CIRCUMSTANCES to be right for him to be "remembered" by people. God is at work behind the scenes. "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law." Gal. 4:4. Don't you want the right time and not your time? Then, maybe, you will be the only solution?
2. Do you give credit to God for all that has been accomplished?
3. Are you in a dungeon? Be thankful. God is in the business of taking his children from the dungeon to the throne in a matter of moments.
4. Are you keeping a record? Joseph seems to have the uncanny ability to not record keep. Wow! Not a word to the cup bearer, potiphar, or potiphar's wife (the cause of his imprisonment). I want to camp out here for a moment for our marriages. Record keeping. We get historical on our spouses. It's so easy. And, yet, God tells us that love "keeps no record of wrongs." I Cor 13:5. What do you think? How do we not keep record of wrongs? What does that passage even mean?
Back to the story. We are left with Joseph -- The Second in Command. Sold into slavery. Forgotten by his brothers. Thought dead by his father. Forgotten by Potiphar and his wife. Forgotten by the cup bearer. Remembered by God. And, we know this from the following verse which seems, nearly impossible for me to ever utter in his circumstances, "don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."
GOD REMEMBERS HIS CHILDREN.
See you Thursday night
In Genesis 40, Joseph is asked to interpret the dreams of the baker and the cup bearer while in the dungeon. He does and gives all the credit to God "Do not interpretations belong to God?" One is to be killed (baker) and the other is to return to his position out of the dungeon (cup bearer). He asks one thing, "But when all goes well with you, remember me [forget me not] and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon." All Joseph had done was honor God and refuse to sin with potiphar's wife. We are told that "the chief cup bearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him."
How many of us feel forgotten? By our bosses? By our friends? By our spouses? By God? We have done all that we have known to do. And, all we ask is that we are remembered for the good that we did, and, yet, it seems as though no one remembers. Aren't you glad that our feelings don't dictate reality? There's more to Joseph's story.
In Genesis 41, we learn, "when two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream .... In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him....Then the chief cup bearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings....[Joseph] interpreted them [our dreams] for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."
God caused Joseph to be remembered, and he was asked to interpret the dreams. This was an emergency for the king and the only solution was Joseph. Once again, he gave credit to God saying,"I cannot do it ... but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Because of his ability to interpret the dreams, he was "put ... in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
Some basic thoughts:
1. Do you feel forgotten, overlooked? Joseph had to wait two years for the CIRCUMSTANCES to be right for him to be "remembered" by people. God is at work behind the scenes. "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law." Gal. 4:4. Don't you want the right time and not your time? Then, maybe, you will be the only solution?
2. Do you give credit to God for all that has been accomplished?
3. Are you in a dungeon? Be thankful. God is in the business of taking his children from the dungeon to the throne in a matter of moments.
4. Are you keeping a record? Joseph seems to have the uncanny ability to not record keep. Wow! Not a word to the cup bearer, potiphar, or potiphar's wife (the cause of his imprisonment). I want to camp out here for a moment for our marriages. Record keeping. We get historical on our spouses. It's so easy. And, yet, God tells us that love "keeps no record of wrongs." I Cor 13:5. What do you think? How do we not keep record of wrongs? What does that passage even mean?
Back to the story. We are left with Joseph -- The Second in Command. Sold into slavery. Forgotten by his brothers. Thought dead by his father. Forgotten by Potiphar and his wife. Forgotten by the cup bearer. Remembered by God. And, we know this from the following verse which seems, nearly impossible for me to ever utter in his circumstances, "don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."
GOD REMEMBERS HIS CHILDREN.
See you Thursday night
Friday, January 15, 2010
Debt/Debtor
We live in a society that tells us to follow our hearts. Do what you want when you want. You deserve it. Jesus, however, is countercultural. He tells us to do what's right until it feels right. He tells us that feelings will come as you do the right thing. But, deep down inside it seems hard to believe and society doesn't agree with it. Why should I? Simple, I trust him to bring me home why can't I trust him in other areas of my life and in this instance marriage?
So, I got home last night, wrestled with JT (that's always fun). Steph left the room and I heard CC crying (she doesn't want to go to bed but mama insists) and then I hear the dishes rattling. Steph comes back and the boys have finished their rendition of Gladiatior on the bed. We pop in the movie for JT and tuck him in. Clothes from the dryer hit the bed. I hit play on the DVR. Time for some Idol. And, then I was hit:
"Will you do it, Jeff." Do what? Say, "thank you." hmmmm. But, she's just doing her job......man, how much is that ingrained in us? We put ourselves into a contractual relationship with our spouses. S/he has a job to do and if it is done, perfect. Life moves forward. And, if not, well then, let's see.
To be honest, I didn't "feel" like saying "thank you." But, I make JT say it to us ALL the time cuz it's right! I can't say "thank you?" Come on! And, yet, I battled. Finally, I lay on the bed and say, "Thanks, Steph, for doing the laundry and the dishes." She pauses, and says "thanks for coming home." Sounded strange. Strange but good. Nice to be appreciated. Valued. Wanted.
How about you? How difficult is that little word or two? Are you willing to try?
And, oh yea, I forgot one....Steph, thanks for putting down CC.
So, I got home last night, wrestled with JT (that's always fun). Steph left the room and I heard CC crying (she doesn't want to go to bed but mama insists) and then I hear the dishes rattling. Steph comes back and the boys have finished their rendition of Gladiatior on the bed. We pop in the movie for JT and tuck him in. Clothes from the dryer hit the bed. I hit play on the DVR. Time for some Idol. And, then I was hit:
"Will you do it, Jeff." Do what? Say, "thank you." hmmmm. But, she's just doing her job......man, how much is that ingrained in us? We put ourselves into a contractual relationship with our spouses. S/he has a job to do and if it is done, perfect. Life moves forward. And, if not, well then, let's see.
To be honest, I didn't "feel" like saying "thank you." But, I make JT say it to us ALL the time cuz it's right! I can't say "thank you?" Come on! And, yet, I battled. Finally, I lay on the bed and say, "Thanks, Steph, for doing the laundry and the dishes." She pauses, and says "thanks for coming home." Sounded strange. Strange but good. Nice to be appreciated. Valued. Wanted.
How about you? How difficult is that little word or two? Are you willing to try?
And, oh yea, I forgot one....Steph, thanks for putting down CC.
Monday, January 4, 2010
A simple Phrase
"A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them." Gen. 7:16.
I am sure I have read that part of the Noah story many times. God told Noah to build an ark for the rain (a phenomena that had never occurred prior to the flood). He told him to take at least two of every kind of animal. Noah does. Game on. Only one issue remained: who will close the door to the ark?
Last night it was windy -- very much so. And, JT was scared because of all of the wind. So, he came into our room at least 10 times. Finally, I went to where he was and went to sleep. It wasn't the most comfortable but I did. When JT woke up, he asked, "why did you sleep all night there daddy? You could have left." I said, "because you were scared." To which he replied, "but once I went to sleep, you could have left." Well, I wasn't going to leave. And, it's because I wanted him to know I was near.
Back to the door closing. I would assume Noah had a way to close the door. I mean he opened it when the flood was over. I see a few possibilities, both of which are comforting. Maybe, the Lord closed the door as a way of letting Noah know, I am with you every step of the way. I am near. Then again, the door could have been too heavy to close. If that were the case, another principle is shown: Do all that you know to do and can do, and trust the rest to the Lord. Either way, we see a God that is personal and powerful.
Do you need to know He is near? He knows the number of hairs on your head and will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do you need to see His power? Do all you know to do and can do and then wait.
I am sure I have read that part of the Noah story many times. God told Noah to build an ark for the rain (a phenomena that had never occurred prior to the flood). He told him to take at least two of every kind of animal. Noah does. Game on. Only one issue remained: who will close the door to the ark?
Last night it was windy -- very much so. And, JT was scared because of all of the wind. So, he came into our room at least 10 times. Finally, I went to where he was and went to sleep. It wasn't the most comfortable but I did. When JT woke up, he asked, "why did you sleep all night there daddy? You could have left." I said, "because you were scared." To which he replied, "but once I went to sleep, you could have left." Well, I wasn't going to leave. And, it's because I wanted him to know I was near.
Back to the door closing. I would assume Noah had a way to close the door. I mean he opened it when the flood was over. I see a few possibilities, both of which are comforting. Maybe, the Lord closed the door as a way of letting Noah know, I am with you every step of the way. I am near. Then again, the door could have been too heavy to close. If that were the case, another principle is shown: Do all that you know to do and can do, and trust the rest to the Lord. Either way, we see a God that is personal and powerful.
Do you need to know He is near? He knows the number of hairs on your head and will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do you need to see His power? Do all you know to do and can do and then wait.
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