Take 2: Genesis 37, Proverbs 28

Gen 37 picks up with a new toledoth regarding Jacob's descendents. If you recall, chapter 35 ended by naming the sons of Israel/Jacob. Then chapter 36 gives the history of Esau. Now we jump back to the promised line and examine Israel's descendents.

Gen 37:2 introduces us to Joseph who was favored among his brothers in Israel's eyes (Gen 37:3). This created significant tension and strife among the brothers. This was made more significant when Joseph shared with his family how, in a dream, he saw that his family bowing down to him (Gen 37:5-11).

Such hatred and rivalry occured among his brothers...that they conspired to kill Joseph (Gen 37:18). Reuben "counter-plots" to save Joseph's life (Gen 37:21-22). Certainly his plot is the most practical course of action at this point, since a vote would have yielded that his graciousness toward Joseph was a minority opinion.

Over dinner, the brothers come up with an idea to sell Joseph into slavery to the Ishmaelites (Gen 37:25-28). [Note: There is no stronger way to accentuate the slavery than to sell him to the descendents of Ishmael. This was as bad as one could get.] They even justified their change of action by Judah's statement, "let's not kill him...let's sell him into slavery. After all, he is our brother." (Now that is some twisted logic).

In Gen 37:31, we see that they took Joseph's technicolor dreamcoat [No...that was a movie last century]...they took Joseph's multicolor coat/tunic and covered it in goat's blood and carried it to their father. Jacob examined it and discerned that Joseph was killed by a beast and dragged off. Notice...they refer to Joseph at this point as "Joseph's son", not "our brother," (Gen 37:32-33).

Jacob was heartbroken and mourned, while Joseph was carried to Egypt and was sold into slavery at Potiphar's house...the guard of Pharoah (Gen 37:35).

The writer's point is to show how Joseph ended up in Egypt. Remember, the purpose of Genesis is not to give every detail of every human action; rather, it is to show/reveal how God was working through His covenant on behalf of His people. This is a significant point of THEOLOGY.

God exists outside of time. He is the One who created everything and set everything into motion. Some say that He only observes from a distance and does not act in the midst of human history. The story throughout Genesis (and the whole Bible) is that God is above/ outside of time AND active in time. He is not disinterested. He is not a great "watchmaker" who set up a system, wound it up (like a watch) and simply observes its progress. We are people who are in process...but God is both ABOVE that process...and actively guiding us in the process to an end that He already fully knows. So...

Perhaps you are in the midst of a great trial or struggle. You may even question "why God would allow it." Keep in mind...God is in the midst of bringing your circumstance to a glorious conclusion. You will be greatly encouraged to learn to yield to Him in the midst of your journey and observe how and what He is doing as He works all things together according to His will (Rom 8:28-30).

Proverbs 28:17 is the takeaway today. This proverb struck me this morning. The principle is that when a person is in the midst of sin (an unrepentent state...even if not actually sinning at that moment), he is supposed to experience strife, struggle, and suffering. The point of this verse is that we are not to rescue the person from his struggle without seeing his repentence. Why? Simply stated...because the most important thing a person can do is repent and be restored to relationship with God. The consequences of sin are a way that God brings a person to a point to become willing to change.

I think about the moms and dads I have known through the years who like to "bail out" their children without seeing a change first. Their actions...while intended to be compassionate...are actually only delaying the child's repentence, or...making it impossible for the child to repent (due to a hardening of the heart). This is actually a place where we have to care more about doing it God's way...than doing it our way. How we act/respond to people who sin (with love, gentleness, and a firm resolve to see God's righteousness manifested) determines (in small part) how long it takes for a person to repent and give glory to God. {Tough concept...but worthy of thoughtful consideration...at least for me.}

Grace.