For about a month now I have hammered what I consider to be three very important truths in life and faith. So, let me give you a reminder of them once again: God is in Control; God doesn't waste anything; We must keep our eyes on Him! We are moving toward the end of our look at the life of Joseph over the next two weeks. As we do, we are going to encounter some of the most moving, heartrending and emotional moments in the entire narrative. These moments all coalesce around the God - orchestrated reunion between Joseph (as a 'lord of the land') and his brothers who earlier in life seriously contemplated his murder before they decided on the more lucrative route of selling him into slavery.
Put yourself in Joseph's shoes and think for a moment how you might respond to such a situation. What type of emotions would be running through your head? Really, of all the dysfunctional family systems in our world today, this ancient family has got to take the cake. In fact, most of us moderns (if we didn't have such a thorough knowledge of the story) might think that a scene like this would be the opening trailer to one of our trashy day time talk shows. Picture it in your mind. The show opens to slow music that builds to a climax as the narrator says something like this:
'Our first guest today is 'Joe, I was sold into slavery by my dysfunctional family years ago.' Yes, that's right - years ago, Joe's family abandoned him - selling him - yes folks selling him - into the hands of a foreign slave trade (the audience goes 'boo/hiss' on cue). Then all of his brothers feigned (that means faked) his death and told everyone in his home town that he had been eaten by a wild animal. BUT (with the 'but' is a huge dramatic pause) what they didn't know was that this young man, proved to be too much for slavery and prison (YES, PRISON) and is now one of the wealthiest men in all the world (the audience 'applauds' on cue). The one wrinkle in all this is that Joe's brother's have no idea that he is still alive - today they will meet for the very first time -ON National television - you, the audience will get to see all the fireworks! You think your family is dysfunctional? Stay tuned to see a whole other dimension of family dysfunction NEXT on the 'I have nothing better to do with my time during the day so I sit here watching mindless entertainment' talk show!!
Well, you get the picture - our modern day responses of holding grudges, staying bitter, not forgiving people and getting even are the opposite of what happened in the life of Joseph. And, to be honest with you, I want to be someone who forgives others! I want to be someone who does not hold grudges and who lets go of bitterness!
If you want to hear more about letting go of bitterness and overcoming un-forgiveness, then join us this Sunday at either 9:30 or 11:00!
Overcoming Life's Challenges!
Biz
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