Sunday, July 2, 2017

Those who stay, and send others away...

Genesis 37:18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 
The account of Joseph and his brothers shouts about the Sovereignty of God, despite the evil hearts and bad actions of men.  We know how the story ends: God uses Joseph to deliver his family from starvation and extinction.  Nonetheless, the brothers' envy and closemindedness drives them to drive Joseph, and his vision, away.  How often this happens in God's family, the Church.  Someone catches a vision for what God can do, and others, willing to stick with the status quo, and protect their own little kingdoms, drive them away, splitting the family, and robbing them of joyful experiences they could have had together.  What makes Joseph stand out so much is how he does not become bitter and retaliate.  That is so UNLIKE many who have been driven by churches.  They speak evil and wish the worst for those they have left behind.  Not Joseph: he longed for reconciliation and reunion, and cherished it when it happened.  So whether you've left, or been forced to leave, or you've stayed and made others leave: Is there any bitterness that remains, robbing you of the joy of the Lord, keeping you from being reconciled to brothers and sisters?

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