9/21 - Exodus 1:8 - Do you know Joseph?

Do You Know Joseph?

 

⁸ Now a new king

arose over Egypt,

who did not know Joseph.

Exodus 1

 

Do you know Joseph?

 

Pharaoh didn’t, and it led to disaster for Egypt. (It’s funny how forgetting a little thing like history can do that.)

 

You wouldn’t want to forget a little history and reap a little disaster like Pharaoh, right? Therefore, the first step toward freedom begins with this question: Do you know Joseph?

 

This great-grandson of Abraham, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Carted away to Egypt, Joseph’s God-given ability to interpret dreams allowed him to save Egypt from a famine. And when his brothers came to the land of the pyramids to beg for food, they never expected that the high-ranking Egyptian official they would approach would be in reality their own little brother (who had been promoted to second in charge of this desert nation).

 

The climax this story – indeed, the climax of the entire book of Genesis – was the forgiveness that Joseph offered his brothers: “You planned evil against me; but God purposed it for good.” ^{Genesis 50:20}

 

Freedom is the theme of these devotions, and freedom begins by knowing Joseph … and adopting his character.

 

What does Joseph teach us about freedom? First, he teaches us about perspective. If Joseph focused downward toward the situations of this earth, he would have been discouraged. He would have given up. He was sold as a slave by his own brothers. He was carted as a foreigner to a distant land. He was betrayed by his master’s family and thrown into prison. He was forgotten by a friend and left to rot even longer in a jail cell.

 

But … Joseph didn’t focus downward. He kept looking for – and seeing – God’s gracious hand. Looking heavenward, he could say – boldly and joyfully – “You planned evil against me; but God purposed it for good.” ^{Genesis 50:20}

 

I want that kind of boldness! I want that kind of joy! Regardless of my circumstances, I want to be able to look for, see, and celebrate God’s goodness. Which leads to Joseph’s second lesson about freedom – forgiveness.

 

You’ve heard the question: Which came first – the chicken or the egg? Well, I don’t know which comes first perspective or forgiveness, but I’m convinced that the reason the many of us can’t forgive is that we don’t have the perspective that God is truly active, present, and with us, that he knows the truth and will provide the ultimate justice. (Is that you?)

 

Does perspective lead to forgiveness? Yes. But I’m equally convinced that forgiveness leads to the heavenward perspective that gives us life. Indeed, having walked as a pastor with hundreds of individuals, I’ve witnessed that the reason that many of us can’t see God’s love, grace, and provision is that we’ve put a barrier between him and us by refusing to forgive.

 

I know. Trust me. I know you’ve been hurt. But Joseph was hurt too. And he chose to forgive – and it is a choice. When we are holding onto hurts and betrayals, it is us – not the perpetrator – who is in bondage. Joseph teaches us what forgiveness and freedom look like. And by taking the hard step of forgiving his brothers – his perspective was transformed and he changed the destiny of an entire nation.

 

Do you want to change the destiny of your family for generations? Freedom starts with the question: Do you know Joe?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who knows the answer

to which came first –

the chicken or the egg?

 

The answer is …

God came first!

 

(I know, I know, it’s not that funny.

I should be more clever!

But truth and a proper perspective

always come first if we want

more freedom and a richer life.)