It is of course from the film Finding Nemo. These fishy
friends have finally escaped their fish tank while it was being cleaned out and
have made it to the open ocean.
This picture speaks to our times today and reminds us of
social distancing- each of us in a bubble of our own.
What has been extremely hard over these past few months is
not being with family- having to socially distance ourselves- in my case not
only from my children Rachel and John but also from the grandchildren. When
lockdown began to ease up, we have still maintained social distancing for the
sake of the vulnerable people Rachel and I meet.
It is all of our choices, but they are hard ones.
Not being with family during a major world-wide crisis,
really is very hard.
In Joseph’s world-albeit now Egypt, there is a world-wide
crisis- a famine. Widespread reaching beyond Egypt’s borders to include Canaan.
Joseph’s life up till now has been full of highs and lows
but the underpinning low has been the separation from his family which has been
for quite some time, and of course not by his choice.
Joseph the dreamer, favourite son of Jacob.
Gave him a specially made coat of many colours.
But Jacob had not given much thought to how Joseph’s
brothers would feel.
Joseph’s self- inflated pride and his brothers’ jealousy got
Joseph sold into slavery.
Between last week’s reading and this week- a huge amount has
been left out and it is quite important. So briefly…
Joseph as a slave served under Potiphar who found he liked
Joseph because he worked hard. Unfortunately, so did his wife for all the wrong
reasons and she made up a story that Joseph had made her unfaithful to
Potiphar.
Needless to say his good relationship with Potiphar
collapsed and he was thrown into prison.
But then he met Pharaoh’s butler and baker who had both had
dreams.
And God used Joseph to explain what their dreams meant and
both dreams came true. But Joseph was forgotten about and stayed locked up in
prison.
Then Pharaoh had strange dreams and Joseph’s skill at
interpretation was remembered.
Joseph was called in to interpret the dreams. Here we have a
clash of cultures.
Joseph was brave to suggest to Pharaoh, that only his God could
interpret dreams. Pharaohs of the time believed in divine kingship. They
believed themselves to be the incarnation, manifestation or agent of their
sacred gods. When Pharaoh sat on his throne wearing all his symbols of office,
it was believed that the great god Horus spoke through him. So for Joseph to
suggest to Pharaoh, that there was a greater God, was quite a risky business.
Pharaoh knew these dreams had a meaning and none of his
advisors could interpret them. So for him to ask Joseph to interpret, meant
that he was acknowledging there must be a greater God.
Joseph warned of the 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years
of famine. On advising Pharaoh to select a wise man to be in charge of
rationing- Joseph had effectively written his own job description.
Here he is accepting Pharaoh’s promotion from prisoner to 2nd
in command!
Ring, robes and chain of office.
Joseph was now 30 years old.
Joseph’s brothers apart from Benjamin, travelled to Egypt to
buy grain and came before Joseph, but did not recognise him. He knew Benjamin
was missing and sent them back to bring him as well. He took Simeon as a
prisoner to ensure they returned-which in due time they did.
Joseph was not sure how honest they had become and tested
them by concealing his own silver cup in Benjamin’s sack of grain. As they were
leaving he accused them of being thieves and of course the cup was found in the
youngest brother’s sack. Benjamin was now to be Joseph’s slave for life as punishment
for his crime.
Each of the brothers in turn offered to take Benjamin’s
place-confirming that they had all had a great change of heart…
Then we have today’s reading- Genesis 45:1-15 the great
revelation and family reconciliation which a bit later on will also have Jacob
and the rest of the wider family joining them in Egypt.
What does this tell us about the people in the story?
In some ways they are very like people of today:
There was self- pride
There was family favouritism
There was jealousy
There were lies
But there was also great courage
There was change of heart
There was also great sadness and
regret at the crime committed
There was gracious forgiveness
There was reconciliation
There was faith
What does it say about God?
Throughout this whole adventuresome story, God has been in
control. His providence still goes on- even when a situation seems hopeless or
beyond any kind of redemption, God can turn any situation that has been
intended for evil and harm, into good. He sent Joseph on ahead to preserve the
lives of his family, save Egypt and prepare the way for the beginning of the
nation of Israel.
Those who met Joseph were aware that wherever he went and
whatever he did God was with him. Even Pharaoh asked
“Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the
spirit of God?” (Gen 41:38)
What is the message for us today?
God’s providence is much wider reaching than just this story
of Joseph and family. So many of the weaknesses and mistakes of the brothers
can still be found in today’s society. In our Gospel reading from Matthew Jesus
states
19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder,
adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.
These are the
results of our own will-not God’s.
The change of
heart of the brothers and the gracious forgiveness of Joseph are in many ways
an overture as to what was to become, in the complete and ultimate redemption
of the world. God sacrificed his only Son on a cross to redeem the world from
sin-the evil intentions of hearts. And it is a change of heart that God looks
for
As the psalmist
says
We are
Forgiven
Reconciled
It is by God’s immeasurable grace that we are forgiven. Just
like Joseph’s brothers- with all their faults and change of heart, by the power
of Christ’s death and resurrection, we too can share in the loving
reconciliation with our God- a God who watches over our stories too, each of us
needing to play our part in his master plan. Amen.