26/05/2021
This week concluded the BSF book studies of Genesis. It has always been a soul searching study, no matter how many times people study it repetitively. The final homework assignment is for us to prepare an answer and share what truth any patriarchs challenged us the most? I picked Joseph. At first, he was the leading man of the story from Genesis Chapter 37 to Chapter 50, but I remembered Pastor Prince often contends from his propel that Joseph was like the Jesus Christ pre-incarnated.
As each of us only had two minutes to share our answers. I picked another question to share. After intensive studies, I had an acute sense to go back to look up some scriptures again and found it noteworthy to ponder on Joseph’s emotional made-up before his first tear dropped (Genesis 42:24). He had a roller-coastal life. He was his father, Jacob’s favourite son. Out of jealousy and mentioning his dreams, his brothers loathed him and sold him to Egypt when he was seventeen (17).
However, the Lord was with Joseph throughout (it stated four times in one chapter alone Genesis 39:2;3;21;23).’ From Potiphar’s slave, to be fully in charge of Potiphar’s household. Although he was able to flee from the sexual temptation but faced an unjust jail term. The prison warden discerned that the Lord was with Joseph and promoted him in charge of all the inmates. God helped Joseph to interpret dreams (Genesis 40:8b) for the king’s cupbearer and baker. When the cupbearer was set free, he forgot to putting a good word to the king for Joseph. Two years later, God facilitated Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s two dreams.
It knocked the Pharaoh that ‘God revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do (Genesis 41:25b). With the God-given first-rate administrative skills and disciplined stewardship of resources of the land, Joseph won Pharaoh’s complete trust. It paved a safe landing for him to become the Prime minister of Egypt. He was on top of the selling of the grins. When his father, Jacob, heard that there were corns available for sale in Egypt, he sent 10 of his sons down to Egypt. He kept his youngest boy, Benjamin, with him in Canaan. That lead up to the whole drama (Genesis 41).
The ten brothers bowed their faces down to Joseph on their first arrival. That was the first time he saw his brothers after the long-suffering separation. But he was harsh with them, accused them of being spics and locked them up. On the third day, he said unto them, ‘This do, and live, for I fear God (Genesis 42:18).’ Joseph held one of the brothers in hostage and, in his authority, made a demand in exchange for Benjamin (Genesis 42:20) their youngest brother (Genesis 42:20) to prove their innocence on their returned trip.
Knowing with their confidence that they were in front of an Egyptian ruler who would understand not what they said among themselves without an interpreter, The brothers then openly talked about what they did to Joseph and openly confessed their fear of God’s punishment and retribution. Joseph turned himself about from his brothers and Wept (Genesis 42:24a). Joseph ordered to return everyone his money, fill up their bags with grains and food for their trip home.
When the brothers bowed their faces facedown before Joseph, he remembered his dream of them while they were all in their father’s house. He would have the vindictive pleasure in his mind, not tears on his face. If what his brothers had done to him was so vivid in his memories, that would only bring out the root of his bitterness toward them, not tears. Joseph can’t forgive the brothers and forget their wicked deeds. If I were Joseph, I could only think of the classic story of Count of Monte Cristo and his strategy of revenge.
‘On the Third Day (Genesis 42:18)’ things had its dramatic turn that stunning everybody, including probably himself. Given the shortest scripture in the entire Bible found in (John 11:35), ‘Jesus wept’ as the Son of Man on earth when his friend, Lazarus, died and buried for days. It said in (John 11:36 NLT) that”the people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him. If Jesus personified love with His tears, then what gave away Joseph’s tears?
With the premise of ‘the Lord with Joseph’ in mind, I would use these three of ‘R’ words – ‘Relay,’ Repent,’ and ‘Rely on’ to profile Joseph’s frame of mind. In a humanly impossible situation, Joseph compelled to Relay who his God was to him openly (Genesis 42:18). Because he was fearful of hurting HIS Lord’s feeling with his unrighteous mind, he had to Repent to change his precious mindset. Finally, he had to Rely on God’s all-sufficient grace to forgive his brother wholeheartedly with HIS divine Spirit. It’s not far fetch saying that Joseph’s tears personified the Holy Spirit that done it all and said it all for Joseph.
Seven times account for Joseph’s weeping, and an essay (1) entails the remaining six scenes of Joseph’s weeping with each given situation.(Genesis 42:24 to 50:17). The beautiful ending of the entire story glued with two additional ‘R’ words (BSF Lesson 27 Note) that Joseph revealed his identity (Genesis 45) and reunited with Jacob (Genesis46:1-30)… The key phrase of ‘On the Third Day'(Genesis 42:18) drew a beautiful and powerful parallel to my dear Lord of God, Jesus, who came back to life on the third day for us all. The resurrection power made Joseph a victor, not a victim of his past emotional affliction, and the Lord was with Joseph all and all.
1.Seven Scenes of Joseph Weeping
p.s. I would like to dedicate this essay thanksgiving to Esther, our group discussion leader, for her love and devotedness to aid our study during this COVID crises.
The Light Of Faith 