Today’s
Scripture
Psalm 91 Genesis 45:3-8a, 15 Mark 13:24-31
In
our daily readings, “Together in the
Word,” this week we follow the account of Joseph and the rest of his
family, Jacob and his sons. Joseph is
now in charge of all in Egypt. The great
famine stretches out to Canaan and Jacob sends his sons to purchase grain in
Egypt. We see the encounters between
Joseph and his brothers. In these
encounters, we see the brothers with their consciences reminding them what they
did to their brother, Joseph.
In
our text today is the reunion, Joseph revealing himself to his brothers and all
working through the things of the past.
As this week continues we will see how Joseph brings his father’s family
to Egypt. We will read how Israel (Jacob
and his family) are given the best province in Egypt. We will conclude this week as the scene
changes and Jacob’s descendants become slaves instead of honored guests in that
land.
In
the readings preceding today’s text, Joseph shows grace to his family as he
sneakily returns their payment in their sacks.
We see how the brothers tremble in fear as to what is happening as they
remember what they had done to Joseph years ago. Their guilt is consuming them even years
later. In this guilt, they express regret
for what they had done to Joseph, even before they recognized him in this
powerful position.
As
with Jacob’s sons, each one of us bears guilt and remorse over decisions and
actions in the past. Those things seem
to never leave us. Guilt is Satan’s
favorite toy and weapon. He plays on our
consciences and beats us up with guilt.
There is no undoing what was done and Satan wants you to know it.
Guilt
is also a gift from God. Guilt is the
law as a mirror, showing us our sins and how one looks in that sinful
condition. Guilt as a mirror leads to
repentance as we see in Joseph’s brothers.
Repentance is faith, trusting God for his forgiveness he gives in Jesus.
God’s
love comes through in how he works through Joseph, giving Joseph the insight in
this situation how God has worked through these years in all of the episodes
Joseph has gone through. Joseph
recognizes that God has done all of this to save his family in this time of
famine. Joseph counsels his brothers to
not be angry with themselves. The
original word here means, “do not let it burn your eyes.” That means open your eyes from your grief and
anger, and see what is really here. When
you are angry with yourself and when you grieve, your eyes are clouded and you
do not always see what the whole picture is.
God is telling all of us to clear our eyes to see his love and his
working in all things we go through.
Remember Romans
8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. Today part
of God’s purpose is revealed to Joseph, his brothers, and to their father
Jacob. As we continue Together In The Word we will see God
fulfilling his purpose to the Israelites in Egypt and their exodus. We will see God fulfilling his purpose as we
follow Jesus’ footsteps in Mark’s Gospel as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm
Sunday. We will follow him as he
continues through his final teachings, his suffering, death, and
resurrection.
Today’s reunion among Jacob’s sons
points to our final reunion with Christ in heaven. In repentance, we receive the forgiveness won
at the cross. In our baptism Christ
throws off your sinfulness and dresses you in his gloriousness. From our lives in famine, starving for God’s
ultimate goodness, we are brought at last to the green pastures and still
waters promised in Psalm 23. As we read
in Psalm 91, God watches over you at all times, protecting you under his wings
as a mother bird does her young. He
sends his angels to guard you and carry you over all of Satan’s stones set to
trip you up. We have Jesus’ teaching about
that final hour in Mark 13, that he will come at that time, sending his angels
to gather you back in his arms forever.
What a reunion we have in that!
In Jesus’ undying love. Amen.