Faltering Lips Sink Ships

Exodus 6:28-7:7

So Moses continues his "Why me? Send someone else" pleas and God reinforces his compromise-

Moses' excuse is faltering lips- why would they listen to me? God's response is that Aaron will be the voice. But the arrangement is a bit more complex than that.

Moses will be like God to Pharoah- and Aaron will be Moses' prophet. God hasn't given Moses carte blanche- He will tell Moses everything to tell Aaron- but he won't have to be the speaker. The speech teacher in me continues to be interested in the speech anxiety present in Moses' character, but even more interesting is the struggle with faith evident here.

Moses...dude...um, God's in your court- where's this anxiety coming from?

But it's there- and God helps him cope with it. But in a really weird way.

God sets up this hierarchy where Moses is "like God to Pharoah" and Aaron will be Moses' prophet. So- why is Moses even necessary in the process. Why not cut out the middleman and speak directly to Aaron since he seems to have been given the gift of gab?

Maybe it's more for Moses' benefit than for the fulfillment of God's plan. Maybe it's an attempt to let Moses see just what can be accomplished through God's will. But it's still odd.

Kinda cool to notice that once again God uses the younger (Moses) to rule over the older (Aaron). It seems to be a pattern for God to take the unlikely and use him to accomplish His goals.

And maybe that's why He uses us, too.

Bring 'Em Home

Exodus 6: 13-27

Ahhh, geneologies- my favorite.

This section starts off with an odd change of tone. God commands Moses and Aaron to bring the Israleites out of Egypt. This isn't new news- we already know about their mission- but the phrasing here has a much different feel than I'll be with and tell you what to say. The responsibility for results seems to have shifted. Nothing has changed- God is in control and He's calling the shots, but clearly the tone is different.

Is Moses taking a characteristically inflated view of himself as he looks back on his epic tale?

Is God tiring of his whining and saying- you WILL follow through, so deal with it?

Is it simply an awkward translation?


other thoughts:

It's interesting to me that some people in this list have ages listed with them and others do not.

Were the records incomplete?

Did these people live to odd ages making them noteworthy? This seems unlikely- for while they would've made Willard Scott's list, they're far from Methusaleh status.

Also of note- Aaron and Moses are pointed out as children of incest. Their mother is also their great aunt. It doesn't seem to be taboo yet, but is it significant that these men rise to greatness from auspicious beginnings?

I hadn't remembered (or maybe never realized) that Nadab and Abihu (of strange fire fame) were actually Aaron's children. It's interesting how quickly fates can change for a family.

Narratively this structure seems really odd. Moses has been telling his story and plunks this geneology here in the middle of it all. And at the end he sees fit to remind us that the Moses and Aaron mentioned are the ones who lead the Israelites out of captivity. Ummm- thanks Moses...we've been reading, we get it.

Just some odds and ends- but what do you want? It's a geneology.

Wise Guy

Exodus 5:21- 6:12


So Moe, afraid to speak in public, once again has the courage to stand up to God. This time he more or less says- Why am I even here? Nothing but bad things have happened- and You're nowhere to be found.

God answers with reassurance- not wrath. Really a neat moment of God's patience and love for His creation. Instead of barrelling back with "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" He instead tells Moses, "You'll see, it's all under control."

His continuing message is a little (ok a lot) puzzling, though. He says, " I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- but they just thought I was God Almighty, not the LORD."

Huh?

I'm not sure that I get the actual distinction- is He saying they knew I was A God but not THE God? I think ultimately the point may be- they were impressed at My power, but they really had no idea how much in control I really am.

God comforts Moses and says that it will be ok. But when Moe reports back to the Israelites, they'll have none of it. After the extra burden from Pharaoh they'd like nothing better than to distance themselves from this guy who uses his rod to stir the pot.

God tells him to go back to Pharaoh but even after the comfort from God, he goes back and still tries to get out of it. If the Israelites won't even listen to me, how will I ever convince Pharaoh?

This may be where we can empathize most. We find ourselves with the burden and forget that God runs the ship. I don't have to worry about what I can do. If God is working through me then the obstacle is unimportant. We don't just serve God Almighty- we serve The LORD!

Festival of Swords

Exodus 5: 1-21

So Moses and Aaron go see Pharoah and begin their "let my people go" entreaties. It doesn't go so well- at least not in the short term. Their opening presentation leaves two very different images of God- one uplifting- one pretty scary.

They tell Pharoah that God has told them "'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert." And I'm struck by how cool that sounds. When was the last time you thought of worship as a festival? I'm guessing not so much the creepy carnies, about to break ferris wheel or out of control ticket prices- but more the sense of enormous celebration, huge gathering and sheer joy. Worship too often can consist of drudgery, guilt, responsibility and service instead of an expression of pure unadulturated passion for our creator and father.

But their very next response quiets the party. "Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword." Suddenly this party doesn't sound like quite so much fun anymore. Is this just a tactic Moses is using to get Pharoah to change his mind? It doesn't work. Or is this really a fear the Israelites have? Maybe it expresses a misperception of God on the part of Moses and Aaron. The first idea came directly from God- and this seems to be based more on a reaction from Moses and Aaron.

Or maybe the "us" here was the land and not the people. Not God will hunt down the Israelites, but- Pharoah if you don't give in- bad things are going to happen around here.

Well Pharoah's not biting- and in fact says that if the Israelites have time to whine about worship, they have time to do more work. So they stop providing the Isralites with straw to make bricks. They still have to make just as many, they just have to find their own raw materials to make them from.

Naturally this doesn't go over so well. It doesn't happen. Production decreases and the Israelite foremen go talk to Pharoah about it. We're working just as hard as before- we just don't have the straw. But Pharoah won't relent- he calls them lazy and won't reduce the workload.

As you might guess, Moses and Aaron aren't about to win any popularity contests in the camp. The foremen tell them "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

What must Moses be thinking at this point? Lord God, I've done what you asked- I knew I'd be bad at this- and I was right. Why have You left me? Not only doesn Pharoah hate me- so do the Israelites. Why am I even here?

And maybe the same thing happens to us. We come to a crossroads where there's a tough choice. We make the one we think is right, not the one we want to choose- but the one that seems like the right choice. And when we take that path...bad things happen. Wait, it wasn't supposed to be like this.

But we don't see the other side of the valley. We don't see the sunshine after the rain- we're in the moment. And too often our short-sightedness makes us back out- or head back for the other path.

May we press through the pain- and see what God has in store for us further on down the road.

Wes Craven's Bridegroom of Blood

Exodus 4: 18-31

The time is now- and God tells Moses to head on back to Egypt and take care of business. But even before Moe gets the word, he tells Jethro he'll be leaving the Clampetts and heading back to Egypt to see if any of his own people are still alive.

Is Moses embarassed about his mission? Doesn't want to seem crazy or fanatical? Why doesn't he come straight out and say "God is sending me"? Maybe he's facing some of the same pressures to conform that we face thousands of years later.

But God sends him, and he goes.

Most of the rest of the chapter is puzzling and worrysome.

First off God tells Moses that He will harden Pharoah's heart so that he won't let the Israelites go- and then when he doesn't, He'll tell him (through Moses) that since you won't let my first born worship me, I'm going to kill your firstborn.

I understand that God knows Pharoah's heart and that all things (evil and good) work toward God's purpose- but this notion of God actually hardening Pharoah's heart is troublesome for me. For one thing, it seems to fly in the face of freewill. If I can't choose, then how can I be responsible for my actions?

I can get around this in my mind a little- simply by God's omnipotence. If He knows my heart- if He knows what I will choose- then the actual choice itself becomes fairly perfunctory. But if Pharoah was already going to say "no"- why did God need to harden his heart? Is He just speeding up the process? And does He harden my heart today?

This really confuses me- and while I've heard it explained away over and over- I'm not really comfortable with all those explanations. Regardless- if God is the father I believe Him to be, I can trust Him to act in my life according to my best interests, if I don't make it to heaven, it won't be because I got cheated by God- even if I don't understand all the inner-workings of His being (and it's a good thing, because I don't).

But now the other troubling part.

Moses and family are en route to carry out God's plans and when they stop for the night, God sets out to kill his son (or Moses- it's kind of ambiguous). It seems Moses hadn't circumcised him. So Zipporah, apparently well-skilled with the flint knife- does the job, drops the foreskin at Moses feet and calls him a "bridegroom of blood."

This seems way legalistic- Moses is setting out to do God's work- and while he's traveling- he almost loses his child. Scary- but maybe there are a couple of important lessons here.

1) You can't pick and choose God's will. Even if I'm serving God- if I'm consciously defying Him at the same time (which they seem to have been doing since Zipporah knew what had to be done) things aren't going to be ok. While that could lead to an unhealthy paranoia- am I doing everything? What if I forget...? The more healthy application may be to seek- knowing that God's not going to abandon you in the dark. And when you find...act.

2) and maybe even more importantly- this may be a wonderful example of the difference between covenants. This is the pre-Jesus get it all right, no room for error, no room for grace, blood on the doorpost kind of situation. Maybe Moses forgot, was preoccupied, was a little queasy with such medical procedures- whatever. But without Jesus to bridge the gap- the world was a much harsher place. And the lesson is...phew! We've got him- and his grace makes all the difference in the world.

The chapter ends with God sending Aaron to meet Moses. They meet with the Israelite elders- tell them of God's concern and hearing the wondrous news, they worship.

Not Wholly Moses
Exodus 4:1-17


So God has just told Moses that he is the guy. He's going to lead his people but Moses isn't so sure he wants the job. Sounds like a great gig...but I didn't really apply. Who else have you got?

First he says- I don't feel like my cup overfloweth with credibility. What happens when they laugh at me? These burning bush things don't happen too often- how will I convince them I'm not crazy...or lying...or both?

So God tells him to throw his staff on the ground. When he does, it becomes a snake. When he picks it back up, it's a staff again. Ta-daa.

God says- I'm giving you some crowd-pleasing credibility. They'll know that the God of their fathers is behind it all.

I guess God sensed that Moses wasn't totally convinced. So perhaps as a pre-emptive move, He tells him- put your hand in your cloak. So Moses does, and when he pulls it out- he's got leprosy.

If I'm Moses, I'm not a big fan of this proof-tactic. And when I do this, look- I'm diseased! I might be thinking- how about I give them leprosy? I could saw the Egyptian in two- how about that?

Even as I write that last little bit- it strikes me how easy it is to think of these miracles as parlour tricks. Like if Penn and Teller lived back in the day Moses and Aaron would have been out of work (except for that whole thing about Penn and Teller being atheists and all). But even if I didn't much like it- if I'm Moses I think I get the point.

Moses, they'll believe you- and just in case you're doubting- look what I can do to you. I want you to do this...and I'm able to change sticks into snakes, give you leprosy- and so much more. Still sure you want to risk getting on my bad side?

But before you mistake our relationship...put your hand back. See? The leprosy's gone. What else can I do? I can protect you- I can save you- give me some trust here- they'll believe you. And what I really want is for YOU to believe that I've got it all in control.

But in case they don't believe, God gives Moses still another option. Get some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Yeah, after you finish, I wouldn't drink too much of it- it'll turn into blood.

God's been amazingly patient up to this point. He didn't pull the old "because I said so"- He tries reasoning with Moses; He tries boosting his confidence; He tries a little fear- but when Moses still isn't sold on the idea- God has had enough.

I'm not really much of a speaker. I'm "slow of speech and tongue," Moses says. I've heard theories of Moses being a stutterer. And that would certainly explain a lot. Public speaking phobia is a real and common thing and for many it is overwhelming. A not-so-recent survey of Americans placed public speaking a greater fear than death. Maybe this is why Moses is so bold in trying to get out of it.

Lord God, I'd rather risk your displeasure than face this great fear. And while I don't know if Moses was a stutterer or just a bit awkward- it would certainly seem reasonable that in either case this would be a major task to accept.

God's reply seems similar to His resonse to Job. It's his "do you know who I am?" argument. Hey- Moses- I make mouths- I make them dumb. I'm going to tell you what to say.

Moses is desperate now- he's at the "pretty please with sugar on top" state of arguing. Please send someone else.

And amazingly, God relents. FINE! Take Aaron- just stop with the complaining. Aaron can be your mouth piece. But you'll do the miracles.

He tells Moses - "It will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him." This seems like a really odd phrase for God to use. But I guess the point is- you can use Aaron- but you're not out of the equation. I'll be coming to you only- it'll be your responsibility to be my mouth- and the people can assume that what you say came from me.

The big thing that jumps out at me in this section is the power of prayer. God changes His will for the sake of his worried child. When we express our fears to our father- He relents- He comforts- He doesn't excuse us from service, or bench us in the game- but he listens and makes it all ok.

And God leaves room for discussion- not to be manipulated- but he opens His mind and is willing to find another perfect way if it makes the path a little eaier for His children. And if He cuts Moses this much slack- He'll do the same for us.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

Exodus 3

So Moses is out tending his father-in-law's flock when he notices a bush burning. Instead of thinking "this fire could cause amazing damage- I better put it out," he notices that the bush never burned up. Maybe his concern for a potential spreading flame led him to notice the odd quality of this "strange fire."

God speaks to him from the bush and tells him to take off his shoes since he's on holy ground and identifies Himself as the God of his ancestors. He tells Moses that he's seen the suffering of his people and that Moses is the one to lead them out- into a land flowing with milk and honey. I might prefer one flowing with pork-chops and diet pepsi- but it still sounds a whole lot better than slavery.

Moses says- whoa...who am I to handle this? God says- relax...I'll be with you.

Moses says the equivalent of- ok then...who are you to help me? Or more politely, "what's your name in case they ask me?"

God says "I AM who I AM." Tell them I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Tell them I've been watching and I'm going to get you out of this mess. You'll have plenty of milk and plenty of honey.

Tell the king that God has told you to take a three day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices. Of course he'll say no- until I show him what I can do. So I will- and then he'll let you go. In fact the people will like you so much that you won't even have to leave empty-handed. Let each woman ask neighbors and housemates for gold and clothes- and you'll end up plundering them.

A couple of ideas:

God chooses Moses, apparently not the most religious man. God identifies himself- and Moses still has to ask who He is. Granted, information was distributed much differently in that day and time but he still didn't seem to know much about this Being from the bush. It's so easy to puff yourself up when you see yourself as someone doing God's work. I worship regularly, I give to charity, I read the word- surely I'm on God's A-list. It looks like here that God has use for folks who might not fit into such an easily classifiable mold. And to puff ourselves up over others is silly and harmful.


Moses also seems to have learned some humility. He's gone from the Egyptian slaying, shepherd terrorizing potential peacebringer to someone who thinks...maybe I'm not qualified for such important work. While it seems like he displays a lack of confidence in God, maybe this quality of humility is what caused God to choose him in the first place. And maybe humility in my life would open doors of service too.

I'll keep looking for that bush.

When You're A Shepherd...

Exodus 2: 11-25

So Moses grows up and witnesses a street fight. An Egyptian is brawling with a Hebrew and Moses, feeling a sense of ethnic pride decides to help the cause. He kills the Egyptian and hides him in the sand- which I guess means, he buried him. Only a day later he comes upon two Hebrews (he bruise) brawling and after determining who was to blame gave the whole "aren't we brothers?" speech hoping to end the violence.

The outcome, though, wasn't quite what Moses expected. Basically the Hebrew replies- "you're not the boss of me...and what're you gonna do about it? Kill me like you did the Egyptian?"

Suddenly Moses's heartrate increases as he realizes- I could be in trouble. The word has apparently reached the street. What was intended as a way to show support for his people has backfired badly. And now Pharoah's out for his neck too.

And how do we react when our good intentions backfire and put us in trouble? Moses runs. OK, I'm outta here. I'm done playing the hero- I'm done butting in to other people's business. It's live and let live I say...until he comes upon a well where thug shepherds are bullying the priest's daughters, not letting them water their flock.

This is a seemingly comical scenario to me. Shepherds from the hood- If West Side Story were set in Midian I could see these guys snapping their fingers and waving their staffs in the air. But Moses is there to rescue these maidens and restore justice.

As his reward, Moses is given one of these girls for a wife. Zipporah bears him a son named Gershom. During this time the king of Egypt died and the Israelites aren't too keen about their slavery. And God is concerned about his children.

Two thoughts. It strikes me that Moses has a bit of a hero's complex. Breaking up fights, killing Egyptians, scaring off shepherds and while he has varying amounts of success, it isn't until he starts working FOR God that he really makes things happen. Maybe it's the same for us- we mean well and we act, but without going through the source- trying to do it without God may make us clumsy, overbearing, or just plain wrong.

Secondly- the chapter ends expressing God's concern about his Israelites. This insight to God's personality is interesting to me. He knows the outcome- he knows what's going to happen to these people, but still he's "concerned"- a word that suggests to me tension regarding the outcome of a situation.

God's rooting for us- He feels our pains, hears our cries- and even though He knows what successes and failures lie ahead, He still feels the heartache of uncertainty right along with us. Even though He knows I'm going to face temptation and make it through (or not) He still invests Himself emotionally in the whole process.

It's like me watching the ball go through Bill Buckner's legs time after time after time and not only feeling his pain every time but rooting and caring and empathizing, even though I know the outcome.

He cares. He comforts. He cheers. He's in our corner even when we fail.

The Story of Me

Exodus 2: 1-10

So Moses is born and after three months, knowing his potential fate, his mother hides him in the reeds along the banks of the river. Moses's sister (Miriam?) watches from a distance and sees Pharoah's daughter approaching. Moses cries and she has pity on him.

Seizing the opportunity, Miriam offers to find a "surrogate" mother for him who actually happens to be his actual mother. And now Pharoah's daughter even pays mama Moses for raising him. Sounds like a plotline to a French farce . When he grew older his mother takes him to Pharoah's daughter to be her son.

I think the four players in this scene all add to greater understanding.

Moses's mother despairs to such a degree that she thinks he is better off hiding in the bushes than remaining hidden as her son. How difficult a choice it must have been to finally realize, there's nothing I can do to protect him. He'll die if I don't let him go. And finally after three months, she accepts that she doesn't control everything around her.

Wow, tough lesson. All too often I try to fix my own problems, figure my way through, plot my escape, solve the world's dilemmas...and I can't do it. I don't have the capacity, the ingenuity, the resources and often even the desire to make everything okay. I can't make it all okay. I can't make my house sell or make my students learn, or make my sins ok- it takes a force far beyond what I can do to make any of it work.

Great- but what does it mean to turn it over to God? Stop trying? Stop encouraging? These don't seem right and while the concept of trusting God is obviously the answer, the application is elusive and intangible. Which might make the challenge part of the answer.

How about Moses's sister? I'm assuming she's Miriam, but I have no idea. She had the foresight to watch the bushes and jump at the chance to put things the way she wanted them. She's an opportunist- but I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way. Miriam took one for the team- she knew what her family and more specifically her baby bro needed, and she made it happen. Miriam looked at the world beyond it's direct affect on her. She saw what was lacking in those she loved and tried to fill the gap. Great lesson.

Pharoah's daughter is an interesting character. She had pity on a crying baby. Crying babies aren't exactly a rare commodity. In fact...at some point, all babies are crying babies. Is she rebelling against her tyrannical father? Does she secretly want her own child? Does she see the injustice in the current regime and act to restore humanity in a time where's it's a rarity? And think about what she's risking. She's defying the most powerful man in the land for the sake of a strange child of a different race.

If Pharoah had found out, would he have laughed it off as the impulsiveness of his daughter? Would he have disowned her? Or killed her? Why does she put so much of herself on the line? And would we do as much for a stranger? Do I help the stranger on the side of the road who looks a little scary? Do I stand up for the little guy in the face of the angry majority? Or do I play it safe?

And fianlly we have the original autobiographer. What would it have been like for Moses to step back and examine the beginning of his own life? He's looking back after a long life of service, doubt, courage, rashness, defiance, accomplishment and regret. When he looks back to square one does he see the beginning of an epic saga or the pilgrimage of a misguided schnook who doesn't get where he intended, but through God's help gets close enough?

And if I were to pen my own tale- would I be able to view my habitual failures in the frame of a successful exodus? It takes getting over the disappointments- and more difficultly getting over yourself.

And The Journey Begins

Exodus 1

So some time has passed- in fact enough time for Joseph and his brothers to have all died- and a new king to be in power. Enough time has also passed for this new king to not know about Joseph. The Israelites took this be fruitful and multiply thing to heart and the Egyptians were starting to worry.

They hypothesize- if there's a war- there are enough of these people to side with the enemy and cause us some serious trouble. So they crack the whip and lay down the law- enslaving the Hebrews, trying to break their spirit. But even in their misery- they still found time to make babies.

So finally the king talks to the Hebrew midwives (they only had 2? They must have been quite busy from the sound of things) and tells them to let the girls live but to kill the boys. The midwives were God-fearing though and it didn't happen. When questioned about it, the midwives reply- These Hebrews are some vigiorous women- by the time we get there, they've already given birth. God rewards these midwives with families of their own.

Pharoah orders all male Hebrew children to be thrown into the Nile- which I guess would make it a less than ideal picnic spot.

2 lessons:
1) We're only a small part of the plan. It's easy to have grandiose visions about your role in God's plan- but only one generation later (?) the news of Joseph's great works was gone from Egypt. If his life can be forgotten so quickly, what chance do I have to make a major impact?

1b) in the same light- it's easy to carry around the weight of the world for things done poorly or not done at all- we're still only a small part of the plan. We can't thwart God's will- and our weaknesses and failures aren't bigger than God's power and grace.

so...work to please God- but take the pressure off yourself. You aren't the savior- or the serpent- just a servant willing to keep trying.

2) What about these midwives? They save the lives of these Hebrew children (yeah!) and then cover their backsides with this whopper of a lie about vigorous Hebrew women (oops). Yet God is pleased and rewards them.

Couldn't they have saved them and faced up to it? Were they saving themselves to save more babies in the future? Does it matter?

Seems here that saving the children was a bigger issue than honesty- but I'm not sure why they were mutually exclusive. How is their deception acceptable? Maybe the message is that we're way more concerned with the details than God is- although that thought scares me- and goes against every legalist-ingrained bone in my body.

Love your God- love your neighbor- maybe they still had these things covered.

The End of the Beginning

Genesis 50:22-26

So Joseph lives to the age of 110 and sees three generations of his children's children. Interestingly, he still passes before at least some of his brothers- we know this because he tells them he is about to pass. He asks them to promise to take him out of the land to bury him.

He assures his brothers that God will come through and fulfill the promise that he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is the message here for me...patience.

How easy it would have been to have lost faith that it wasn't actually going to happen. This promise is hundreds of years old at this point. But even at death, Joseph isn't bitter about missing it, or skeptical about it happening. Instead, he assures his brothers to hang on...it's coming.

And Genesis ends.

Deathbed Desires

Genesis 50:15-21

So Jacob's gone and Joseph's brothers assume that now it's time for Joseph to take revenge. This is reminiscent of Esau's plans to to get Jacob once Isaac was gone. So the brothers hatch a plan- we'll take Jospeh some "deathbed instructions." They create this tale of Jacob asking Joseph to forgive his brothers. Ever the rhetoricians, they even refer to themselves as "the servants of the God of your father." They throw themselves at Joseph's mercy declaring themselves his slaves.

They lay it on pretty thick and Joseph bites. Whether he believes them or not, he weeps at the news and tells them not to be afraid, he's not God- and what they intended as evil, God used for good. He then says that he will provide for their children.

A few observations:
1) The brothers are compelled to apologize but afraid to really do it. Even with misguided motives, they bear the burdens of their actions and are ready to submit to slavery to alleviate their guilt (or in this case to escape the potential repurcussions). I can relate to these feelings. It's easy to feel the need to unburden and want to come clean- but in the process minimize the actions and confess to part of the misdeed- or rhetorically hide the apology beneath another message- or maybe even say that dad hopes you'll forgive me. And the result is only temporary peace.

But beneath it all- there is the deep desire to wash the sin away- to truly believe that the pain is over and all is forgiven.

2) Joseph wants to forgive. I don't know if Joseph's mercy is sparked by the "request" from his father, or if he had already forgiven- but he is emotionally moved by the process. Maybe he's crying at the mention of his recently deceased dad, or maybe the load of bearing resentment has finally been lifted.

It's so easy to carry grudges- and it's so tiring to pour energy into hatred. Joseph, etiher here or earlier on lets it all go.

3) Joseph tells them that what they intended for harm, God used for good. And while it's often hard to see it into our own paths, the pattern is still there.

My sin helps me better empathize with others who struggle.
My sin helps me help others who sin.
My need for mercy helps me to be merciful.
Lies told about me encourage me to tell the truth about others.

We can't thwart God's plan. Whatever we do, good or evil, eventually works for good in the end. That doesn't remove the desire to please our loving God- but takes a lot of pressure off. With or without me- God will get it done.

That Bright and Glorious Mourning

Genesis 49:29- 50:14

So Jacob senses his end is near, so after he gives his sons his "blessings" he gives them burial instructions. Even after all these years, he wants to use the spot in the cave Abraham bought from the Hittites all those years ago. It's interesting that he chooses to be buried with Leah and not Rachel. Perhaps this was the custom- to be buried with the first wife- plus it being a family cave probably helped influence the choice.

So Joseph throws himself on Jacob's dead body- and weeps and kisses him. Then the embalming begins- 40 days of embalming and 70 days of mourning.

I assume those ran concurrently- but even so, 70 days seems like a long chunk of time. I can relate to being saddened over that length of time- but this feels more like a formalistic, legalistic chunk of time set aside for mourning...wearing black, certain jolly actions prohibited, etc.

After the mourning was over- Joseph got permission to go and bury his dad- Pharaoh's officials accompany him- I'm reading this as a major sign of repect. We hardly knew this guy- but he's your father so he's special to us. Once they get there, Joseph mourns another week.

This mourning marathon puts a couple of questions into my mind.

1) Is this a ritualistic predetermined period of time? Did life really shut down for 2 months after the death of a loved one. It didn't even say that Joseph mourned, or Jacob's family- it says the Egyptians mourned for 70 days. Were they in a perpetual state of mourning for every major entity that passed on? How do you truly spend 70 days mourning someone you didn't know well?

2) What do these people know about death and heaven? I don't think I know that much and the topic is at times unnerving- but is there an even greater lack of knowledge about a better place demonstrated in their perpetual sadness? They don't know about Jesus- they don't even have the law yet. Jacob refers to his impending death as "I am about to be gathered to my people" which I take to mean buried with my family. If they think earth is all there is to life then it could explain why the mourning was so extensive.

I recently attended a funeral where there was extensive laughter, not as the result of funny stories or warm memories- an odd nearly manic laughter seemingly from joy at the heavenly destination of the departed. It felt really strange to me- I think a celebration of a man's life is highly appropriate at his passing- but this seemed to be nervous laughter- a little too loud and a little too long. And I wonder if maybe the value of purging feelings of grief- even if they aren't ritualistically expressed- and even if they don't last two months would help us to move on more than a forced smile and a choked laugh.

We are thankful for the destination- but it doesn't remove the grief. At least not totally.

A Fine Bless You've Gotten Us Into

Genesis 49:1-28

So Jacob gathers his sons around him and administers what Moses calls a blessing. I guess it all depends on perspective.

He says to Reuben:

You've always excelled but... remember that whole Bilhah thing? Yeah, you thought I didn't know about it- well I did and you will now be turbulent as the waters. Basically- your ship is sinking.

To Simeon and Levi:

You two are bad dudes- you've got thug mentalities, using your swords to solve your problems- hope I don't ever need your counsel. "I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" - this last part is a little confusing to me, but I'm assuming it means they won't have a land to themselves- the offspring will scatter.

To Judah:

"You are a lion's cub". Yeah, good things are coming. I guess the whole Tamar incident wasn't as important as some of these others that get his brothers in trouble. He'll wash his garments in wine and have the finest branch for his donkey. My son- here's a true blessing.

To Zebulun:

You will be a haven for ships and live by the seashore. This seems like a much lesser blessing- but maybe he's saying you will serve the function of being help to those that need it. The ship that comes needing a haven? You're it my son. God is going to use you.

To Issachar:

Here's an odd one. You will find such great land, you'll submit to forced labor. I want to live here...so enslave me! But I suppose the message is that you'll find something you like so much that great sacrifice will be worth it to you.

To Dan:

You will provide justice for your people. OK so far so good... you'll be "a viper along the path that bites the horse's heels." Maybe the horse is the bandit trying to escape and end up being caught in the fangs of Dan's justice- but a viper is a strange metaphor (especially biblically with the whole garden of Eden thing and all) for something admirable.

Maybe the message is- you'll administer justice- but justice isn't always what people need. How about some mercy instead?


To Gad:

You're going to be attacked (O Happy Day) but don't worry, you'll fight back. Oh, good, as long as I've got something to look forward to.


To Asher:

You're getting some rich food. Asher sounds like my kind of man. Beyond the literal food though, this may be a metaphorfor Asher's ability to procure and appreciate the "finer things" in life.

To Naphtali:

Depending on the translation- you're either going to have lots of beautiful children or you're going to be an eloquent orator. Or maybe he'll use his oration skills to woo a beautiful woman and get both.

To Joseph:

You can go ahead and put on the purple robe. You've been delivered- you're the prince among your brothers.

To Benjamin:

You're a ravenous wolf- but at least you share your plunder.


I don't think I'd label this discourse as a blessing. It seems more like a predictor- maybe even a prophecy. Calling this a blessing for some of these guys is like reaching under the tree Christmas morning and opening a hornet's nest.

I like the idea though of family assembled to hear the wisdom of their father- words of warning or praise from someone experienced. I'd like it best though if I were Judah or Joseph. Sorry Reuben- at least you'll get a sandwich named after you.

Jacob Redux
Genesis 48

Joseph hears his father is ill, so he takes his two sons, Jacob's grandkids, to see him. Jacob tells him of God's promised blessing and tells Joseph that the two sons born to him in Egypt, Ephraim and Manasseh will be taken for his own children.

This isn't a forced adoption procedure, after all, Jacob is about to die. He's simply saying that they will get the same share in his inheritance as his own children. Any other children born later will be Joseph's responsibility. This means, I assume, a financial blessing on both Joseph's current children, and his future ones, since these two won't be in the mix inheritance-wise when Joseph passes. I assume that to be the case, I guess we'll see in a few chapters or so.

Jacob is going blind and as he goes to bless these children, he may have experienced some deja vu. He "mistakenly" puts his left hand on the firstborn and the right hand on the younger brother, switching the blessing prioirity. Although Manny and Ephraim aren't involved in deception here, the result is very similar to crafty Jacob and his hairy brother.

Joseph sees the mistake and tries to correct it, but Jacob says he knows what he is doing. Manasseh may be the first born, but Ephraim will be greater. The firstborn in me doens't like this very much. Hey, I'm the topdog, the responsible one, the protector from school bullies, the giver of wedgies, why aren't I getting what's mine?

But the younger son of God in me, the one needing extra grace, the one who recognizes how dangerous it would be to get what I deserve, is grateful for the reminder- the last shall be first. It doesn't matter what your birth order is, what your social standing is, what you needed to be forgiven of- God's blessings are above and beyond.

Jacob mentions that he buried Rachel on the road to Bethlehem. Foreshadowing? Metaphoric? We see these people traveling down the road to our Messiah. Might just be a coincidence, but it seems like an odd detail if it doesn't mean something.

Oh yeah, and with all this last shall be first stuff- doesn't that mean the Cubs will win eventually?

Famine and the Family

Genesis 47: 13-31

So the famine's gotten bad and the people are out of money- and even worse, they're out of food. So they come to Joseph pleading- don't let us starve. Joseph replies less than compassionately, sure you can eat, if you give me your livestock. I'm not sure why they didn't consider eating their livestock instead unless it was obviously not enough to keep them going.

But they sell their livestock for food- which works great until the next year when they have no food or livestock. So they say- buy us and our land in exchange for food. And Joseph goes for it. Pharaoh more than prospers and the people have placed themselves in bondage.

This seems pretty harsh to me, at least initially. The people of the land are starving and the powers that be force them into perpetual dependance upon them. We'll take everything you have and give you just enough to survive.

But after it happens, Joseph gives the people seed and tells them to plant and eat- only give one-fifth of your crop back to Pharaoh. And while twenty percent may seem a somewhat steep price, Joseph has saved the people's lives and set up a system to keep Pharaoh prosperous.

Seventeen years after arriving, Israel knows his days are numbered. So he calls Joseph to his side and says to him "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried."

To which I might have replied, If I have found favor in your eyes, let me skip the whole thigh part.

Lessons tonight:
Joseph has mercy on the hungry. It may not be a handout, but he still finds a way to let them eat, even when they can't pay for it.

Secondly, there seems to be a statement about the value and responsibility of family. Even though he did a lot of growing up on his own, Joseph is still the one called by his dad to carry out his final wishes. Maybe he was in the position to be most likely able to carry them out, but in a ceremonial way, Israel calls family to carry out what he sees as a need.

Caravan

Genesis 46-47:12

So God appears to Israel and tells him to have courage- go to Egypt, I'll be with you. I'll make you a great nation there (he's well on his way already), "and Joseph's own hands will close your eyes."

It's interesting that Israel's name fluctuates back and forth between Jacob and Israel. Other folks have their names changed too, but it seems like the names ordinarily stay changed. You don't see Paul going back to Saul. Maybe it's trivial, but I wonder why this name didn't stick.

So they set out with everything they have- and it lists the clan. It says this list is "the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt. But it's a little puzzling. Reuben , Benjamin and Joseph are the only sons listed. And at least Joseph (maybe Bennie too) are already in Egypt. Did the others stay behind too? But even then the list is inconsistent. Did some of the brothers not go to Egypt?

Their children sure did and it lists them all. And explain this one:

26. All those who went to Egypt with Jacob- those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons' wives- numbered sixty-six persons. With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob's family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.

I'm not a math major- but that don't quite add up. Maybe it's 68 plus Jacob and Joseph. But that's a guess and it seems kind of odd.

So, they get there and Israel and Jospeh have a touching reunion- Israel says that now that he's seen Joseph, he is ready to die. A cheery thought for a reunion.

Joseph says he'll speak to Pharaoh for his brothers- he'll tell him that they are shepherds; they tend livestock. He says when Pharaoh asks you your job, tell them you've tended livestock from your childhood- just like our fathers. If you do this, you can settle in Goshen, since Egyptians are repulsed by shepherds.

This seems odd too. We'll get you some good land since these people hate shepherds. Huh? Maybe Goshen was far enough away from Egyptian civilization that they could tolerate them from a distance. Pharoah follows through and tells Joseph to get them great land in Goshen.

Ultimately, the lesson that strikes me most in this chapter is one of tolerance. Jacob and Pharoah finally meet. Here's this man sent by God, blessed by God face to face with this ruler not of God's people- and his reaction is not repulsion, not a desperate attempt at conversion, not condescension, not threats of war- but instead the issuing of blessings.

Jacob saw the humanity in Pharoah and recognized the blessing he had been to his son- and wished him blessings. We could use more of that today.

Family Ties

Genesis 45

Joseph is overwhelmed with emotion, so he kicks everyone out save his brothers and reveals his true identity. He says, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" which is odd since the last chapter ended with Judah pleading "Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."

So the siblings are scared, but Joseph comforts them and sends them home to collect dear old dad. He tells them- you've got the best of what's here. Leave your possessions- you can have new and better things once you get here.

So they head back home full of wealth and promise- especially Benjamin. Apparently remembering his brothers well, his words to the departing brothers are "don't quarrel on the way." What could they have to fight about? Which one gets to tell their dad the great news?

Israel is stunned, but the wealth convinces him that it's all on the level and he says "My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

Highlight: When Joseph comforts his brothers, he works hard to remove their guilt. He says, "do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."

And later, "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." He's saying, it's over- fuggedaboutit. It's all part of the plan.

So maybe the key here is our calling not only to forgive- but to help each other break off the shackles of guilt, find a way to live with ourselves and our past, and be able to sleep at night, despite what we may have done.

Sad Sack

Genesis 44

So the boys prepare to head home- none the wiser regarding Joseph's ruse. Joseph has his steward load their sacks with as much food as they can carry and their silver. He also has him plant his silver cup in Benjamin's sack.

After they leave, Joseph sends his servant after them accusing them of stealing his cup. Naturally they deny it, not knowing the cup is in Benny's bag. They say- we even brought back the silver from before, why would we steal? If one of us has it, he'll die and the rest of us will be your master's slaves.

The steward says sure- it's a deal ,just as you said. Whoever has it will be my slave and the rest of you will be free (which isn't what they said, but apparently what he's prepared to enforce).

When the cup turns up in Benjamin's belongings, the clothes tearing begins. Imagine the shock and dread at knowing the fate of your brother and the consequent reporting of the event to your dad- especially after what they'd done to Joseph.

So they offer their services as Joseph's slaves and sneaky Joseph says- no- I'm not that kind of man- just the one who we found it on- the rest of you go free.

Is Joseph yanking their strings? Does he intend to keep Benjamin with him and then have a change of heart or is he trying to emphasize his point here?

Judah pleads his case, recapping the highlights from the last several chapters. Saying please don't turn us back to our father- I couldn't stand to see his misery.

Lesson for me- the danger of rash promises. Judah assured his dad that everything would be okay. His overestimation of the amount of control he had over the situation comes back to bite him. And honestly- how much of life do we have much control over? Like Mongo, we are often merely pawns in game of life. But unlike mongo we view ourselves as king- or at least a really crafty bishop.

Curious observation. Twice in this chapter Joseph's use of divination with his cup is mentioned (at least in the NIV). Does this mean he used the cup to commune with God (weird)? Or is he involved in some cultish practice that it would seem that God wouldn't have been a fan of (Also weird).

Maybe you Should Have Opted for Chocolate Covered

Genesis 43

So Israel has said in no uncertain terms- you're not going back with Benjamin. The implication...I hope Simeon has a comfortable cell. So they're home with food and money...and Israel is willing to sacrifice his son to avoid any risk coming to Benjamin.

But when the food runs out- papa sings a different tune. Well okay Judah, if you can protect him, I am feeling rather peckish. So the boys head out while dear old dad stays at home. To be fair, it could be that he sees the only way to save the family, including Benjamin, is to risk harm coming to him. Maybe he worked up the trust in God's care he needed to make this a trip worth taking.

So they go with gifts- balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. OK, I understand that culture and technology dictated a very different gift-giving climate, but these still seem like pretty lame gifts if the attempt is to save your sons. They do go back with double silver though- enough to pay for the food they already got and enough to buy more.

Judah's guarantee seems to hold more water with Israel than Reuben's- does he trust Judah more? Or is it a context thing- we're more desperate now than when Reuben made his pitch.

What's happening with Simeon all this time? Has Joseph really left him rotting in prison? Remember, he's been there longer than he should have been. They waited till the food ran out to go and try to save him. What would this have done to his self esteem? If the drought had ended, would you have ever come for me? And would Joseph have imprisoned him in the first place if he knew that they would wait so long?

Simeon doesn't seem to know that it's Joseph, or he at least doesn't spill the beans once la familia arrives. Joseph asks about his dad and is choked up when he sees Benjamin and goes off to cry in private. Not so much an attempt to maintain his bravado as a means to keep his identity secret as far as I can tell.

Interestingly, they eat "together"- well kind of. They are all served separately- Joseph- the brothers - and the Egyptians. This segregation was necessary because it was detestable to Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. So was Joseph passing as Egyptian? Or does his separate serving indicate that he couldn't eat with Egyptians either? But if that's the case, why is he served separately from his brothers? Part of the charade?

Lesson for me: the brothers tried to return the silver and Joseph's steward would have none of it. He says- I got your money- your God gave you the gift of silver.

God provides- when we have needs- or maybe even sometimes when we just have wants- God provides.

If you remember back (or even if you don't), Joseph had ordered those bags filled up. So maybe the point is that God often provides...through us. As we look out for each other, as we perform acts of kindness, random or otherwise, God is working to help His children. And his gifts are often better than pistachio nuts.