… taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. – Genesis 50:3

Today's Scripture Reading (October 31, 2024): Genesis 50

Diana, Princess of Wales, died on August 31, 1997. I remember the moment the announcement was made on the television channel I happened to be watching. I admit that I was stunned. The event was so unexpected. The images of her car careening down a French road with the Paparazzi close on their tail were unbelievable. That this was the end of the People's Princess seemed implausible. Indeed, there must have been a mistake. This couldn't be the end.

If the surprise was palpable in my home, I can't imagine the shock that shook the Royal family as the news reached them. It must have been a nightmare. Most of what we know about this time is basically just rumors. But, it seems that there was no plan for how to deal with Diana's death. There was no reason that one should have been devised; she was young and healthy.

Additionally, Diana was no longer part of the Royal Family after her divorce from Prince Charles. The Family might have guessed what would happen if Diana died, but they hadn't. They seemed to have to be continually reminded that Diana wasn't just Charles's ex-wife, but she was the mother of the future King of the United Kingdom, William. And so, the Royal Family stumbled from one mistake to the next, only making various decisions after the people demanded a response. One telling rumor was that the plan for Diana's funeral had actually been formulated for Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It was easier to modify that plan than to develop a new one. In the process, Royal customs had to fall to the wayside, if only because the people's esteem for their princess was higher than the esteem they held for the Royal Family. Even though she was no longer part of the Royal Family, the People's Princess would be treated like a Royal. It may have been a hard road for the Family, but the people made it a necessary path for the country to travel.

Jacob had died. He was a nobody. Jacob was just a foreign farmer whose way of life would have been despised by the Egyptian people and their leaders alike. And yet, the Egyptian officials took forty days to embalm him properly. And all of Egypt mourned his passing for seventy days, just two days short of time spent mourning a Royal family member. Experts have taken this as proof of the level of respect Egypt had for Jacob. But I wonder if we have that right. While Diana possessed the respect of the people, which went beyond that of the Royal Family, I think maybe that was not true of Jacob. The embalming and mourning period that the nation spent on Jacob might have actually been an indication of the respect the nation held for Jacob's son, Joseph. The nation mourned because Joseph mourned. And Joseph was so loved and respected in Egypt that the country could do nothing else but mourn with him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Exodus 1

 

 

Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. - Genesis 49:7

Today's Scripture Reading (October 30, 2024): Genesis 49

Sometimes, something can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how the prophecy plays out and our reaction to the prophecy in question. How we react can often change our situation, although this isn't always true. How we respond to events is the power in "the power of positive thinking." While thinking positively doesn't always change a curse into a blessing, doing nothing ensures a curse will remain a curse.

We can see this principle at work in the lives of the tribes of Simeon and Levi. Both brothers received the same prophecy from Jacob. Simeon and Levi shared the same curse as a response to the same crime. The curse resulted from the role Simeon and Levi had played in wiping out the men of the community of Shechem. The brothers committed their atrocity in reaction to the rape of their sister Dinah. As a result, Jacob prophesies that their descendants would be scattered. For Simeon, the prophecy became true during the nation's wilderness wanderings. At the beginning of the wanderings, Simeon was the third most populous of the tribes of Israel.  "The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300" (Numbers 1:23). The only more populous tribes were Judah with 74,600 (Numbers 1:27) and Dan with 62,700 (Numbers 1:39). Simeon was an essential tribe in the early days of the nation. However, over the next four decades, the tribe became absorbed into the tribe of Judah. By the time the wanderings were over, the Tribe of Simeon had shrunk to 22,200. The tribe had lost 63% of its population and was now the least populated of the tribes of Israel. The prophecy of Jacob had come true.

The Tribe of Levi took a different path and proved themselves faithful during the episode with the Golden Calf. Moses describes the events of that day this way;

Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.

Then he said to them, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.'" The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day" (Exodus 32:25-29).

On that day, Jacob's curse became a blessing, and Levi was chosen from all of the tribes to be scattered as a holy presence among all of Israel and to be the ones who would minister in the Tabernacle and later the Temple, offering the sacrifices before their God.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 50

When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. – Genesis 48:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 29, 2024): Genesis 48

I remember being called to the bedside of my Grandmother. It was clear that her life was coming to an end, so my wife and I booked off a couple of days and went to visit. I expected that we would find Grandma confined to her bed, possibly unresponsive. I hoped I could take care of some of the final arrangements while I was in town. To be honest, we had booked a hotel for a couple of days, and deep down, I really believed that we might be present when she passed away.

When we showed up at my Grandmother's room, she was dressed and sitting up in a wheelchair. According to the nurses, she had somehow heard that we were coming and wanted to be in her chair when we arrived. I remember having a great visit with her over the next couple of days and being able to talk to her about any last instructions. Grandma was 107 and had led an extraordinary life. She did pass away about six weeks later, but I treasure those last two days that I had with her.

Jacob was dying. He is 147 years old and has called Joseph to him. He is confined to his bed, but when Dad hears that Joseph has arrived, Jacob rallies his strength and sits up. He knows he needs to talk with his son, so he readies himself for it. I have no idea what Joseph expected, but I think he was surprised by the Jacob who greeted him that day. I also think Joseph was likely very thankful for this last moment that he could share with his dad. The two men had been through a lot; they had been hurt by the decades of separation that they had endured when Joseph had been enslaved, and Jacob had believed that his son was dead. But this moment couldn't be taken away from them.

Jacob is about to make his final desire known, and Joseph is ready to listen. Jacob would request that Joseph's sons would be considered his. Any other children would be known as Joseph's, but for some reason, Jacob wants Ephraim and Manasseh to be counted as his, which meant that each of the two grandsons would be included in the inheritance of Israel. Later, both would become tribes of Israel and receive an allotment of land when Israel moved back into the land God had promised Abraham.

Jacob also wants to be clear that he does not wish to be buried in Egypt. He wants his bones to find their rest at home. He had enough strength to make this request, and Joseph enjoyed a conversation with his father one more time.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 49

 

Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen." – Genesis 47:1

Today's Scripture Reading (October 28, 2024): Genesis 47

"The New Colossus" is a poem written by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) penned in 1883 to help raise money for a base for the "Statue of Liberty." Most of us likely recognize the last few lines of the poem.

            "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door" (Emma Lazarus, 1883)

One of the problems is that the poem isn't true, not really. Regardless of the nation, most countries don't want either the tired or poor. We would rather have "Your energetic and your prosperous." We want people who will add to our strength and not those who will sap the prosperity of a nation. And most countries have laws and boundaries that will keep the tired and poor away from us. Maybe it shouldn't be that way, and the truth is that even the tired and poor can help our economic situation in time. But we often don't want to wait for them to become productive. We want it now.

Pharaoh had invited Joseph to bring his father, brothers, and their families to Egypt. Like the invitation of "The New Colossus," Pharaoh had invited Joseph's "tired and poor" to come to Egypt. In reality, Joseph had already prepaid the bill. Joseph was the reason Egypt still had food to sell to her neighbors and feed the people of the African nation. Without Joseph, Egypt and the rest of the world would have been starving. The least Pharaoh could do was save the family of the man who had saved the King and his nation. So, Jacob was invited to the country, bringing nothing.

But that is not the way that Jacob came. Jacob came, bringing everything that he had. Yes, he brought his family, but they also came with their flocks and herds. That meant Jacob and his sons were ready to start a business and make a difference immediately. Joseph had helped the nation, and now his family would help, too. These weren't the tired and poor; they were the energetic and prosperous, ready to boost Egypt and make a difference wherever they set their feet. They didn't want to be supported economically by Pharaoh. They sought to support Pharaoh and make a difference in any way they could.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 48

 

Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. – Genesis 46:31

Today's Scripture Reading (October 27, 2024): Genesis 46

I recently spoke with a group that wants to bring people into the country. In this case, evacuees currently living in African refugee camps. Many of these people are victims of the civil war taking place in Congo and the surrounding area. However, getting from the refugee camp to a new home in the West is not an easy proposal. First, a significant amount of money must be raised to cover any incurred expenses. Even if you have willing volunteers ready to house and feed the family, you must have the funds as a backup plan in case those preparations fall apart. Then, you have to have people willing and able to teach the new residents how to live in North America. They will need connections, ways to learn the language, and a community to help them with their daily lives. Government restrictions require money and people who will step in and be responsible for the newcomers.

Jacob and his family have arrived in Egypt with everything that they possessed. Altogether, sixty-six men along with their wives and family, have arrived in the African nation. It was a significant group of foreigners who were fleeing the famine and wanted to live in Egypt. Add to that the fact that these people were shepherds; the Egyptians were farmers, meaning they raised crops, but to the Egyptians, sheep were unclean and, therefore, shepherds were considered to be undesirables. Essentially, if President Donald Trump were in charge of Egypt during this era, these would be the very people that he would want to keep out of the nation.

This group's advantage is that Joseph is well-respected by the Pharaoh. So, Joseph tells his family that he will intercede for them and ask the Pharaoh to allow them into the country. The book of Exodus reminds us that the time would come when the Pharaoh who reigned in Egypt would not remember Joseph, and it is then that the nation would become enslaved. But for now, the presence of Joseph is a significant reason this group of people would be accepted in the country.

Some have argued that the story of Joseph is a good illustration of how Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus stands in the presence of God, introducing us to him. We are accepted by God not because of the presence of Mary or the Saints but because of the presence of Jesus, who continually intercedes for us. Luckily for us, there will never be a day when Jesus will not be there for us or a time when his sacrifice will no longer be enough for our salvation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 47

 

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. – Genesis 45:7

Today's Scripture Reading (October 26, 2024): Genesis 45

Back in the 1980s, there was a Christian Artist whose music I enjoyed. Part of what I liked about him was the time he spent with the youth at his concerts. His name was Jerry Proppe. He wore a silver yo-yo in a nice case on his belt, and when he wasn't singing, he talked to the kids and did tricks with the yo-yo. I watched him closely one day while chatting with some other adults. No kid seemed too unimportant or unpopular to get his attention. Jerry invested in the kids.

One of the songs that he sang was called "Walt Disney." This song was written with adults like me in mind more than the kids. In the song, he talks about the Walt Disney Show, which used to be on ABC on Sunday nights. He sings about loving to watch Walt Disney. There was only one problem: Sunday Night Church. Jerry admits that he would begin watching Walt Disney every Sunday night – but at about ten minutes to seven, his family would have to leave for church.

What happened? What happened to Dumbo? What happened to Snow White? To Pinocchio? How did the story end? The song hit home for me because I had suffered from the same disease growing up; I saw the beginning of the Walt Disney Show but never the end of the story.

My problem went beyond the Walt Disney Show. As I lived my life, I found myself in situations, and the biggest thing I wanted to know was, "How does this story end?" Where is this journey taking me? Is there a Prince Charming just over the horizon coming to rescue me? Genesis ends with the story of a guy with all these questions. His name was Joseph.

Joseph had been sold into slavery, but that wasn't the end of his story. And Joseph seemed to understand that. As his brothers realize that this man they have been dealing with trying to buy food was their brother, the one they had abused, the brothers were scared. Once, they held the power, and they had used that power to hurt Joseph. But the tables had turned, and now Joseph held all the power. He could do to them what they had done to him. There could be no happy ending to this story. Joseph's brothers likely wished they could shut the show down and skip the ending, but they couldn't.

But Joseph saw a different ending, maybe even one worthy of Walt Disney. Everything had happened to Joseph according to God's plan. Because of the mean things the sons of Jacob had done to Joseph, Joseph was in a place where he could save a remnant of people on the earth. And part of that remnant was the family of Joseph, including the brothers who had hurt him. What they intended for harm, God intended for good and for the salvation of those living in Egypt, as well as the family of Jacob. What could have been a nightmare ending became one about which even Walt Disney would have been proud to write.  

  Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 46

"Very well, then," he said, "let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame." – Genesis 44:10

Today's Scripture Reading (October 25, 2024): Genesis 44

For the last couple of days, I have been thinking about my past as a master criminal. Okay, a master criminal is more than a bit of an overstatement, but the times that I have fallen on the wrong side of the law. For me, those are always traffic violations. But from my many traffic crimes, I have noticed something. For example, a few years ago, I was out driving my Mustang, which has a manual transmission. So, as I was driving down a side street in my neighborhood, I guess I coasted through a stop sign. A police officer was parked in a nearby Elementary School parking lot, and he saw my non-stop, so he pulled me over. The officer's first question was an important one. Did you know that you didn't stop at the stop sign? I replied no, I thought I had stopped. He informed me that I was in error and returned to his car to process my license, registration, and insurance. When he returned, he asked me a second question: Did you have a reason for not stopping at the stop sign? The question was vital because it constituted a guilty plea. I am not sure what reason I might have had that would have been acceptable to the officer, but again, if I came up with an excuse for not stopping, I must know that I didn't stop. So, once again, I responded that I had been unaware that I hadn't stopped.

Then, the officer made a great statement. I had a good driving record, so maybe that should count for something, and he let me off with a warning. In the same way, if you get caught speeding, the officer usually asks this first question, "Do you know how fast you are going?" Whatever your reply, if it is above the speed limit, it is an admission of guilt. Often, the officer will use whatever speed you admit to as your speed, even if you were actually traveling faster because you have already pleaded guilty to that crime, even if the speed you give them is less than the speed at which they caught you driving.

Similarly, Joseph's brothers set the penalty for the crime of which they are being accused. If one of them has stolen the cup, let that person be killed, and the rest of them become slaves. Joseph says that he will take their suggestion. But then he adjusts the penalty in a downward direction. Joseph knows that Benjamin has the cup because Joseph had it put in his sack. But he doesn't want to execute his brother. Instead, he adjusts the suggested penalty in a downward direction. The one who stole the cup would become his slave, not executed. And the rest of the brothers would be allowed to go free and not become enslaved. The brothers can't complain about the sentence because it is less than they had suggested.

Now, the brothers' bags would be searched to find out who (spoiler alert: it would be Benjamin) deserved the punishment.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 45

But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' – Genesis 43:3

Today's Scripture Reading (October 24, 2024): Genesis 43

When I was an older teen, I was on a road trip when I received a traffic ticket. I had made an illegal U-turn; that is probably why, almost fifty years later, I am still nervous about executing a U-turn. The problem was that I wasn't in my home province. I was visiting a vacation town in a neighboring province and camping with some friends. So, I had the ticket, but I was unsure what to do about it. I returned home and sent the money to pay the fine by mail. This was long before the internet and e-transfer or online payment.

I wrote the check and then trusted the check to the Canadian Postal Service. The cheque was cashed at the other end of the process, and I thought that would be the end of the story. So, I was surprised when my mom, I was still in High School and living at home, brought me an official-looking letter from the province where I had received the ticket. I went to my room, opened the envelope, and was informed that a warrant had been issued for my arrest for not paying the fine. Now, I was confused and didn't know what to do.

My next move was to go to the local Police Station for advice. I showed them the cheque written to pay the fine, and I remember the officer smiling, which helped a lot at that moment, and then asked when I was planning on returning to that province. I replied that I had no plans to return at the moment. The officer gave me this advice. Before you return to that province, check with us to see if an active warrant has been issued for your arrest. If there is, we will figure out what to do then.

The next time I visited the neighboring province was to visit my fiancée a few years later. I went back to the Police Station, told my story one more time, and found out that there was no warrant out for my arrest. And so, I was free to go back and visit my bride-to-be.

The famine in Canaan was long, and the food the brothers had brought back from Egypt wasn't enough. So, the obvious decision was to return to Egypt to purchase more food. But how could they do that? The evidence was that Jacob's sons had stolen food on their first visit to Egypt. They would be wanted in Egypt as thieves. But even more importantly, the man, Joseph, had told them not to return without bringing Benjamin with them. If this trip were to be successful, they would have to bring more money as well as their youngest brother.

Otherwise, the brothers would join Simeon in an Egyptian prison and never see the light of day again.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 44

 

As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. – Genesis 42:35

Today's Scripture Reading (October 23, 2024): Genesis 42

I have a mystery in my life. My wife and I had some major home upgrades done on our home. Our original plan was to have the work done and use an interest-free government loan to pay for the job. But the road to the government loan ended up being convoluted, and I missed a filing deadline, so we decided just to pay for the work out of our savings. Luckily, we had the money, so it really wasn't a big deal.

The day came to pay the bill, but there was a glitch online, and we could not pay what was owed. But then, the bill was unexpectedly paid, but the money was still in my bank account. I think what happened was that the ten-year government loan came through even though my application was submitted late, and I now owe the government for the work, but so far, I have been unable to confirm that conclusion. So, I will keep writing emails and seek out whoever I owe the money to.

The sons of Jacob had a similar mystery on their hands. They had gone to Egypt and met with an Egyptian official in an attempt to buy food. While there, they had been interrogated. They had been accused of being spies for a foreign power, and their backstories were questioned. As a result of all of this, the official had agreed to sell them food but had required that one of the brothers, Simeon, remain behind as a hostage on the condition that the brothers would return with the one brother that they had not brought with them on the original trip. The ruse was that returning with the missing brother would prove they were a family, not spies of a rival power. What the brothers missed was that this Egyptian official was actually their brother Joseph, and the missing brother was Joseph's only full brother, Benjamin. Joseph's real question was whether his half-brothers had learned their lesson or were they treating Benjamin with the same contempt they had treated him.

None of this the brothers knew. So, when they discover that they have returned home with both the food and the money, they know that it made them look like thieves. Now, there was no way that they could go back to Egypt to get Simeon. There would be a price on their heads, and they believed they would be arrested as soon as they showed their faces. And that was enough to frighten any of us.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 43

 

"I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." – Genesis 41:16

Today's Scripture Reading (October 22, 2024): Genesis 41

I struggle a bit with self-promotion. Let me unpack that a little. I live in a world where we seem to advertise what we have done, and I expect that you probably do, too. We do it in many ways. Sometimes we just advertise our education, or the accomplishments that we have achieved. We often preach a gospel that argues that everything we have achieved results from our hard work and education. We want to be respected, but more than that, we expect to be respected because we feel we have earned that respect. Sometimes that might be true. And yet, at the same time, maybe it isn't as accurate as we think. God has gifted each of us in some way, and those God-given gifts have allowed us to accomplish precisely what we have achieved. And that is all that really matters.

In his younger years, Joseph received visions from God and advertised them to those close to him. The day was coming when the star of Joseph would eclipse the lights of his brothers and even his parents. Joseph would be lifted up, and he made sure that everyone understood this eventuality. This bragging was likely a trait of his immaturity.

But since those days when Joseph bragged to his family, a lot has happened in his life. His brothers attacked him, and they sold him into slavery and then sold him to Potiphar in Egypt. He has been convicted of a crime he didn't commit and thrown into prison. While in prison, he has been assigned the position of a servant and spent his time serving other prisoners; essentially, he has become the least of those in prison. As a servant, he has been of help to the other prisoners, but the outside world has also forgotten him.

Finally, he gets recognized by the political power of the world. The Pharaoh has a dream, and Joseph is held up as the grand interpreter. Not only is he removed from his prison cell, but he is cleaned up, allowed to shave, and given clean clothes to wear. Then, he is brought into the presence of the King.

Pharaoh's words give praise to Joseph. The King lifts Joseph up and opens the door for Joseph to recite everything he has done and explain why he is important. Now, Joseph can lift himself up and make a case for his release from prison. But Joseph decides not to do that. Instead, he points to God as the only one who can interpret the dreams of the King. This is not about Joseph, but Joseph is sure that God will give the Pharaoh the answers that he needs from the dreams he has received, even when Joseph doesn't have the answer.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 42

 

… and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. – Genesis 40:3

Today's Scripture Reading (October 21, 2024): Genesis 40

Decades ago, a friend of mine was in trouble with the law. I was unable to attend the trial and was stressed when he ended up in jail. I remember the first thing that I wanted to do was go and see him in prison. I jumped through the hoops and made arrangements with the prison for my visit. I also wrote a note to my friend, telling him I had scheduled a time to visit him.

The day arrived, and with more than a bit of nervousness, I jumped into my car and made my way to the prison. I went through the various metal detectors and met with multiple officials before I was told that my arrangements had been lost in transit. My response? "Come on, I have jumped through the hoops. Various people have interviewed me over the phone over a week ago and today in person; you mean I still can't see my friend." Of course, the answer was no, not today. Come back next week, and we will let you in.

I did come back, and true to their words, they did let me. Not only did I get in, but unlike other visitors who would have had to visit through a glass partition, they allowed me to see my friend in the chapel, where we could sit and talk and have a little human contact. It was a good visit and one that I have never forgotten.

Joseph had no one trying to visit him. His family didn't even have any idea that he was still alive, let alone that he was in jail. And slaves didn't have friends. But if someone knew he had been imprisoned and wanted to visit, they would have had difficulty finding him. Part of the problem would have been that Joseph had not gone through the legal system that we have today. Joseph was enslaved. He had no rights, and so when Potiphar decided that he was to be placed in prison, he didn't send him away to some central jail. Potiphar locked him up in the prison that was connected to his house and which he oversaw. It seems likely that no one knew that Joseph was in jail except for Potiphar and his wife. Potiphar played the roles of arresting officer, prosecutor, judge, and jailer. Joseph had been buried and possessed no rights for which anyone needed to fight.

There is a saying that we should "lock him/her up and throw away the key." Essentially, that was precisely where Jacob found himself. He was locked up with no chance of parole because no one knew he was there. Unless something significant happened, no one would find him, and Joseph's life would not change. In this prison, he would simply disappear from the pages of history.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 41

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. – Genesis 39:1

Today's Scripture Reading (October 20, 2024): Genesis 39

One of the people I have traced my lineage to is Sir William Atte Wode (c. 1270- c. 1346.) I was surprised when I discovered this guy hanging around in my family tree. Part of my surprise was that, as I started to research him, I found that he had his own Wikipedia page. Wikipedia was the first sign I had that William Atte Wode was someone significant. So, I read the short article that revealed that Atte Wode was the Captain of the King's Guard at the Palace of Westminster during the reign of King Edward III of England. The presence of my many great-grandfather in the employ of King Edward III has led to an interest in that era of history. Although we know very little about what came before William Atte Wode, there is evidence that Atte Wode might have been related to the King. However, I don't know if that is true.

Potiphar was the Captain of the King's Guard in the employ of the Pharaoh. Which Pharaoh is a matter of scholarly debate, but there is some evidence that it might have been Amenemhat III, who reigned for more than forty-five days in the latter portion of the 19^th Century B.C.E (1800s) and the early years of the 18^th century (1700s). It is important to note that this is more than 250 years earlier than the date given by the Jewish Calendar. Part of what makes Amenemhat III an attractive possibility is the length of his reign and the building program that took place during his time on the throne.

Regardless of who the Pharaoh might have been, Potiphar was an important official in the employ of the King. Because he was an official of the Pharaoh, it would seem likely that Potiphar was a eunuch, although we have no confirmation of that fact. But if he was, that might play a role in the seduction of Joseph by Potiphar's wife. (Luckily, that wasn't a requirement for the Captain of the Guard during the reign of Edward III, or I might not be here.) However, there is also a tradition that Potiphar had at least one child, a daughter, so if he was an eunuch, his child must have come in the years before Potiphar reached his privileged position in the King's employ.

Joseph was enslaved. The Ishmaelites could have sold him to anyone, but God orchestrated events so that he would be sold to Potiphar. Joseph would find himself in jail because of the incident with Potiphar's wife. Because of his jail connections, Joseph would come in contact with the Pharaoh and be given the opportunity to save Joseph's family, and Egypt would be saved from a coming famine. It was an unlikely string of events that could have only been orchestrated by the God that Joseph served.    

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 40

 

When Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep," she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. – Genesis 38:13-14

Today's Scripture Reading (October 19, 2024): Genesis 38

I believe that the church is the hope of the world. And maybe to go beyond that, I think we have the responsibility to be part of the hope-giving process for the world. It is not just the responsibility to be part of the hope-giving process for the church but also to give hope to the entire planet. And this might be one of the most foreign concepts for us. In our minds, we are responsible for our hope. But the problem is that we were designed for community. And hope becomes a function of that community.

Tamar's hope for the future lay in having a child through Shelah. From our cultural position, we don't understand this hope. They would not have understood our culture either. This was where Tamar's life choices had taken her. But there had also been others who had a responsibility to her hope. Onan had a responsibility to Tamar's hope. But he let jealousy move him away from that responsibility. The responsibility fell to Shelah, but his father, Judah, didn't want to lose yet another son. So, he formed a barrier to that hope. What she needed, and what we often need, is grace extended to us so that we can find the path to hope. But for Tamar, no one had given her grace. As a result, she was also without hope.

During the Middle Ages, when disease hit an area, there would be a search for hope and grace. The Pope would send out a decree, and everybody who could leave the area would be encouraged to do so. This partially accounts for the spread of disease during certain periods, but it also leaves behind a hopeless town or city. Often, those experiencing poverty and didn't have the resources to leave the area, these people were stranded in the disease-stricken area. However, as the Pope issued the decree for the people to leave, monks often took it upon themselves to move into the cities and care for the people. There was a realization of their responsibility to provide hope.

There is a story that comes from the end of the American Civil War. The Southern forces were in disarray. The South didn't have the men or the weapons to continue to fight against the Union troops. Northern forces surrounded them. Within the Confederate forces, some pockets wanted to fade into the mountains and continue an extended gorilla war, But General Robert E. Lee declined the idea. The war was over. So, on the morning of April 9, 1865, Lee got up, dressed in his best dress uniform, and walked out of his camp to present his surrender to Ulysses S. Grant. It was a moment without hope. There was absolutely nothing that General Lee could do. His life choices had carried him to this point. And I am not sure we all don't have a lot of General Lee moments.

On that morning, General Lee had these expectations. His army would be rounded up and imprisoned. He would be arrested and tried for treason and most likely convicted and sentenced to death. Lee did not expect that his trial or his expectation would be delayed. He had led rebel forces against the sitting government of his nation. I am not sure that I can imagine the lack of hope in that moment of his life.

General Lee entered the tent where Grant sat, commanding the Union forces. He was welcomed warmly by his opponent and offered a seat. General Lee asked for the terms of surrender for the Confederate army. The answer that Grant gave him was not the expected one. Grant said, "Tell your forces to lay down their weapons and go home. Become the farmers and ranchers that you were before the war began. And you can go home too." It was a completely unexpected act of grace that restored hope where there had been none before.

Tamar needed a path to hope. She needed a General Grant. And Judah could have been that person, but he had chosen a different path. As a result, Tamar took things into her own hands.

There is always a path to hope, but it is often up to those around us to help us find that path. That path needs grace; the result is always hope whenever grace is extended. And we have the responsibility to make sure that we are the ones that extend that grace.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 39

This is the account of Jacob's family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. – Genesis 37:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 18, 2024): Genesis 37

Many years ago, I read a statistic that asserted that 90% of Pastors are raised in dysfunctional families. The next time I sat down with some friends, it became the subject of our conversation. Is it possible the level of dysfunction is that high in the families of origin of pastors? The conversation was quite revealing, but maybe the most surprising conclusion of our discussion was that the number might be low. It is a reality that is not restricted to the families of Pastors. Regardless of your occupation, the incidence of some level of dysfunction in the families of the people around us is quite high. We all know and have been affected by broken families and broken people. We all suffer. Divorce rates inside and outside the church are about the same. We shut down hard conversations that we don't want to have. Sibling rivalry rages in many families. The result of all of this and more is significant dysfunction in our family units, a dysfunction that touches all of us. It isn't a question of whether there is dysfunction in our families but rather the level of dysfunction that is present.

With this verse we begin one of the major epic stories of the Bible. But this story is also a story of dysfunction. Jacob had grown up in a family that was marked by dysfunction. A significant sibling rivalry raged between Jacob and his brother, Esau. There was no doubt that Mom and Dad had a favorite child. Isaac favored Esau, while Rebekah favored Jacob. All of this had a significant effect on Jacob's life.

It was a pattern of dysfunction that continued in Jacob's family. A pattern that began with Isaac wanting to marry Rachel but being tricked into marrying her sister, Leah, first. It meant the seeds of dysfunction were sown into Jacob's family long before the children came along. This passage mentions Jacob's wives, Bilhah and Zilpah, but the women were actually servants of Leah and Rachel. It is also possible that, like Leah and Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah may have also been sisters. All of this meant the level of dysfunction with these two sets of sister wives was increased even further.

While Joseph is sometimes seen as the lone sane person in the family of Israel (Jacob), as this portion of the story begins, Joseph is only seventeen. He was an adult in Jewish society, and yet still struggled with a developing brain and body that we associate with adolescence and early adulthood today. And what we are told is that Joseph seemed to like to act as a spy, tattling on his brothers whenever they did something wrong. This trait meant that Joseph couldn't be trusted and would have raised the level of dysfunction in the family to an even greater level. If there is something that should be said in Joseph's defense, his brothers were older and should have been able to find ways to de-escalate the situation with their younger brother, but they decided not to do that. Instead, maybe like a lot of us, the dysfunction had become routine in their lives, and they choose only to increase that dysfunction in their relationship with their younger brother.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 38

When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king. – Genesis 36:33

Today's Scripture Reading (October 17, 2024): Genesis 36

His name was Jobab ben-Zerah. He reigned in Edom while the children of Israel were still receiving the privileged treatment in Egypt; this would be before the Israelites became enslaved, as recorded in the Book of Exodus.

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country" (Exodus 1:8-10).

Before Israel became enslaved, long before they escaped Egypt and moved into Canaan, before the Judges came to power in Israel, and about eight hundred years before Saul would become King, Edom enjoyed the reign of Jobab ben Zerah. The era of Jobab ben Zerah is a time hidden in the dark creases of history. We don't know much about this era. And so, all we can do is take what we have that tells us about this time and what other historians in antiquity have written and guess how this time presented itself and who these people were. What makes Jobab ben-Zerah important is that some have come to believe that this Edomite King was the actual person behind the story of Job. Not all biblical scholars agree, but enough do to suggest that we need to be at least aware of the possibility.

Among the negatives, and probably the most crucial reason why Jobab is not Job, is that the time frame is slightly off. Most agree that Job was a contemporary of Abraham, Esau's grandfather. But even this is a guess.

However, there are also many reasons why we might entertain the idea that Job and Jobab are the same person. Edom, the nation of Jobab ben-Zerah, occupied the same area as the Land of Uz, the home of Job. Job was also said to be the wealthiest person in the world, and his position as King of Edom would explain the reason and origin of that wealth.

But whether we accept Jobab as Job is a personal decision. While it might be fun to entertain the idea of being able to place Job firmly into this era of history, as well as into the Royal history of Edom, whether Job is Jobab or not essentially doesn't matter. We still have the story of Job, a good man who suffered much during his life as well as the story of Jobab, who reigned as King in the early days of the Kingdom of Edom. The confirmation or separation of these stories does not change the stories themselves. And Job, even if he is not Jobab, still has much that we need to learn from him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 37

As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. – Genesis 35:18

Today's Scripture Reading (October 16, 2024): Genesis 35

According to a 2017 United Nations Population Fund report, every two minutes, a woman dies as a result of the complications of childbirth or pregnancy. The report also indicates that for every woman who dies in childbirth, about twenty to thirty women suffer a severe injury because of a birth or pregnancy-related complication. There are many risk factors. One is location. It is far safer to give birth close to a modern hospital than at a distance. But that is not the only risk factor. The maternal death rate is also lower in places where abortion is legal, partially because women are less likely to go through an unsafe abortion but also because the medical professionals have more tools in their toolkit when complications arise in the pregnancy. A surprising factor in the rate of death during childbirth is age. The younger the woman is, the more dangerous the pregnancy. Older women die in childbirth less often than their younger counterparts.

Rachel, Jacob's favorite wife, died giving birth to her second son. Biblical experts, maybe callously, often argue that the death of Rachel was foretold by both Jacob and Rachel herself. Rachel had declared to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die" (Genesis 30:1)! If this were a novel, it would almost be poetic that Rachel dies because of the child that Jacob gave her and Rachel's earlier words could be seen as foreshadowing the later death of the heroine.

The sadder prophecy regarding Rachel's death comes from her loving husband. In speaking with Laban, Rachel's father, who had come in search of his stolen household gods, Jacob pronounces this curse; "But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it" (Genesis 31:32). At the time of this statement, Jacob was unaware that Rachel had stolen the gods. Laban had searched his daughter's belongings, but those gods had never been found. However, Rachel suffered the penalty anyway. It is a recurring theme in the Bible and a caution to all not to swear this kind of oath lightly, especially if you don't know the answer to the question.

Maybe it is easy to look at the death of Rachel from our place in history. But Rachel was a beloved wife, sister, mother, and child. Her death was a tragedy. The name she gives her second child reflects that tragedy; she calls him Ben-Oni, which means "Son of my Trouble." But it is not a name that Jacob allows to stand. In the wake of the tragic death of his favorite wife, Jacob changes the name to Benjamin, which means "Son of my Right-Hand." In doing so, Jacob reminds Benjamin of all that was good about his mother rather than the tragedy Benjamin's birth had brought into the family.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 36

Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob's sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor. – Genesis 34:13

Today's Scripture Reading (October 15, 2024): Genesis 34

Maybe one of the most common mistakes we make is believing that everyone believes as we believe. Several years ago, I was taking several teens and young adults on a trip to a foreign country, and one of the biggest concerns I had with the group's older members was trying to convince them that not everywhere would they be considered adults. There were people, mostly guys between 18-20 years, who didn't understand that the idea that 18 was the age of majority was not a universal given. Where we were going, the age of majority was 21; by voluntarily leaving our country, we were saying that we would live by the laws of the country we were visiting.

We do the same thing every time we go to any foreign country. It doesn't matter what it is like at home, we have to abide by the laws in place of where we are going. In some places, that means your rights might be curtailed if you are a woman. Breaking traffic laws might end up in jail time instead of a fine. And if you are unwilling to abide by their rules, don't go. But don't expect foreign countries to abide by your expectations of what is right and wrong.

Jacob moved his family into an area where women were property, and men did what they wanted with them. Everything that happened to Dinah seemed to be according to local expectations. That may not be the way it was in Jacob's family or where Jacob and his family had lived before, but it was the way the people lived here. You took what you wanted and then took steps to make it legal, or more precisely, claim it as your property.

This situation has three problems beyond the situation of violence committed against Dinah in the city. First, Jacob does nothing. Jacob knows what has happened, but he doesn't tell his sons; he allows them to find out in their own way. He doesn't take action against the perpetrator; he isn't in discussion with the city; he doesn't have a plan. Jacob does nothing. Maybe he realizes that this is actually on him, that he should have at least had a serious conversation about the dangers of the city with his daughter, but even better, he should never have come here in the first place. But whatever the reason, Jacob remains inactive, and his inactivity gives his sons the impression that the response is up to them.

Second, the brothers are dishonest. They go into the city as if searching for a positive solution to the problem. But that is the farthest thing from their minds. They are looking for blood. We would agree. But that doesn't mean that our response is proper. We have a strange idea of justification. If I am righting a wrong, then whatever I do is acceptable, but that is not true in secular law, let alone sacred law. It is the response that has historically resulted in multiple wrongs and feuds. When we take a wrong and try to correct it by committing a second wrong, we start a chain reaction that will quickly get out of control. And yet that is precisely what the brothers have decided to do.

Lastly, the brothers become committed to a ruse. The suggestion is that if the men of the city will follow Jacob's rules and traditions, the family of Jacob will also follow the rules and traditions of the city. Commit to following our laws, and you will benefit, not just by being able to marry our sister but by becoming economically connected with us. It is a temptation that is much too great for the city not to take advantage. They agreed, making them vulnerable to the evil that Dinah's brothers were about to visit on the city.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 35

He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. – Genesis 33:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 14, 2024): Genesis 33

Do you have a favorite child? I know, what a question, but you don't have to tell anyone. I don't think I do, but I only have two children. I also have five grandchildren, but the reality is that each one of them is so different that I love something different about every one of them. At the same time, I think through conversations I have had with both my adult children and believe they would say that the other child was my favorite. Which, I hope, means that I got it somewhat right.

If you are wondering if you do have a favorite child, here are some questions to ask yourself. First question: is there one child you talk about more than others? Now, if there is, that does not necessarily mean that you have a favorite child but a child that needs you more than the others. But it might be a hint. Second question: Is there a child with whom you have significantly increased one-on-one interaction? Again, there can be some harmless reasons for this, such as if one child lives closer to you than the others, but it is another warning sign.

A third question might be, is there one child for whom some family rules don't apply? You can be a disciplinarian with some of your kids, but one is allowed to violate the rules without punishment. Fourth, does one child enjoy material advantages? Your wallet follows your heart; sometimes, this is a true sign that one child is your favorite. Fifth, when your kids fight, is there one child who usually receives your support?

Sixth, do your family activities usually revolve around making one child happy? And lastly, Is there one child to whom you make comparisons? How often do you say, why can't you be more like your brother or sister?

I know I said last, but maybe there is one more, although I hope you will never have to follow through on this question. Here it is. If you had to send your children into a dangerous situation, who would you send in first? I know that is unimaginable. But it is precisely what Jacob does. Jacob saw Esau, but he had no idea how his brother would react to his presence. And so, he sends his family to him in groups. The first group included his female servants and their children, who were also Jacob's children. Next, his first wife, Leah, and her children. In the last group was Rachel and Joseph, his favorite wife and favored son. There could be no doubt that Jacob had a favorite. And they were the last to be sent into a possibly dangerous situation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 34

I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. – Genesis 32:10

Today's Scripture Reading (October 13, 2024): Genesis 32

St Augustine said, "The best disposition for praying is that of being desolate, forsaken, stripped of everything." That was precisely where Jacob found himself. He possessed nothing when he had left his home many years earlier. Now, Jacob had acquired wealth and family, all because the hand of God had blessed him. So, Jacob prayed while he approached home for the first time in over a decade. Once again, Jacob came to God feeling like he had nothing. Despite the realization that Jacob had sinned, everything he had acquired was at God's command. However, Jacob knew the things he had gained would never make up for what he had forfeited in the earlier years of his life.

When he was young, it hadn't been God's hand he had followed, but his own. Now, he had to pay the price. His prayer? "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant … Please save me."

I find that in our contemporary society, it seems so hard for us to get to this point. Instead, we come to God with the argument that we have been good people, so God owes us. However, none of that is true in the eyes of God, and none of it displays the humility that God requires of his servants.

George Herbert (1593-1633), the English poet and priest in the Church of England, had inscribed on a ring that he wore every day this motto; "Less than the least of all God's Mercies." It was the testimony he bore on his body every time he picked up a pen. God, I am less than the least. I don't deserve the blessings you have given me, yet you still bless me.

It is not devaluing ourselves; we are his creation, and we should recognize the value that God places in us. But our natural reaction is usually to put others down and see the ways that we are better, and that is not God's way. So, in humility, we recognize the importance of the other person. Jacob would send his servants and gifts ahead of him. However, Jacob stayed humbly in the presence of God in the camp at Mahanaim.

Have you gone through a "dark night of the soul" recently? I know, I have. I love the words of contemporary poet Jeremy Deibler.

I can't find the words to pray

I'm a little down to day

Can You help me

Can You hold me

I feel a million miles away

And I don't know what to say

Can you hear me anyway.

What I need is for you to reach out your hand

You have taught me no matter what You'd understand

 

Lord, move in a way that I've never seen before

Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I'm drifting away; waves are crashing on the shore

So Lord Move, or Move me

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 33