Obedient Love

September 13, 2020 Background Scripture: Genesis 41:14 – 57 Lesson Passage: Genesis 41:25 – 33, 37 – 40, 50 – 52 In last week’s lesson, Joseph was about seventeen years of age. In this week’s lesson, Joseph is now about thirty years of age. The previous thirteen years were difficult for Joseph. It started in last week’s lesson when he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph went from being a house servant (or slave) to a prisoner in Egypt as a result of the lies told by his master’s wife who found him attractive. Somehow, Joseph managed to maintain what appeared to be an even-keel attitude during those years. Joseph maintained steadfastness of character despite the circumstances of his life. There is much more to this than just a “made-up mind”. One must be firmly rooted in their faith towards God, despite the unfairness of life, for one’s character to remain above reproach—and criticism. Let’s face it, there are some situations in life that will just make you “go there”! Somehow, it appears that Joseph did not have those moments of character weakness. Not only was Joseph’s faith firmly rooted in God, Joseph was also spiritually gifted by God. Joseph got into a lot of trouble as a boy sharing his dreams with his family. Those dreams, however, were just an indication of his true spiritual gift, the interpretation of dreams. While in prison, God began to develop the spiritual gift He had given Joseph, i.e., the interpretation of dreams. Two fellow prisoners learned of Joseph’s unique gift. Each of them had dreams while in prison with Joseph; and Joseph gave them the interpretation of their dreams. The dreams pointed towards the exoneration and release of one of the prisoners and the conviction and execution of the other. Joseph asked the prisoner who would be exonerated to work to free him from prison once he was delivered. Joseph assured his fellow prisoner that he was innocent and had been falsely accused. As life too often happens, Joseph and his plight were forgotten by the former prisoner once he was set free. That all changed after Pharaoh had a disturbing dream and none of his magicians and soothsayers could interpret it for him. At that point in time, Pharaoh’s chief butler, the former prison mate of Joseph, was delivered of his amnesia and remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about the Hebrew in prison who could interpret dreams. Pharaoh was so disturbed by his dream that he wasted no time sending for Joseph. This is where our subject, Obedient Love, comes in. Joseph, contrary to Hebrew customs, shaved himself and then changed his clothes. Joseph made himself presentable to the Egyptians before coming in the presence of their leader, Pharaoh. Joseph was wrongly imprisoned, and he possessed what Pharaoh needed. Rather than allowing his advantage to be disrespectful to his captors, Joseph humbly went before Pharaoh. Joseph demonstrated a divinely influenced character. This is what causes the rest of the lesson to unfold in the manner it does. Joseph demonstrated obedience to God and love and compassion for his fellowman—who were created in God’s image. I won’t discuss the dreams or their interpretations; you can read the background scripture and do that. I will offer this: What you suffer in life will often cause a bipolar outcome. Your situations will either cause you to become “bitter” or “better”. Joseph was a great man because he chose to be “better” as a result of the adversities in his life. This is only possible by having a faith firmly rooted in God. Too often we want God to control the circumstances of our lives. Our faith must give us the assurance that God will control the outcome of our lives despite circumstances and the trials of life that we go through. We must be willing to obey God and love our fellowman. Robert C. Hudson August 26, 2020

Biased Love

September 6, 2020 Background Scripture: Genesis 25:28; 35:23 – 26 Lesson Passage: Genesis 37:2 – 11, 23 – 24a, 28 Bad things often happen when a parent of multiple children shows greater delight in one child versus the others. Jacob was the product of this type of biased love. Jacob’s mother loved him more whereas his father loved his brother Esau more. Although Esau was born first, Jacob got the firstborn’s birthright and Isaac’s blessing as a result of manipulations—including the involvement of their mother. The influences of his earlier life apparently influenced Jacob’s behavior with his own children. Jacob fathered twelve sons and a daughter by his two wives and their maids. Jacob did not hide the fact that he delighted in his son, Joseph, more than the rest of his children. Jacob even gave Joseph a multicolored tunic as a special gift to highlight his delight in Joseph. Also, it should be noted that Jacob loved his wife, Rachel, more than he loved his wife, Leah. Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah, but he worked fourteen years for the privilege of marrying Rachel. Joseph was the eleventh son born to Jacob and the first child Rachel bore for him. No doubt, Jacob’s love for Rachel had something to do with his biased love towards her firstborn child, Joseph. Of course, Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, was the last son born to Jacob. But that’s not the whole story. The bible says Jacob loved Joseph more because he was the son of his old age. After the birth of his first ten sons and a daughter, it is possible that Jacob thought he would have no other children. Since Rachel had not conceived and bore a child prior to Joseph, it would have been reasonable for Jacob not to expect a child by her. Whatever the reason for Jacob’s biased love, there are a few facts that are very clear. Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers and Jacob expressed it. Furthermore, the multicolored tunic was not easy to overlook. The tunic stood out. His brothers saw the tunic and the favoritism, and they hated the tunic and Joseph. Add to this the fact that Joseph was a tattletale. Jacob would send Joseph to spy on his brothers while they were supposed to be working. Joseph’s brothers waited for the opportunity to deal with Joseph and to rid themselves of having to look at him wearing that multicolored tunic around them. The opportunity came one day while they were working. Joseph showed up to bring them a meal and to take back a report of their work to their father. They seized Joseph and stripped him of the tunic and threw him into an empty pit. Then they removed him from the pit and sold him to a traveling caravan of Ishmaelites. Their problem was resolved—temporarily. This event set off a series of unfortunate events during the formative years of Joseph’s life from his late teens into young adulthood. I don’t believe God intended for bad things to happen to Joseph. However, God brought good out of all the bad that Joseph had to go through. God always has the final say. On the other hand, parents should take care that they don’t show biased love towards their children. Joseph’s early life shows how damaging a parent’s biased love can be. Although God brought Joseph out on top, one can never go back and relive their childhood once it is pass. Bad decisions can affect the quality of life for people. However, it is comforting to know that God always controls the outcome—even in the case of biased love. Robert C. Hudson August 24, 2020