The peh Factor
“Seeking balance in a polarized world”
One of the reasons I love the Old Testament of the Bible is it presents real human beings facing real life circumstances, demonstrating real human emotions…sometimes good and sometimes bad…and still, in the midst of it all, God does his work and advances his purposes. The flaws of human beings do not stand in the way of God’s will. When the individuals or times are good only seems to make things happen more smoothly.
As I conclude my thoughts on Genesis, I must admit there are many great stories I could have included. We could talk about the promise of God to Abram about his future generations or the laughter of Sarai when God promised she would be a mother in her later years of life. We could analyze God’s selection of the manipulator Jacob over the manly-man Esau to continue the chosen family’s heritage. Who could forget the drama of Jacob’s son and their attempt to get rid of Joseph and His Many Technicolored Dream Coat? I am going to focus my thoughts on this last drama and how it ended in my thoughts today.
To say that the story was filled with hatred is an understatement. Joseph had been Jacob’s favorite son born to him from his favorite wife, Rachel. Because of this blessing, Papa had overlooked his 11th son’s flaws and elevated him above his older siblings. They resented him for it and, given the right opportunity, they decided to get rid of him and make it look like an accident (probably would be a featured episode on a 20/20 crime episode today.). However, calmer heads prevailed and they decided to sell Joseph into slavery and stage the event to make it look as if his disappearance was from being attacked and devoured by a wild animal.
The whole story can be read in Genesis 35 through 50. I am sure there were many times during these chapters that the principle players were saying, “Where is God?” My guess is that this was a primary question for Joseph during his slavery, imprisonment and then rise to success. All in all, I count a minimum of 16 years and possibly longer between those initial events of this story and the final words upon which I reflect today in Genesis 50:19-20.
Joseph, deepened and matured by the battles of his life now stands face to face with his brothers who had betrayed him. They are begging him for mercy and forgiveness. He is now in a position of power and with that power could do to them anything his heart desired. Instead, he says these powerful words:
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Several things I must highlight in this passage. First is Joseph’s self-awareness, “…am I in the place of God?” He understands that he is not. God is much greater. God holds in his hands the power of life and death, the past, the present and the future. God knows how the temporal plans of humans align with the eternal will of God. What a humble leader! I wish that many of our world leaders today had this wisdom and insight.
Second is Joseph’s acknowledgement of reality, “…you meant evil against me.” He did not sugarcoat what his brother’s had done. They did take matters into their own hands. They did seek revenge. If it hadn’t been for one bother that refused to murder Joseph he would be dead. They had intended evil and the only reason they were at this point of reconciliation is because they were attempting to survive in the midst of a large, regional famine. They were sorrowful and repentant because Joseph had caught them and he had power over them. not necessarily because they were remorseful over their behaviors. They meant evil.
Finally, I see an image of the sovereignty of God. Why did God allow Joseph’s brothers to do him wrong? Because God saw what needed to be done 16+ years down the road. God sees the unfolding of history from a different perspective than do we.
There is an interesting passage earlier in Genesis 15. God has just established a covenant with Abram. God then gives Abram a glimpse of the timeline of 400+ years that will unfold. At the end of this short projection God tells Abram about the enslavement of his offsprings in Egypt and then their return to the land God had promised him. Why the delay?
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. (15:16)
Looking down the corridor of time, God sees how history will unfold. It would seem that the return of the Israelites to “The Promised Land” would not only be a fulfilment of God’s covenant with Abram but a judgement against the inhabitants of the land who had rebelled against God.
And what would take place during those 400 years between God and the Amorites? Well, we aren’t told. What scripture does tell us that God’s slowness, God’s patience has against ‘iniquity’ has a goal. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us,
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Some additional passages that remind us of this truth are: Genesis 18:22ff; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15; Jonah; Romans 2:4. God’s patience during his overview of history has a goal, our repentance and becoming restored to right relationship with our Creator who loves us!
One final thought about God’s overview of human chronology. In Galatians 4:4 -5 the Apostle Paul writes:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
It may seem odd to the twenty-first century mind that God would send Jesus 2000 years ago instead of today. However, in the mind of God it was the right time, it was “when the fullness of time had come” to fulfill God’s purposes.
With this thought in mind, if intervening, working, fulfilling events at the right time is part of God’s nature, then maybe God is still doing that today. For millennia people have asked, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Maybe you have asked why some bad things have happened to you. Maybe, in God’s plan, those bad things are not the final word. Maybe, what someone meant for evil God intended for good and it is just taking time to get to the good. Maybe, just maybe, if we are open to the handiwork of God, the bad event is not a death but an opening door to the possibility of resurrection.
Paul
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