Yearly Reading: Genesis 44-48
Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Do not quarrel along the way." Genesis 45: 24 NRSV
Today's reading for the year was rather lengthy and there were several themes: God's provision, reconciliation, and making amends for past wrongs to name a few. However, this is the verse that spoke to me today: Do not quarrel along the way.
My bible has a translation note that the word quarrel can also mean "be agitated." It is as if Joseph doesn't want his brothers to play the blame game or to be afraid of what Joseph is going to say to their father- perhaps even worry over what they are going to tell their father. They did sell their father's favorite son into slavery after all!
They must own up to what they have done but at the same time, they need to accept Joseph's (and God's) forgiveness.
Admitting you have done the wrong thing is hard enough. Accepting someone's forgiveness without fear or trepidation is even harder.
God, you want us to admit our faults and be reconciled with you and with others. Help us to do so without being agitated or quarreling. May we be graceful in accepting your grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Remembering Our Faults
Yearly Reading: Genesis 40-43
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my faults today." Genesis 41:9 NRSV
Take a moment today to remember your faults. I don't mean your weaknesses but those things that you have done wrong in the past, even the distant past. Did you mean at the time to make up with God or others? Was there someone from whom you needed to beg forgiveness? Has the passage of time made you put your original good intentions aside? It is never to late to make amends!
The cupbearer had angered Pharaoh and was put in prison. Joseph was also in prison and was serving as a servant to the captain of the guard. When the cupbearer had a dream which God favorably interpreted through Joseph, Jospeh asked that he be remembered to Pharaoh. However, the cupbearer went back to serving Pharaoh and forgot about his promise for two whole years.
Now the cupbearer, on hearing of Pharaoh's own disturbing dreams, remembers Joseph and his own promise. The actions of the cupbearer, though late, actually fit nicely with God's plan.
Take time today to make amends. You may never know how your actions fit with God's plan.
God, help us to recall and admit our faults today. May we have the courage to do something about them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my faults today." Genesis 41:9 NRSV
Take a moment today to remember your faults. I don't mean your weaknesses but those things that you have done wrong in the past, even the distant past. Did you mean at the time to make up with God or others? Was there someone from whom you needed to beg forgiveness? Has the passage of time made you put your original good intentions aside? It is never to late to make amends!
The cupbearer had angered Pharaoh and was put in prison. Joseph was also in prison and was serving as a servant to the captain of the guard. When the cupbearer had a dream which God favorably interpreted through Joseph, Jospeh asked that he be remembered to Pharaoh. However, the cupbearer went back to serving Pharaoh and forgot about his promise for two whole years.
Now the cupbearer, on hearing of Pharaoh's own disturbing dreams, remembers Joseph and his own promise. The actions of the cupbearer, though late, actually fit nicely with God's plan.
Take time today to make amends. You may never know how your actions fit with God's plan.
God, help us to recall and admit our faults today. May we have the courage to do something about them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Monday, December 21, 2009
Doing As God Asks
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife. Matthew 1: 24 NRSV
How many of us could receive a message from God in our sleep and immediately wake to do as God has asked?
I suppose there are two parts to that question: How many of us are paying attention to God's messages in our dreams and how willing are we to act on what God imparts to us?
Joseph - like his namesake in Genesis - is very cognizant of his dreams. Perhaps this is not the first time God has spoken to him. It could be that Joseph was very disciplined in carrying out what God instructed him through dreams. And even though this is a life-altering decision, Joseph does not hesitate to carry out the instruction of the angel of the Lord.
I wonder if the choice of God's parents had as much to do with Joseph as it did with Mary.
God, you speak to us in many ways including our dreams. May we not dismiss our dreams as either neurons firing in our sleep or food for psychological analysis; may we listen for your voice instead.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
How many of us could receive a message from God in our sleep and immediately wake to do as God has asked?
I suppose there are two parts to that question: How many of us are paying attention to God's messages in our dreams and how willing are we to act on what God imparts to us?
Joseph - like his namesake in Genesis - is very cognizant of his dreams. Perhaps this is not the first time God has spoken to him. It could be that Joseph was very disciplined in carrying out what God instructed him through dreams. And even though this is a life-altering decision, Joseph does not hesitate to carry out the instruction of the angel of the Lord.
I wonder if the choice of God's parents had as much to do with Joseph as it did with Mary.
God, you speak to us in many ways including our dreams. May we not dismiss our dreams as either neurons firing in our sleep or food for psychological analysis; may we listen for your voice instead.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Family Tree
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.... and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. Matthew 1: 1, 16 NRSV
One of the most skipped parts of the Bible is probably the lists of ancestors. Matthew's beginning is no exception. But while it may seem dull, it is important to see that Matthew traces Jesus' ancestry through Joseph. It is Joseph after all who must return to his family's town for the census. Tracing the bloodline to David involves looking at Joseph's, rather than Mary's, family tree.
You see, Joseph is far more important than we tend to give him credit for.
We often see Mary as the one with the important role in Jesus' beginnings. But Joseph must have played a much stronger role in Jesus' life than we tend to give him credit for. Because of the connection with Joseph, Jesus is born in the same city as King David. It is Joseph who keeps King Herod from finding the baby Jesus. Because of his work as a builder, Joseph is able to travel - to Judea and to Egypt. For someone to be able to embrace God as not just Father but Daddy, Jesus must have had a wonderful relationship with Joseph.
We have much to be thankful for in the fatherhood of Joseph. Beyond sharing his ancestry, Joseph had an important role in raising the son of God.
God, we thank you for Joseph who often gets overshadowed by Mary, the shepherds and the wise men. Help us to be thankful for our own earthly fathers, even when our relationship with them may not have always been the best. Thank you for being our loving Heavenly Father! Amen.
One of the most skipped parts of the Bible is probably the lists of ancestors. Matthew's beginning is no exception. But while it may seem dull, it is important to see that Matthew traces Jesus' ancestry through Joseph. It is Joseph after all who must return to his family's town for the census. Tracing the bloodline to David involves looking at Joseph's, rather than Mary's, family tree.
You see, Joseph is far more important than we tend to give him credit for.
We often see Mary as the one with the important role in Jesus' beginnings. But Joseph must have played a much stronger role in Jesus' life than we tend to give him credit for. Because of the connection with Joseph, Jesus is born in the same city as King David. It is Joseph who keeps King Herod from finding the baby Jesus. Because of his work as a builder, Joseph is able to travel - to Judea and to Egypt. For someone to be able to embrace God as not just Father but Daddy, Jesus must have had a wonderful relationship with Joseph.
We have much to be thankful for in the fatherhood of Joseph. Beyond sharing his ancestry, Joseph had an important role in raising the son of God.
God, we thank you for Joseph who often gets overshadowed by Mary, the shepherds and the wise men. Help us to be thankful for our own earthly fathers, even when our relationship with them may not have always been the best. Thank you for being our loving Heavenly Father! Amen.
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