Post by Cindy on Sept 30, 2016 10:07:26 GMT -5
In Genesis 50:15-21,Joseph's brothers have been in Egypt with him for about 17 years. If you recall, when they first came to Egypt to get food, they discovered Joseph there and were scared to death that he would retaliate for when they'd sold him as a slave and all he'd been through since then. I think we all remember the touching scene of when Joseph reassures them that he's not angry and forgives them. Most would assume that after that, the brothers would have a good relationship with Joseph and when they all moved to Egypt they would "live happily ever after". It sure sounded like that's what would happen, but it didn't work out that way. Sadly, the brothers never trusted in Joseph's forgiveness, and because of that, they spent those next 17 years living in fear. Always looking over their shoulders, and wondering when he was going to get even with them and how he'd do it. I imagine when the brother were together without Joseph, they'd talk about it together, imagining all kinds of horrible ways that Joseph could get even with them. Guilty consciences do that.
Of course Joseph had no idea that they felt that way. He knew he had forgiven them completely the way God had forgiven him, and assumed that all was fine between them. So his brothers actions when their father died came as quite a shock to him. His brothers thought for sure Joseph would finally get revenge on them since their father would no longer be there to be a buffer between them. How sad it is that they thought they even needed a buffer, especially as Joseph had been nothing but kind and loving to them since they'd arrived and had told them he forgave them completely. Hoping to prevent him from taking revenge they made up a story and told Joseph that his father had requested that he forgive them, hoping that out of reverence for his father, he would do so. So they sent that message to Joseph, and when they were sure that he had received it, they went to see him. Look at what they do next: “His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.” (Genesis 50:18)
These grown men had lived in fear of Joseph for 17 years. They most likely told their wives to expect something horrible to happen to them and so had their whole families living in fear all those years. The women probably got together like the men did and imagined all kinds of horrible things that could happen to their families, to their husbands and children, all because of what they'd done to Joseph when they were kids. One person alone can come up with plenty of horrible things, but think of all the horror that the 11 wives, and 11 brothers could come up with together, over a period of 17 years. The worst part of this is that we know that all of these people spent those 17 years being miserable and afraid, for absolutely no reason at all.
I think everyone knows how Joseph reacted to all of this. First he cried. He cried because he realized they'd been living in fear all this time and it broke his heart. He had to wonder, if they had not believed him before, would they believe him now? It seemed like the only thing they would believe would be if he retaliated! “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19–21) His response showed how close his relationship with God was and how much he had learned about Him. He understood that it was God's job to exact revenge, not his, and that God was in control of his life, not his brothers or anyone else. His job was to love others sacrificially, and forgive them the same way God had forgiven him. So he extended mercy and grace to them.
The brothers show us what it looks like when we don't accept God's Word, and because of that, live in fear and doubt. Jesus and the Father tell us time and time again, "fear not!" just like Joseph told his brothers. (In fact, "fear not" or similar words are found over 80 times in the old and new testament!) Because the brothers were blind to the Truth, instead of resting in the forgiveness Joseph had given, they tried to work for it and in the meantime lived in terror of what would never come. They couldn't believe that anyone could forgive them or that they would ever be safe again.
What they put themselves through was worse than anything Joseph could have ever come up with to get revenge. When we live in fear, and worry, we're doing the very same thing to ourselves that Joseph's brothers did. We're not trusting our lives to God. We have accepted that He can save us, but we haven't accepted the fact that He can order our lives the way we think they should go. We say the words that He is Lord of our lives, but we constantly show that we don't trust Him to do what's right; that we don't trust Him to take care of us, and we don't trust His love for us. Even though He showed us how deep and strong His love for us is by dying on that cross - we still don't trust Him. Just like Joseph's brothers.
For those who, like me, want to trust God, there is hope. God has often taught us that our feelings are not what we think they are. He's told us that love is not a feeling, it's a choice, and showed us the same thing about being content. We have to choose to commit ourselves to love or to be content, and eventually, as we strive to do those things, our feelings will come around to where they should be. Our thoughts determine our feelings, not the other way around. The same is true with trust. Trusting God is a choice we can either choose to make or choose not to. Once we have made the choice to trust Him no matter what, then we have to take our thoughts captive whenever they turn toward fear, worry, doubt, etc. and replace them with the truth from God's Word that we can trust Him. That's what Daniel's friends did when the king was going to throw them into the furnace. I'm sure they were scared spitless, but they chose to trust God anyway. And that's exactly what they told the king: “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:16–18) They chose to trust God regardless of the outcome, knowing that He would do right by them even if it didn't look like it to others and even if things didn't turn out the way they wanted them to. We often consider them and others like them to be very courageous, but like I said before, I'm sure they were quite scared and probably even shaking. Having courage doesn't mean someone doesn't have any fear, they wouldn't be human if they weren't scared. Anyone in their position would be! What it means is that they chose to trust God and acted on that trust, even though their "feelings" said they were scared. And because of that, as we all know, God saved them and not a hair on their heads was so much as singed.
So the next time you begin to worry or fear, think about Joseph's brothers and Daniel's friends. Joseph's brothers chose not to trust, and were miserable. Daniel's friends chose to trust, as did Joseph himself, and they all had good lives. Let's choose to trust God then and keep choosing to trust Him, no matter what! Here are a few of my favorite verses to help us with that:
“say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”” (Isaiah 35:4)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28–31)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
““So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Matthew 10:26)
““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
“But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:2)
Of course Joseph had no idea that they felt that way. He knew he had forgiven them completely the way God had forgiven him, and assumed that all was fine between them. So his brothers actions when their father died came as quite a shock to him. His brothers thought for sure Joseph would finally get revenge on them since their father would no longer be there to be a buffer between them. How sad it is that they thought they even needed a buffer, especially as Joseph had been nothing but kind and loving to them since they'd arrived and had told them he forgave them completely. Hoping to prevent him from taking revenge they made up a story and told Joseph that his father had requested that he forgive them, hoping that out of reverence for his father, he would do so. So they sent that message to Joseph, and when they were sure that he had received it, they went to see him. Look at what they do next: “His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.” (Genesis 50:18)
These grown men had lived in fear of Joseph for 17 years. They most likely told their wives to expect something horrible to happen to them and so had their whole families living in fear all those years. The women probably got together like the men did and imagined all kinds of horrible things that could happen to their families, to their husbands and children, all because of what they'd done to Joseph when they were kids. One person alone can come up with plenty of horrible things, but think of all the horror that the 11 wives, and 11 brothers could come up with together, over a period of 17 years. The worst part of this is that we know that all of these people spent those 17 years being miserable and afraid, for absolutely no reason at all.
I think everyone knows how Joseph reacted to all of this. First he cried. He cried because he realized they'd been living in fear all this time and it broke his heart. He had to wonder, if they had not believed him before, would they believe him now? It seemed like the only thing they would believe would be if he retaliated! “But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:19–21) His response showed how close his relationship with God was and how much he had learned about Him. He understood that it was God's job to exact revenge, not his, and that God was in control of his life, not his brothers or anyone else. His job was to love others sacrificially, and forgive them the same way God had forgiven him. So he extended mercy and grace to them.
The brothers show us what it looks like when we don't accept God's Word, and because of that, live in fear and doubt. Jesus and the Father tell us time and time again, "fear not!" just like Joseph told his brothers. (In fact, "fear not" or similar words are found over 80 times in the old and new testament!) Because the brothers were blind to the Truth, instead of resting in the forgiveness Joseph had given, they tried to work for it and in the meantime lived in terror of what would never come. They couldn't believe that anyone could forgive them or that they would ever be safe again.
What they put themselves through was worse than anything Joseph could have ever come up with to get revenge. When we live in fear, and worry, we're doing the very same thing to ourselves that Joseph's brothers did. We're not trusting our lives to God. We have accepted that He can save us, but we haven't accepted the fact that He can order our lives the way we think they should go. We say the words that He is Lord of our lives, but we constantly show that we don't trust Him to do what's right; that we don't trust Him to take care of us, and we don't trust His love for us. Even though He showed us how deep and strong His love for us is by dying on that cross - we still don't trust Him. Just like Joseph's brothers.
For those who, like me, want to trust God, there is hope. God has often taught us that our feelings are not what we think they are. He's told us that love is not a feeling, it's a choice, and showed us the same thing about being content. We have to choose to commit ourselves to love or to be content, and eventually, as we strive to do those things, our feelings will come around to where they should be. Our thoughts determine our feelings, not the other way around. The same is true with trust. Trusting God is a choice we can either choose to make or choose not to. Once we have made the choice to trust Him no matter what, then we have to take our thoughts captive whenever they turn toward fear, worry, doubt, etc. and replace them with the truth from God's Word that we can trust Him. That's what Daniel's friends did when the king was going to throw them into the furnace. I'm sure they were scared spitless, but they chose to trust God anyway. And that's exactly what they told the king: “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:16–18) They chose to trust God regardless of the outcome, knowing that He would do right by them even if it didn't look like it to others and even if things didn't turn out the way they wanted them to. We often consider them and others like them to be very courageous, but like I said before, I'm sure they were quite scared and probably even shaking. Having courage doesn't mean someone doesn't have any fear, they wouldn't be human if they weren't scared. Anyone in their position would be! What it means is that they chose to trust God and acted on that trust, even though their "feelings" said they were scared. And because of that, as we all know, God saved them and not a hair on their heads was so much as singed.
So the next time you begin to worry or fear, think about Joseph's brothers and Daniel's friends. Joseph's brothers chose not to trust, and were miserable. Daniel's friends chose to trust, as did Joseph himself, and they all had good lives. Let's choose to trust God then and keep choosing to trust Him, no matter what! Here are a few of my favorite verses to help us with that:
“say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”” (Isaiah 35:4)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28–31)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
““So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Matthew 10:26)
““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
“But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:2)
!!
