Joseph’s Generosity
Notes
Transcript
Sold
Sold
1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
I grew up listening to a cassette of Joseph and his technicolor dream coat. I think I can sing most of the songs by heart by now.
It is such a compelling story.
And in scripture - quite fun - especially this part where his brothers come to Egypt. Hat in hand so to speak. Starving and desperate for supplies.
They don’t know that this foreign man - who looks like an Egyptian - is their long lot brother.
Who they SOLD.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
We remember - they sold him - but that wasn’t their first choice. That had planned to kill him. Well they had left him in a pit to die.
28 When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.”
A sudden realisation for his brothers - hat in hand - depending on Joseph for their lives. Now that their 20 pieces of silver are long forgotten… They now need their brothers help.
Money
Money
As we talk about stewardship this month. It is not about how to give so you get rich.
I want to tell you that giving to the church won’t get you a bigger house and a smarter car.
You give - not to get - but to give.
Love, Obedience, Trust, Mercy
In our first week I spoke about how love motivates our giving.
3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Obedience
In the second week - about how when Jesus calls his disciples - first he provides for them with a miraculous catch of fish.
But following Jesus is about letting go of what you think you own.
11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
In obedience to his call they willingly dropped everything and followed him. Giving up on what they thought they owned. To give themselves to God.
Trust
Last week I was in Atlantis. A reminder to trust in the Lord and not in people. In the time of Jeremiah people were putting their trust in the Kings and leaders of their time. Their economic policies led to oppression of the poor and elevation of the rich.
7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream…
We give because we love God and we love each other.
We give because Jesus calls us - and in response to his call on our lives.
We give - because our trust is not in money or people - but in God.
Love, Obedience, Trust & Mercy
Love, Obedience, Trust & Mercy
Joseph’s story - loving his father. Being sold into Egypt. Remaining faithful to the Lord - putting his trust in God and God’s wisdom. Even having mercy on his brothers… Are a wonderful example of stewardship.
Wise stewardship.
Listening to God - Joseph is able to save a whole nation from famine.
Stewarding, saving, distributing fairly and generously - all point to a way of life that honours God - ensures we have what we need - and provides for others.
Good stewardship.
But the great lesson of this week - is the lesson of Mercy.
Mercy
Mercy
This week - it is a little bit different. We give - because to give is to imitate the nature of God.
Our Old Testament story for today - of Joseph tells us that Joseph didn’t sell his brothers into slavery - like they sold him. Instead - he gives them their freedom.
But the New Testament reading for today is from Luke’s gospel.
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
And Luke 6:35
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
The Power to be Merciful
The Power to be Merciful
The Joseph story gives us wonderful pictures in our minds. It really lends it self to the Andre Lloyd Webber Treatment.
The first picture.
Joseph’s brothers sitting, eating… laughing at their own cruelty. Deliberating about selling their brother for 20 pieces of silver.
The second picture.
Joseph - unrecognisable. Powerful. Egyptian minister of finance.
His brothers. Begging for money. Joseph plays a fairly long game with them - starting in chapter 42 - before he reveals himself in chapter 45.
But it is - in the hands of his brothers. And in the hands of Joseph - a cruel game of power and cruelty.
That is how it is when we have power.
There is something horrible about us.
The power to be cruel.
The power to manipulate because we have something and someone has nothing.
We abuse the privilege of power.
I don’t need to talk about the cruelty of Donald Trump and Elon Musk and their joy in ruining other people’s lives. I don’t need to tell you about the cruelty of Hamas and Netanyahu - bombing, murdering, occupying, torturing - all about power and wealth - using Judaism, Islam and Christianity as cloaks for their nefarious purposes.
Maybe Joseph isn’t actually that great.
Joseph - has mercy on his brothers because he loves his father. And his youngest brother.
His brothers are cruel to him because they are big and powerful and they don’t like his dreams and visions.
These pictures… of power. Manipulation. Privilege. Invite us to take a closer look at our selves.
How do we use our power?
How do we use our wealth?
For selfish gain.
As a tool of manipulation.
A way to get what we want?
Trapped in an endless cycle of revenge and avenge.
Or can we learn to hold our power a little more gently and generously?
After all of his drama Joseph is able to say:
7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
Able to take all that could have caused resentment and bitterness. All that could have caused selfishness and insecurity and turned it around to produce something good.
Jesus Teaches
Jesus Teaches
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
At first Joseph’s brothers use their power to manipulate and punish.
Even Joseph - uses his power to exact some revenge on his brothers - but in the end offering them refuge.
All of this abuse of power leads from one thing to another.
Freedom in Egypt
Then slavery in Egypt
And a long story to get us to Jesus who shows us the Jesus way.
Let’s follow Jesus in the way we steward our resources.
Our grace.
Our lives.
