- araratchurch
- Jun 24, 2024
- 3 min read
“Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?””
Genesis 37:29-30 NLT
In most cases, when people have lost it all, whether that be their freedom and liberty, possessions and positions, or their good reputation and respect, you will find that they can rarely remember the actual starting point for the fall.
Remember that “slippery slope” we referenced when talking about David and Bathsheba? Well, that “slope” quickly becomes a slide: Once committed to it, reversal of direction would require a miracle.
Most people—having taken a full ride down that slide—don’t remember how they got in such a position. Many times, their minds were occupied with some agenda or desire, drama or crisis, or they were reacting to some sudden threat, hurt, anger, etc., that kept them from considering the consequences of what they were about to do.
Another way we find ourselves quickly descending the slide to complete moral and spiritual failure, is acquiescing—for whatever reason—and failing to speak up regarding some wrong being perpetrated, when the opportunity is afforded.
On Day 21 we referenced Mordecai’s warning to Esther:
“Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?””
Esther 4:13-14 NLT
Back in 2020 when Armenia was mercilessly attacked by Azerbaijan, our president (at the time) chose to do nothing to help them. We tried to get messages to the president about what a mistake he was making and the fact that this could cost him everything. We contacted the only people we knew who might have a route to get to the president’s ear. We don’t know if they spoke up or not. What we do know is that his failure to act, cost him everything.
Fast forward: The 2020 war between Armenian Artsakh and Azerbaijan was stopped by a negotiated ceasefire in which Azerbaijan agreed to keep open the corridor through which Azerbaijan receives what is necessary for survival. However, in December 2022 Azerbaijan blockaded Artsakh, trapping the Armenians in and supplies out. Finally, the Armenians succumbed. In September 2023, over 100,000 Christian Armenians fled their ancient homeland, leaving all they had to be pillaged and destroyed by the Muslim Azeris. The current president also did NOTHING. I wonder what it will cost him?
So many times God puts people in a position of power and authority for a specific purpose. Yet, when it comes their time to speak truth-to-power, their time to do what they were sent to do, they, in fear of losing their position, remain silent. For the love of God (I mean these words), what are they there for?
When a difference can be made by speaking up, or even when you think it won’t change a thing, and you don’t speak up, you have become a part of the injustice; and, make no mistake, the worm will turn.
Now, Reuben had spoken up in terms of saving Joseph from being killed, but he did it in such a way that his brothers thought he was going along with their plan to get rid of him. Oh yes, he “secretly” was going to come back and save Joseph. But when he came back, his little brother—the apple of his father’s eye—was gone.
Child of God, let’s not be like Reuben, telling ourselves that we’re being “discreet,” when we’re just being a coward.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 23, 2024
- 3 min read
“So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.”
Genesis 37:28 NLT
Take a moment and think about some of the major injustices you see in the world and what the motivation is that drives such injustices. Consider the practice of slavery, the use of slave labor, and the atrocity of human trafficking. Consider the fact that harmful or ineffective drugs and other medications receive“approval” when at the same time, some potentially very effective drugs and other medications, will not receive the same approval because they wouldn’t make somebody rich or would take away from a another very lucrative drug or medication. Consider the act of going in and slaughtering a whole group of people so that you can access something of value like minerals, oil, jewels, precious metals, and so on, over which they have control. Astonishingly, it could be argued that even the Holocaust was, to some degree, about the money.
Indeed, the list goes on and on of terrible things perpetrated, terrible things overlooked, terrible things condoned, all having as a root cause, money. More specifically, you find the love of money, a desired “payday.”
Paul warned Timothy of the many evil deeds that can spring from greed.
“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
1 Timothy 6:9-10 NLT
Our political system has grown corrupt and justice has been perverted by the practice of “quid pro quo.” Oh, we may call it lobbying, fringe benefits, or advocacy, but a bribe by any other name, is still a bribe, and bribes pervert justice.
The word of God addresses the evil of bribe-taking.
“You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Deuteronomy 16:19-20 NLT
The writer of Proverbs draws a direct line between money exchanged under the table and injustice.
“The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.”
Proverbs 17:23 NLT
Make no mistake, our God is a holy God Who expects that we refuse to allow money to distort our handling of justice:
“The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. “Who can live with this devouring fire?” they cry. “Who can survive this all-consuming fire?” Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong— these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance.”
Isaiah 33:14-16 NLT
We know that in the story of Joseph and his brothers, the brothers wanted to get rid of him. They had every intention of just leaving him to die in that pit.
We saw yesterday that Judah came up with the plan to sell Joseph to some traders. Now, who’s to say that greed of what Joseph had, and/or what he might be given by the father, was not a large part of their hatred for Joseph? The price they got for him, his worth to them, was twenty pieces of silver. The price Judas was paid to betray our precious Lord? Thirty pieces of silver.
Child of God, beware lest you allow financial considerations to cause you to go against what is right, or to be silent about what is wrong.
We may wonder how it has gotten to the point where the selling of aborted baby parts has become very lucrative. We may wonder how people could “turn a blind eye” to the fact that their favorite products are produced by slave labor. We may wonder how elections can be stolen all over the world. We may wonder how rich and/or powerful people can literally get away with murder. Well, wonder no longer. JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 22, 2024
- 2 min read
“Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)? Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed.”
Genesis 37:26-27 AMP
Those who support the killing of the unborn in the womb never have to see the blood that is shed. As a matter fact, if you try to show any of those images, you are accused of being a “hater,” cruel, and unkind. Take just a moment and think about that reasoning: The slaughtering of the innocent is not unkind; yet showing the image of the victim IS unkind?
And it’s not just with that issue that injustices are allowed to be carried out because they are kept out of sight. Groups of people are ignored and dismissed, left to the hands of their executioners, because it isn’t a popular topic for the press to cover, or people are paid off for their silence.
The Genocide of the Armenian people was basically allowed to be carried out with very little ado in the United States, or the rest of the world, for that matter. Tragically, the systematic taking of historically Armenian land and Armenian lives continues to this day.
Similarly, the Holocaust of the Jews was perpetrated while fictions were purveyed about what was really happening. In fact, Hitler even referenced the Armenian Genocide when planning what he would do to the Jews, pointing out the fact that nobody talked of what happened to the Armenians.
Even today, large groups of people in China, indeed, all over the world, are being systematically abused and killed. But why should we care as long as we can have the current iPhone and our TicToc video has thousands of views?
We don’t care because we don’t have to see it. But God sees it, and oh, how He cares:
“While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.”
Psalms 50:21-22 NLT
Joseph’s brothers wanted him out of the way, but they didn’t want to have to pay the price for doing it. They didn’t want to have the blood on their hands. What they did not know was that his blood was already on their hands from the moment they started the plot against him. Indeed, that’s the way the Lord sees it.
In today’s portion of Joseph’s story we see that his brothers believe that they are going to be able to kill two birds with one stone: They will rid themselves of the “dreamer” without having blood on their hands, and make a little money in the process.
Looks like they are committing the perfect crime. Oh, wait a minute! They forgot about that one Witness….
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!