- araratchurch
- Jun 25, 2024
- 3 min read
“Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?””
Genesis 37:31-32 NLT
I cannot say this to you enough: Abusive people objectify their victims. How else would it be possible that otherwise “decent” people support the industry of pornography, the abortion industry, prostitution, and so on?
The fact is, people insulate themselves against condemnation of what they are doing by reframing what they are doing. And, objectification is one of the means by which injustice is reframed.
Some people allow their desires to produce tunnel vision wherein their desire is seen as inescapable. And, when a person sees their desire as inescapable, as something they must have or do, they pursue what they want (or want to do) without regard to collateral damage.
As well, people may insulate themselves against condemnation with another type of reframing, wherein there is some “legitimate” justification for what they are doing.
Consider people who engage in looting and stealing. Some will condone their looting and stealing by seeing the victim as something/someone “deserving” of the loss. Some may see such acts as retribution for past evils of some corporation, some particular group of people, etc.
In today’s portion of Joseph’s story we see that his brothers, having dispensed with him, now turn their energy into coming up with a false narrative to cover for their awful deed.
Look at how Joseph’s brothers referenced him to their father: “Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” Wait a minute! Is not HIS son, THEIR brother! Apparently, not anymore. They’ve carried this terrible deed out; and Joseph is considered dead to them. They intend not to think another thought about him.
Another aspect of the situation we must examine today is the fact that this act of deception directly follows Reuben coming and finding Joseph gone. This killing of the animal, and putting the blood on Joseph’s coat, is now the way of answering Reuben’s question as to what he was going to do.
Let’s reflect back on the story with which we began our examination of justice/injustice, that of David and Bathsheba.
On Day 7 and Day 8 we also talked about a web of deceit and cover-ups often being worse than the crime. Remember, David’s sin led to a deception that eventually required murder!
In David’s case, he became caught in his own web of deceit covering his own sin. In Reuben’s case, he got caught up in the web of deception covering what his brothers had done, all because he didn’t speak out against what they were doing.
As another glaring moral here: We must never forget the importance of quickly confessing our sins to the Lord, and repenting, rather than making things worse with deception and denial.
“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
Psalms 32:1-5 NLT
Now Joseph is a slave, and Reuben, having failed to speak out against his brothers’ plan, has been sucked into a terrible web of deceit. Meanwhile, an old man is about to get some horrific news….
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- 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!