- araratchurch
- Jun 19, 2024
- 4 min read
“But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.”
Genesis 37:21-22 NLT
My maternal grandmother had a “famous”saying: “Do more and say less.” Now, I understand what her meaning was: Do what you’re going to do without drawing a lot of attention to yourself, without letting folks know what you’re up to.
Now, that may be strategic in some situations. The now proverbial phrase, “Loose lips sink ships,” became ubiquitous on posters during World War II. In other words, in battle, don’t give away your strategy to the enemy.
In terms of a biblical application of “do more and say less,” Jesus said that it is advisable to “do more and say less” in terms of the doing of good deeds like charitable giving.
““Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-4 NLT
Indeed, Jesus went further to include “do more and say less,” in terms of the things performed in devotion to the Lord like praying and fasting.
““When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:5-6, 16-18 NLT
However, Jesus, in no uncertain terms, made clear that those who do not speak up about their relationship with Him, will not be able to count on Him speaking up for them before the Father.
““Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 10:32-33 NLT
I understand the power of intimidation. How else could you have a so-called silent majority ending up being dominated by a loud, rowdy, Godless, minority?
I get it. Some remain silent in the face of evil out of fear. Still others may remain silent in the name of “peace.” But fail to speak up long enough, and eventually you will look around and not recognize your country, your society, even your own family. Remember, while you are busy being “silent,” those who are part of the world system, are very busy being loud and active!
In terms of “saying less” in the face of injustice, the Lord counts those who don’t speak up, along with those who commit the injustices.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT
““If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.”
Leviticus 5:1 NLT
Consider what Mordecai told Queen Esther concerning Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews:
“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
Looking at our portion of Joseph’s story today, I really don’t understand why Reuben—being the oldest and knowing the power that position carried in those days—would not have just clearly said, “This thing is wrong and we’re not going to do it!”
Perhaps Reuben actually feared the rest of the brothers. Perhaps he thought that saving Joseph this way would keep the peace. But no matter why Reuben did what he did, I can’t help but wonder: How will this plan turn out for him?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 18, 2024
- 3 min read
“When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!””
Genesis 37:18-20 NLT
What happened between yesterday’s part of the story and today is that Jacob has sent Joseph to check on his brothers who were out watching over their flocks. As it turns out, they were not where they were supposed to be (Shechem). When someone informed Joseph that they had gone to Dothan, he is headed in that direction.
As we see in our opening scripture, when the brothers saw Joseph approaching, they began to collude against him.
I was struck when reading the words about them recognizing their brother coming from a distance, that it was probably because he was wearing that beautiful robe, the sign of his father’s favor that had made Joseph’s brothers hate him all the more.
Do you know that when you are in Christ, walking according to His will, you are wearing His robe of favor—the robe of righteousness:
“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.”
Isaiah 61:10-11 NLT
Now, when anyone walking in the spirit of this world sees that robe, they will resent you, just as Joseph’s brothers resented him.
You see, the spirit behind the world system, the devil, hates the beautiful robe of righteousness God’s children wear. He hates the favor of God it indicates. So, it’s no wonder that those whose heart is with the world system will hate the followers of Christ.
But remember, according to Jesus, when the world hates us, we are in good company, as it hated Him first!
““If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
John 15:18-19 NLT
Praise God, the same robe of righteousness that the world hates, is the same robe that assures us that God is working all things together for our good.
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Romans 8:28 NLT
Yes, people operating according to the world system will hate us because we have put on Christ. But make no mistake, they cannot separate us from His love.
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
Romans 8:31-37 NLT
And what of Joseph? Sadly, his brothers are plotting to dispense with him…
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jun 17, 2024
- 4 min read
“One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.”
Genesis 37:5, 7-11 NLT
There is a legend telling of a person who was one of the losers in some Olympic-type games. The loser, being overwhelmed with jealousy, set out to knock down the statue erected in the winner’s image. The story goes that he chipped away at the bottom of the statue until it eventually succumbed, falling over on, and killing, the bitter loser.
Whether or not that story actually happened, the moral is true: The one who lashes out in envy and jealousy, will eventually be destroyed by it.
A story we know most definitely happened, is that of Haman. Indeed, Haman’s jealousy and hatred of Mordecai provoked him to build a gallows on which he planned to hang Mordecai. Not only that, in the process of ending Mordecai, all the Jews would be destroyed! However, Haman’s evil scheme backfired.
“In despair he fell on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining, just as the king was returning from the palace garden. The king exclaimed, “Will he even assault the queen right here in the palace, before my very eyes?” And as soon as the king spoke, his attendants covered Haman’s face, signaling his doom. Then Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination.” “Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered. So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.”
Esther 7:8-10 NLT
Surely enough, Haman was executed on the gallows he intended for Mordecai. Not only that, Haman’s ten sons would suffer the same fate (Esther 9:14).
Yes, the Lord has spoken in no uncertain terms that vengeance belongs to Him.
“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.”
Romans 12:19 NLT
We also know that the word of God assures that we will receive a just reward.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Galatians 6:9 NLT
Yes, at the coming of Jesus, all people will receive what they have earned.
“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”
Revelation 22:12 NLT
Sadly, those who don’t really believe that the Lord brings ultimate justice, will often take it on themselves to take down “Mr. or Ms. Fancy Pants” a notch or two.
In our opening scripture we see that as if it weren’t enough that Joseph was favored by his father, now he is “boasting” of dreams indicating that he will rule over his brothers, and eventually, over even his parents.
(I put “boasting” in quotation marks because this was inferred by Joseph’s brothers and his father.)
It just so happens that they were correct in the interpretation of what were prophetic dreams. But, there is really no indication that Joseph saw himself as boasting. It seems he was simply (to him) telling them his dreams. But—whatever the case—it certainly was not a legitimate excuse for what they would do next.
Alternately, Joseph’s father—though also offended at the implications—set his heart to understand what he had heard.
Understanding as a noun is not the same as understanding as a verb. That is, we may never know why something happened, or why different folks are prettier, smarter, richer, more gifted, more favored, etc., than the rest of their fellows. Inequalities may never seem “fair.”
However, having understanding (the wisdom of God) is having the overall knowledge of how the world works (jealousy, treachery, conniving, etc.), versus how God works (righteousness).
Without God’s wisdom, we may well suppose things that will provoke us into doing terrible things.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!