47 Days of Justice 2024 - Day 19: Inequality—perceived or otherwise—can be a temptation to lash out at others.

“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!

#resolveforhim #47DaysOfJudgement