Genesis 45:1-15; Luke 6:27-38
The reading from Genesis in the lectionary comes accompanied by Luke 6:27-38, it says, 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
No character in the Old Testament better illustrates the fundamentals of forgiveness and understanding than Joseph, and no chapter more clearly defines and describes the essentials of forgiveness and understanding than chapter 45 in Genesis. Can we try to be in Joseph’s place for a while. Can we imagine -without knowing the end- what it is to be sold by our brothers as slave and to be put in prison for a crime we did not commit.
The years Joseph spent in slavery and prison, could there be an understandable excuse for him to ignite into an explosion of anger at the sight of his brothers who took away his dignity, his freedom, his condition of human being and sold him as an object.? And what about God, could Joseph be angry also with God for allowing him into such situation? From our human point of view, I would say yes to both questions. However, Joseph did not act against his brothers and never complained against God. The reason was, Joseph understood and recognized that God was with him in his sufferings, and he also understood that God was with his brothers as well now that they needed food. He understood that God was with and loved both parts.
In Egypt, while Joseph was in prison and while he saw God’s hand moving on his favor and guiding his life, Joseph had a lot of time to think; and God led Joseph to the right way of using the power he gave him. His words, when he revealed himself to his brothers, show it, “Do not be distressed; don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me here to preserve life.” Gen. 45:5. And later in Gen. 50:20, we find the same statement, “Do not be afraid. You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, so that many people should be kept alive.”
Joseph had learned two things while God was shaping him in Egypt, first, everything we receive from God is to help others and fulfill his will, and second, he learned to forgive. This happened when he placed his broken life into the hands of God and understood His larger purpose.
In the Old Testament, Joseph serves as a prototype of Jesus. His life foreshadows, points to the One who would come to save the world. Joseph and Jesus’ life have similarities. Joseph was sold for pieces of silver; he was stripped of his robe. He was delivered to the gentiles; he was falsely accused. He was faithful amid temptation; He forgave and saved his rebellious brothers. He was exalted after and through humiliation; he was the instrument God used to bless his people.
When his brothers came to Egypt, Joseph was the second in power; he had power to execute revenge, he had the “legal right” to punish his brothers for everything they did to him. He could have brought his father and his younger brother to the safety of Egypt and sent his brothers to jail, and no one could have criticized him. However, Joseph, led by God, forgave them; and not only that, but he also brought them to Egypt and gave them the land of Goshen for they to live.
In the Gospel I read this morning Jesus is describing Joseph. Joseph did good to those who hated him, blessed those who cursed him, prayed for those who mistreat him. and why? Why did he do that? The answer is simple, he knew that what God did in his life was greater and more relevant that what his brothers did.
Joseph’s example and Jesus’ words are an invitation to meditate in what are we doing with what God has giving us; are reminders to think in the big picture and not in our own personal interest or experience. Joseph got power and resources from God to help others, and he did; he got power to help laying the foundation of God’s promise to Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation. Joseph received power to fulfill God’s plans and not his. After forgiving and receiving his brothers, they lived together in Egypt; they grow to become a nation.
We, as Joseph have received power, power to do good as well. Listen to Luke 9:1 and 2, “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” We are the XXI century disciples of Jesus and we have received the same power and authority to drive demons out, cure diseases and proclaim the kingdom. In other words, this building, our tithing, and everything we have as church is to proclaim the kingdom of God, to fulfill God’s plans and to strengthen the foundation of God’s kingdom.
We have to do what Joseph did, give God the control. Genesis 45:1 say, Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” Everything Joseph did before this moment, he did it having control. He was playing with his brothers. When he could no longer control himself, God took control, and everything change. Forgiveness found its way, unity found its way, prosperity found its way, a new nation found its way.
“Joseph could no longer control himself” is the equivalent of, “not my will, but yours, be done.” This is the key, sisters, and brothers. Let us allow God to control what we plan, what we dream. After all, everything belong to God.
We can conclude that according to the Word of God, power from above is given to us to help others and never to control others. My brothers and sisters as we strive to be faithful disciples of Jesus, as we strive to do his will, as we struggle and persevere, follow, and persist, let us do well; let us abide with and in the Spirit . . . because the Spirit dwells in us. And remember, people, places and situations do not control us. We should not even try to control ourselves. Only God sees and knows all. And He can create goodness out of harm. He can transform evil into something good He and we can use what he has given us to help others and fulfill His will.