The Diocese of Southeast Florida
The Bible Challenge 2013
Day 17, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Genesis 43-45; Psalm 15; Matthew 15
It’s unsettling when wrongs done years ago come back to bite you in a big way. The drama of the Joseph story comes to its climax in this section of Genesis in which the brothers discover that this powerful person, the number two guy in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself, is their little brother Joseph, whom they hated. This is the same Joseph whom they had thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, about whom they had lied to their father, inferring to their father that he had been killed by a wild beast, and providing evidence to back up their claim! They provided the colorful coat (or long-sleeved jacket) that Dad had given his pet because he loved him best, to their father, torn and stained with blood. “Dad, uh, do you recognize this?” What despicable behavior! What a shameful ruse! But now it all comes back to bite them! Oh what a tangled web we weave….
I appreciate that the Genesis account is not “black and white” in its portrayal of Joseph’s reaction to his brothers and their treachery. Joseph is, in my opinion, portrayed ultimately as a great man. In the end, he is able to resolve all of the anguish, suffering and pain he has endured at the hands of his brothers and of others, by seeing them in the bigger picture, by setting them in the broader, overarching scheme of God’s goodness and God’s providence. But before he arrives at that point, he has to “toy” with his brothers, play with their feelings and emotions, and put them through a trial and an emotional roller-coaster. How accurately Genesis often mirrors human behavior back at us. The climax of the story, when it comes in chapter 45, verse 1, is filled with grace, power and glory. “Then Joseph could no longer control himself….I am Joseph, your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into slavery. And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here [I’m not sure those are the emotions they were feeling. I suspect they were terrified!], for God sent me before you to preserve life…So it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Wow! It takes both great faith and strong character to figure that out. Joseph is an exemplar of understanding the presence of God in all circumstances.
Psalm 15 begins with a question: O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? It’s a rhetorical question, and the psalm writer offers the answer, “Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right…” Uh oh! The psalm is clearly contrasting virtue with wickedness and that is not unimportant. Still, who of us can say with confidence that we always “walk blamelessly” and “do what is right?” Always? We may try, but we often come up short. Thanks be to God that Paul came along and taught us that we are justified by grace through faith (Rom. 4:5). That doesn’t take us off the hook. We are still called to strive toward virtuous living. It does mean however, that when we fall short, God loves us anyway, and we are always welcome into God’s presence and home.
Matthew 15 presents one of my favorite exchanges in the New Testament. It is between Jesus and a Canaanite woman. This exchange comes on the heels of a debate between Jesus and a group of Pharisees and scribes who come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus, and question why his followers break “the traditions of the elders.” Jesus’ reply to them, a quote from Isaiah, is pointed, and challenges the self-righteous religious of all ages, “this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He then takes pains to explain to his disciples what’s important and what’s not. They don’t seem to get it. It’s after this that he travels to the district of Tyre and Sidon, outside of Jewish territory and comes across a desperate Canaanite woman in a situation filled with pathos. It appears she can’t get close to him, and shouts out, “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Jesus response surprises most of us, I suspect. He ignores her. She keeps shouting, acting like a pest. His disciples urge him to send her away. He finally answers her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She kneels before him, “Lord, help me.” It’s a pathetic scene. Jesus says to her, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” That’s pretty harsh. But, God bless her, she loves her daughter and will not be dissuaded. “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” What wit, and what boldness! I imagine Jesus paused for a moment, realizing that she had brought him up short. I wonder if he thought about his earlier exchange with the Pharisees and scribes, and had to rethink how he was holding on to a “tradition” at the expense of a person in real need. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. It appears that even Jesus could learn a new trick from an old dog!
The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes, Rector
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, FL
The Bible Challenge 2013
Day 17, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Genesis 43-45; Psalm 15; Matthew 15
It’s unsettling when wrongs done years ago come back to bite you in a big way. The drama of the Joseph story comes to its climax in this section of Genesis in which the brothers discover that this powerful person, the number two guy in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself, is their little brother Joseph, whom they hated. This is the same Joseph whom they had thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, about whom they had lied to their father, inferring to their father that he had been killed by a wild beast, and providing evidence to back up their claim! They provided the colorful coat (or long-sleeved jacket) that Dad had given his pet because he loved him best, to their father, torn and stained with blood. “Dad, uh, do you recognize this?” What despicable behavior! What a shameful ruse! But now it all comes back to bite them! Oh what a tangled web we weave….
I appreciate that the Genesis account is not “black and white” in its portrayal of Joseph’s reaction to his brothers and their treachery. Joseph is, in my opinion, portrayed ultimately as a great man. In the end, he is able to resolve all of the anguish, suffering and pain he has endured at the hands of his brothers and of others, by seeing them in the bigger picture, by setting them in the broader, overarching scheme of God’s goodness and God’s providence. But before he arrives at that point, he has to “toy” with his brothers, play with their feelings and emotions, and put them through a trial and an emotional roller-coaster. How accurately Genesis often mirrors human behavior back at us. The climax of the story, when it comes in chapter 45, verse 1, is filled with grace, power and glory. “Then Joseph could no longer control himself….I am Joseph, your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into slavery. And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here [I’m not sure those are the emotions they were feeling. I suspect they were terrified!], for God sent me before you to preserve life…So it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Wow! It takes both great faith and strong character to figure that out. Joseph is an exemplar of understanding the presence of God in all circumstances.
Psalm 15 begins with a question: O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? It’s a rhetorical question, and the psalm writer offers the answer, “Those who walk blamelessly and do what is right…” Uh oh! The psalm is clearly contrasting virtue with wickedness and that is not unimportant. Still, who of us can say with confidence that we always “walk blamelessly” and “do what is right?” Always? We may try, but we often come up short. Thanks be to God that Paul came along and taught us that we are justified by grace through faith (Rom. 4:5). That doesn’t take us off the hook. We are still called to strive toward virtuous living. It does mean however, that when we fall short, God loves us anyway, and we are always welcome into God’s presence and home.
Matthew 15 presents one of my favorite exchanges in the New Testament. It is between Jesus and a Canaanite woman. This exchange comes on the heels of a debate between Jesus and a group of Pharisees and scribes who come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus, and question why his followers break “the traditions of the elders.” Jesus’ reply to them, a quote from Isaiah, is pointed, and challenges the self-righteous religious of all ages, “this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He then takes pains to explain to his disciples what’s important and what’s not. They don’t seem to get it. It’s after this that he travels to the district of Tyre and Sidon, outside of Jewish territory and comes across a desperate Canaanite woman in a situation filled with pathos. It appears she can’t get close to him, and shouts out, “Have mercy on me Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Jesus response surprises most of us, I suspect. He ignores her. She keeps shouting, acting like a pest. His disciples urge him to send her away. He finally answers her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She kneels before him, “Lord, help me.” It’s a pathetic scene. Jesus says to her, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” That’s pretty harsh. But, God bless her, she loves her daughter and will not be dissuaded. “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” What wit, and what boldness! I imagine Jesus paused for a moment, realizing that she had brought him up short. I wonder if he thought about his earlier exchange with the Pharisees and scribes, and had to rethink how he was holding on to a “tradition” at the expense of a person in real need. “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. It appears that even Jesus could learn a new trick from an old dog!
The Rev. Canon William H. Stokes, Rector
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Delray Beach, FL
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