Boyd's Commentary. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

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СКАЧАТЬ what happened to Joseph.

      THE LESSON APPLIED

      In this lesson, the three examples of Jacob, Joseph, and the brothers give light to the complexity of family dysfunction that exists today in many families. Families that are devoid of love inevitably fall apart, as love is the glue that binds all hearts together. God is love, and therefore, a family without it has no room for God to abide in the midst. Because God is love, He can restore it when it’s lost. How He chooses to, however, is uncertain, and when He chooses is according to His time. For Joseph, love eventually returned (for those who know the story), but it took time for God to penetrate their hearts. Such is the case for the modern family. For those of us who are experiencing the debilitating effects of lost love, know that in God nothing is ever lost. In Him, whatever is hidden will be revealed and whatever is lost can be found, even if it’s love.

      LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

       It has been said, “Family is where life begins and love never ends.” That being the case, who or what is to blame for the love lost between Joseph and his brothers? Clearly the plot to kill Joseph implicates his older brothers as the primary reason for what caused the love to fade. Certainly they are to blame, but are they the only ones? What about Joseph? Though he was the victim, could he also have contributed to his own misfortune?

      Most of us grew up learning about Joseph being morally superior to his brothers. This wasn’t so. Joseph was not perfect and had flaws like everyone else. For example, Joseph leveraged his father’s favoritism in an unwise way. He was a tattletale, if not an outright slanderer of his brothers (Gen. 37:2). He accepted and wore the outward symbol of his father’s partiality. Perhaps, the greatest insult was when Joseph chose to tell his brothers, prematurely, of his dreams that seemed to imply he would rule over the family. So, in addition to his brothers, Joseph was also complicit in the love lost in the family.

      Consider also the complicity of their father. Though he didn’t have a major role in Joseph’s narrative, Jacob’s contribution to the family’s dysfunction and subsequent loss of love among them was just as significant, if not more so. He purposely favored Joseph over the rest of his sons without regard of the consequence in so doing. Instead of addressing the tension between them, Jacob doubled down in his favoritism by making Joseph a special coat. For Joseph, the coat was the physical representation of his father’s favor, but for his brothers it was a constant sign that Joseph, not them, would receive the birthright blessing.

      They all were responsible for the lost love, though not equally. When love is lost in the family, it is incumbent that everyone involved take ownership and responsibility to address the dysfunction. There usually is enough blame to go around. The good news in this passage is that family dysfunction can be overcome with love as the foundation. Joseph exhibited this type of love and saved his family from total destruction. His relationship with God made all the difference. When we turn to God, He will help us to do what is right.

       HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

       SEPTEMBER 7–13, 2020

LESSON 2	SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
GOD REWARDS OBEDIENCE

TOPIC:LOVE VERSUS BITTERNESS

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:GENESIS 41:14–57

       GENESIS 41:25–33, 37–40, 50–52

King James Version	New Revised Standard Version
AND Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.	THEN Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.	26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.	27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.	28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:	29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;	30 After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land.
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.	31 The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.	32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.	33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
• • • • • •	• • • • • •
37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.	37 The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
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