Larry Devich
Monday, July 10, 2006
Monday in the 5th week of Pentecost
We are not God. That is the First Commandment. We are not to speak what God has not already spoken. We are not to presume to say or do what God would not say or do Himself.
Joseph’s brothers had put themselves into the place of God and worse! They acted as if they had the power to sentence their brother to death. They plotted his murder. They sold him as a slave. When sinners act as if vengeance is theirs, they are doing evil.
Why shouldn’t they expect their brother to act like God, especially when he was seated at the right hand of the Pharaoh? They were terrified.
But Joseph was sure that he was not God, so how could he hold his brothers’ sins against them? How could he treat them as their sins deserved, when God so obviously intended their evil for good?
As one who goes willingly to the slaughter, Joseph figured that if God, who works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, had allowed such things to happen, who was Joseph to question it? Like a lamb, who before its shearers is dumb, Joseph figured he was no one to start putting his own words in the place of God’s or his own deeds in the place of His Lord’s.
That is how Joseph shows us how much in God’s stead he really is! To those who plotted his death, he speaks forgiveness. To those who hated him, he shows mercy. To his brothers who betrayed him, he shows kindness. He weeps. He falls upon them with kisses and love.
Joseph is a picture of Christ for us. He was plotted against. He was treated as a slave, an outcast, a criminal, an adulterer, and thief. He languished in prison, in the depths of darkness, though he was faithful. And then, having risen to the heights of kingly power, continued to pour out mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus is your brother Joseph, dear Christian. Though you plotted His murder and betrayed Him, though your sins have cast Him into the anguish of hell on a cross, see how He weeps over you! Hear how kindly He speaks. And you are still afraid? He means all of His words – even His hard ones – only for your good, to give you repentance and faith! Though you deserve only evil, look! He is full of kindness and forgiveness and mercy and peace! He is your Brother at God’s Right Hand, and He loves you!
Daily readings
Numbers 9:15-23, 10:29-36
Romans 1:1-15
Matthew 17:14-21
¶ 7/10/2006 04:54:00 AM 0 Comments
“Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19)
We are not God. That is the First Commandment. We are not to speak what God has not already spoken. We are not to presume to say or do what God would not say or do Himself.
Joseph’s brothers had put themselves into the place of God and worse! They acted as if they had the power to sentence their brother to death. They plotted his murder. They sold him as a slave. When sinners act as if vengeance is theirs, they are doing evil.
Why shouldn’t they expect their brother to act like God, especially when he was seated at the right hand of the Pharaoh? They were terrified.
But Joseph was sure that he was not God, so how could he hold his brothers’ sins against them? How could he treat them as their sins deserved, when God so obviously intended their evil for good?
As one who goes willingly to the slaughter, Joseph figured that if God, who works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, had allowed such things to happen, who was Joseph to question it? Like a lamb, who before its shearers is dumb, Joseph figured he was no one to start putting his own words in the place of God’s or his own deeds in the place of His Lord’s.
That is how Joseph shows us how much in God’s stead he really is! To those who plotted his death, he speaks forgiveness. To those who hated him, he shows mercy. To his brothers who betrayed him, he shows kindness. He weeps. He falls upon them with kisses and love.
Joseph is a picture of Christ for us. He was plotted against. He was treated as a slave, an outcast, a criminal, an adulterer, and thief. He languished in prison, in the depths of darkness, though he was faithful. And then, having risen to the heights of kingly power, continued to pour out mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus is your brother Joseph, dear Christian. Though you plotted His murder and betrayed Him, though your sins have cast Him into the anguish of hell on a cross, see how He weeps over you! Hear how kindly He speaks. And you are still afraid? He means all of His words – even His hard ones – only for your good, to give you repentance and faith! Though you deserve only evil, look! He is full of kindness and forgiveness and mercy and peace! He is your Brother at God’s Right Hand, and He loves you!
Daily readings
Numbers 9:15-23, 10:29-36
Romans 1:1-15
Matthew 17:14-21
¶ 7/10/2006 04:54:00 AM 0 Comments
