A Great Example For Us To Follow
On Wednesdays we have bible study at our church. We start off at 5:00 with a free spaghetti dinner to any that wish to come. This is followed by a Pioneer Group for kids from 1st to 6th grade. The parents and those without kids go into the back for our very own bible study. It's a great way for the whole family to get together for dinner and teaching. For over a year the adults have been discussing Genesis, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. It's very intense and very interesting. We get into the history and language behind what we're reading.
We are now on Chap 37 and the beginning of the life of Joseph. He is such a great example for us. He was a very Godly man, and we couldn't think of one bad flaw in his character. He was brutally honest, and because of this, very trusted by his father to his brothers' dismay. As he was the youngest of, at this point 11 brothers, we talked about how hard this must have been for his brothers to have to endure a completely perfect brother. He was so perfect and honest, they couldn't stand him. It's been said that in Joseph we see a picture of Christ. There are at least 101 comparisons of Joseph to Christ. He was not perfect as without sin, just seemed to be from our human perspective.
We could see repeatedly that the brothers "hated" their little brother. Over and over it was said, "they hated him." Then we see the hatred turned to envy when it said "his brothers envied him." . And we talked about this. Why did they hate him so? Why did it turn to envy? There was absolutely no reason except goodness. He was a truth teller. He was loved by the Father. He was a Godly young man. Why all the hatred? Where is this all coming from?
This is a plant sown by the evil one himself. Hatred is the root of bitterness. Out of this root, comes the shoot and it's called envy. The fruit of this bitterness is murder. So we first have the root, then the shoot that grows to produce very bad fruit.
Most of us know the rest of the story about how the brothers plotted his death, (the fruit of their bitterness) but instead , at the last minute, sold him to slave holders on their way to Egypt. Of course this was all providence as we later find out and God's perfect plan for the nation Israel. Joseph's character even in the midst of all his troubles remained impeccable. He was always true to his God and remained a very Godly man until the very end.
Don't we see this story replayed all the time? Hatred is displayed for no other reason than to fuel their own selfish desires to be first and foremost? Oh it may not result in a physical death, but you can murder others by so many different avenues. You can try to assassinate their character. You can murder their inititive. You can squash their desire to continue. This is replayed out many times in the lives of the Prophets as they only tried to help their Nation by telling them the truth and showing them the way. Jeremiah, called the weeping Prophet, had so many evil things done to him, and he cared so deeply for the evil doers even willing to stay the course for their sakes. He never, in his lifetime, saw a convert as a result of his prophesies.
Fast forward to about 33AD. Jesus was put to death for no other reason than the same hatred and murder that we see in the brothers of Joseph. Yes, it started out as pure hatred, growing up into a nice sturdy plant called Envy. Only this time this strong plant did produce the ripend fruit of physical murder. For what was he killed? For telling them the truth.
"Jesus said right before he died: "If the world hates you you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own, but because you are not of the world, bit I have chosen you out of the world the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do to you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."
Paul knew this as so did Peter and John. They had much to say about this subject. They all ended up in prison, at one time or another, as a result of this hatred. They suffered on behalf of the whole church which they loved. The early Gentile believers especially loved Paul as they knew he suffered on their behalf. Paul had once persecuted the church but now had devoted his life and care to this same church. Even as a prisoner he ministered to the church. Afflications must be cheerfully endured as they are profitable to all the church and he was a great example also for us.
As I'm reading and studying Paul right now I see he so encourages them by his example not to be intimidated by persecutions. He gives proof of his affection towards them when he says he willingly bears afflictions for their sake. He's not ashamed. He 's rejoicing when we read his accounts. Where does the joy come from? From seeing the good fruit spring up. In the midst of all our persecutions and sufferings, God always shows us something, or sends us somebody to encourage us.
I love that about my God.
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