113 years ago, a wealthy British family took their children on holiday to the lake district of England. There they rode horses, played cricket, and swam in a spectacular pool. And it was in that pool that something extraordinary happened. It seems that while two of the boys were floating in the shallow end, another was sinking in the deep end. The harder he fought, the more he sank, until suddenly he was in grave danger. No one was watching, but the son of the gardener who was working nearby. In an instant, he took off his shoes, dove in, and pulled him to safety.
When they were safely on land, the parents of the young boy rushed to the gardener and said, “How can we ever repay you?” Before the gardener could manage a response, the parents continued, “We are prepared to give you and your son whatever you wish." After several moments of embarrassment the gardener said, “There’s only one thing he ever wanted in life and that’s to be a physician, and you can’t possibly make that happen.” To which the father said, “Oh yes we can. Whatever it costs, we’ll do it.” And they did. They paid for the son of the gardener to become the most recognized doctor in all of Great Britain.
And the story doesn’t end there. Fifty years later, when the rescued one returned from an international summit, he had pneumonia. Quickly, the King of England ordered that the best physician in Britain be brought to save him from certain death. And there at his bedside the doctor administered a drug that he had developed. It was called Penicillin. And after Flemming gave it to Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister said, “Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same rescuer." Can you imagine being saved more than once by the same man?
The brothers of Joseph could. The Bible says they make their way down to Egypt to buy grain.
They have one purpose - to be saved from starvation. But when they get there, they get more than they bargained for. Not only do they get sacks full of grain, they get sacks full of money. They get all their money back, and an order to return with their prized possession - their youngest brother. Months later they’re back. This time they’re there not only to avoid starvation, they’re there to avoid any further imprisonment. And again the Bible says they get more than they bargained for. This time not only do they get grain, they get a feast, they get money, and they get a cup in their sack. And within hours they’re back in Egypt a third time. This time they need more than grain. This time they need more than a feast. This time they need to be saved from their sin.
Someone once wrote, “Let others hold forth the terrors of hell. Let others hold forth the joys of heaven. Let others drench their congregations with teachings about the sacraments and the church. Just give me the cross… The cross is the only lever that has ever turned the world upside down. The cross is the only cause for a man to forsake his sins. A man may begin preaching with a perfect knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; but he will do no good…unless he knows something of the cross.” For in the cross we find the cosmic confluence of two magnificent treasures – divine mercy and divine grace.
Centuries ago the Scottish Bible commentator Alexander MacClaren wrote of Genesis 45: “If the writer of this inimitable scene of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers was not simply an historian, he was one of the greatest dramatic geniuses of the world, master of a vivid minuteness like Defoe’s, and able to touch the springs of tears by a pathetic simplicity like his who painted the death of King Lear. Surely theories of legend and mosaic work fail here.”
What doesn’t fail is the Holy Spirit’s genius in revealing to us the depth of Christ’s work in transforming our brokenness with the world into complete wholeness, Shalom!
For two years Joseph has kept his identity hidden from his deceitful brothers. Decades earlier they had sold him into slavery. That decision set in motion a series of heart-wrenching betrayals and a complexity of brokenness. But now it’s the day of reckoning. Now is the time for Joseph to bring them to justice. BUT HE DOESN’T! Every value the world, ourselves, and the devil propound tells Joseph to pounce. But instead of pouncing, he perfectly portrays the principle purpose of the Prince of Peace. Instead of recriminations, he reconciles. Instead of hating them, he heals them. And in so doing Joseph mirrors what Christ alone can do for us.
Think of it. His brothers bound him and in doing so bound themselves. Here, the once “bound one” unbinds them. It’s a spectacular “unbinding.” Not only does he give them mercy, he gives them grace. How? How does Joseph do it? That’s Sunday’s study.
In preparation for Sunday you may wish to consider the following:
1) How many times before Genesis 45 does Joseph demonstrate mercy to his brothers?
2) How many times does Joseph demonstrate the depth of his brokenness at the sight of his brothers?
3) What correlation can you draw between Genesis 45:1-2 and Luke 19:41-42?
4) Why does Joseph choose to reveal himself? Why not keep the secret and let his family resettle in Egypt?
5) What three human needs are revealed by Joseph’s words and actions? (Hint: They all begin with the letter “R”.)
6) What does Joseph reveal about his knowledge of the nature of brokenness in verse 5?
7) What do you make of the contrast Joseph offers between the deeds of his brothers and the deeds of God?
8) What is the foundation of Joseph’s act of reconciliation?
9) What does it take for their father to believe in verses 26 & 27?
See you Sunday.
