January 16

Scripture and Observation:

Genesis 39-41

This span of chapters shows the depths and heights of Joseph’s life.  He is sold by his brothers into slavery.  Within the home of Potiphar he rises to the highest rank with Potiphar’s full confidence.  But Potiphar’s wife wants to sleep with Joseph and continually makes advances at him.  He refuses each time.  Once they were alone she approached him again with aggression.  In escaping, he left behind his shirt.  She saves it as evidence against him.  He is put in prison.  There he also rises to the highest rank.  He interprets the dreams of two of the Pharaoh's servants accurately and he asks them to let someone know about him and his unfair imprisonment.  But the cupbearer forgets until two years later when the Pharaoh himself is in need of dream interpretation.  They bring out Joseph who, with God’s help, delivers the message that there will be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.  Joseph recommends finding someone to head up collecting 20% of the harvest for the first seven years to be parceled out during the famine.  Joseph gets the job, is appointed to a position over all but Pharaoh.  He marries and has two sons.

Luke 16

Jesus teaches against the love of money, that we can only serve one master.  And only one master can love us back.  Then he tells a story of a rich man who lives ignoring a poor, sick beggar, Lazarus.  After both men die, the rich man can see Lazarus being comforted by Abraham and asks that he send Lazarus to soothe him in Hades.  Abraham says no one can cross the chasm.  So the rich man asks that Lazarus be sent to warn the rich man’s five brothers to change their ways.  Abraham again say no.  They need to listen to Moses and the prophets.  If they don’t, they wouldn’t listen even to a dead man.

Application and Prayer:

The story of Joseph's life is an intriguing one.  It reminds me of a story I once heard about St. Teresa of Avila.  I remember reading about a really rough road on which she was traveling and talking with God about it.  He told her that this is how he treats his friends, and she responded, ‘no wonder you have so few friends.’ (IN looking this up, I discovered several different circumstances in which this conversation took place: one on the road, one when lamenting the cruelty of human friends.)

Anyhow, Joseph must wonder why, oh why, his life was taking the path that it was.  Almost killed, thrown into a dry well, sold into slavery, attacked, falsely accused, imprisoned, forgotten…  With friends like these, right?  But, Lord, you are so faithful and you do use all things for our good.  I bless your name as you bring me through the trials of unfairness, betrayals and loneliness.