Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

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Joseph’s Miraculous Forgiveness of his Brothers, Genesis 45

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Genesis 45

Joseph Makes Himself Known

 1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

 3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
Joseph is a wonderful person–affectionate, caring and loving. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and it is a warm, loving, heart.
 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,
Inexplicable kindness. God has changed his heart in his years of suffering, and his years of exaltation.
because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Forgiveness is somewhat easier when you can see how God has worked out all things for good.

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.
NIV notes–God had a purpose to work through the brother’s jealous and cruel act.
” He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
 12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
The love between father and son is mutual.
 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
In the previous chapter, the brothers have acknowledged their guilt regarding Joseph, and have expressed concern for their father and younger brother. This enables the reconciliation between them and Joseph.
Joseph’s forgiveness still has something of the miraculous about it–and was only possible because God had changed his heart.
 16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’
 19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”
 21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels


Listen to George VI’s famous Christmas 1939 address. You can hear evidences of a conquered stutter, can’t you?
http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/12/25/ 


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The Path of the Righteous Shines Ever Brighter, Prov. 4,

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Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

 




































1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; 
   pay attention and gain understanding. 
2 I give you sound learning, 
   so do not forsake my teaching. 
3 For I too was a son to my father, 
   still tender, and cherished by my mother. 
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, 
   “Take hold of my words with all your heart; 
   keep my commands, and you will live. 
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; 
   do not forget my words or turn away from them. 
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; 
   love her, and she will watch over you. 
There is protection in seeking divine wisdom


7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. 
The beginning of wisdom is to value and treasure wisdom.
   Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 
It is worth spending much money, to gain spiritual wisdom
.8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; 
   embrace her, and she will honor you. 
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head 
   and present you with a glorious crown.”
In normal circumstances, the wisdom which comes from God leads to exaltation, honour and glory.

 10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
   and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
   and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
   when you run, you will not stumble. 
God’s wisdom enables one to metaphorically proceed in a straight line without stumbling or tripping.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
   guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
   or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
   turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
   they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
   and drink the wine of violence.

 18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
   shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
In the normal course of events, the life of the righteous grows from strength to strength–in ever-increasing brightness.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
   they do not know what makes them stumble.
Sinners find obstacles they do not understand in their paths.
Esv notes–The doctrine of the two ways. A choice between entering the way of wisdom and the way of folly. The path taken will determine the outcome of one’s life.
 20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
   turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
   keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
   and health to one’s whole body.
Following the counsels of wisdom enhance bodily health.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.
Watch your heart. The bitterness or unforgiveness in it. The things in your heart which you might long for more than you long for God. The idols in your heart which consume your thoughts. 

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
   fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

   and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil.
Keep focused. Avoid evil.

The Path of the Righteous Shines Ever Brighter, Prov. 4, Blog Through the Bible Project

By

Proverbs 4

Get Wisdom at Any Cost
 


















1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; 
   pay attention and gain understanding. 
2 I give you sound learning, 
   so do not forsake my teaching. 
3 For I too was a son to my father, 
   still tender, and cherished by my mother. 
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, 
   “Take hold of my words with all your heart; 
   keep my commands, and you will live. 
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; 
   do not forget my words or turn away from them. 
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; 
   love her, and she will watch over you. 
There is protection in seeking divine wisdom

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. 
The beginning of wisdom is to value and treasure wisdom.   Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 
It is worth spending much money, to gain spiritual wisdom
.8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; 
   embrace her, and she will honor you. 
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head 
   and present you with a glorious crown.”
In normal circumstances, the wisdom which comes from God leads to exaltation, honour and glory.

 10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
   and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
   and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
   when you run, you will not stumble. 
God’s wisdom enables one to metaphorically proceed in a straight line without stumbling or tripping.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
   guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
   or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
   turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
   they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
   and drink the wine of violence.
 18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
   shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
In the normal course of events, the life of the righteous grows from strength to strength–in ever-increasing brightness.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
   they do not know what makes them stumble.
Sinners find obstacles they do not understand in their paths.
Esv notes–The doctrine of the two ways. A choice between entering the way of wisdom and the way of folly. The path taken will determine the outcome of one’s life.
 20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
   turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
   keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
   and health to one’s whole body.
Following the counsels of wisdom enhance bodily health.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
   for everything you do flows from it.
Watch your heart. The bitterness or unforgiveness in it. The things in your heart which you might long for more than you long for God. The idols in your heart which consume your thoughts. 
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
   fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
   and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil.
Keep focused. Avoid evil.

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Matthew 18, The Absolute Seriousness of Sin,

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Matthew 18
 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 


9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.


Jesus again used hyperbole, one of his favourite rhetorical devices. Take extreme measures, if necessary, to avoid sin.


To my mind, there are two types of sin, unpremeditated, and planned, lifestyle sort of sin. Lashing out verbally when provoked, telling a white lie when on the spot,  is a different kettle of fish to deliberately taking revenge, telling or writing a deliberate lie. Of course, if one habitually loses one’s temper, then examination, analysis and repentance is necessary


It is worth remembering the absolute seriousness with which Jesus took sin. And now I am going to pause to reflect on areas in which I might habitually persist in sin–and repent.


(Which led to a costly decision!!)


ESV notes–Matthew 18 is the fourth of Jesus’s five major discourses in Matthew’s Gospel. 
Jesus uses hyperbole (intentional overstatement) to emphasize the necessity of rigorous self-discipline and radically removing sin from the disciples’ life before it leads to judgement.
NIV –“Deal as drastically as necessary with sin, in order to remove it from your life.” 


Matthew 18, The Absolute Seriousness of Sin, Blog Through the Bible Project

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Matthew 18
7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 


9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Jesus again used hyperbole, one of his favourite rhetorical devices. Take extreme measures, if necessary, to avoid sin.

To my mind, there are two types of sin, unpremeditated, and planned, lifestyle sort of sin. Lashing out verbally when provoked, telling a white lie when on the spot,  is a different kettle of fish to deliberately taking revenge, telling or writing a deliberate lie. Of course, if one habitually loses one’s temper, then examination, analysis and repentance is necessary

It is worth remembering the absolute seriousness with which Jesus took sin. And now I am going to pause to reflect on areas in which I might habitually persist in sin–and repent.

(Which led to a costly decision!!)

ESV notes–Matthew 18 is the fourth of Jesus’s five major discourses in Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus uses hyperbole (intentional overstatement) to emphasize the necessity of rigorous self-discipline and radically removing sin from the disciples’ life before it leads to judgement.
NIV –“Deal as drastically as necessary with sin, in order to remove it from your life.”
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Always Query Received Wisdom

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Smart parking?


One thing Roy and I have in common is an instinctive, and ingrained healthy distrust of received wisdom. 


I think we particularly enjoyed our week in Rome because we ignored the guidebook’s advice on driving in Rome: Don’t dream of it.


Jamie, a friend of ours who is a confident driver, drove in Rome and said it was surprisingly compact.


And so we found it. With the satnav we got Roy for his birthday, we were able to get to places in far less time than we would have spent figuring out public transportation , walking to it, and walking from it to our destination. 


Another pleasant surprise was parking. Spots outside the Vatican Museums, 4 euros for 8 hours. Wow! Free spots just outside the Colosseum, and indeed every church we visited.


Given that I have a whole lot less energy that I should, I was pleased that I was able to conserve it for seeing Rome’s wondrous sights. 


 In fact, we drive everywhere, Oxford, London, Paris, and Athen when we went there, and are generally lucky in finding parking (though not in Athens, where we were always leaving our car where we shouldn’t, and were always told off in voluble Greek. No tickets though!


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