THE JESSE TREE SERIES:
What does Sunday of the Second week of Advent entail for our Jesse Tree:
GOD'S PROVIDENCE
SCRIPTURE: Gen 37, 39:1-50:21.
Chapter 37 of Genesis is the the
beginning of the story of Joseph.
In chapter 37, Joseph has 2 dreams
which we share with his brothers and his father. The jealousy of the brothers
is predicable since they believed their father loved Joseph more than them. The
father also listens to Joseph telling them of the dream, rebukes him in front
of his brothers but as vs 11 tells us” … but his father kept the saying in
mind.
In the next few verses, we catch a
glimpse of Joseph’s personality obeying his father’s command as he looks for
his brothers at Shechem and as he approaches Dothan. Sadly, for Joseph, his
opportunistic brothers seized the chance to kill him despite Reuben’s
misgivings about it (vs 21-22).
From vs 26-336 through Judah’s
instigation, the brothers sell Joseph, their brother, and later cover up their
treachery as they explain their wicked deed to their father, who was grief
stricken.
CHAPTER 39 shows God's providence in
the light of adversity.
Potiphar made Joseph the overseer of
his house. Joseph was righteous in his position ‘…and the Lord caused all that
he did to prosper in his hands’ (vs 3)
Potiphar’s wife had other ideas and saw
that Joseph was ‘handsome and good-looking’ and makes advances towards him.
Joseph refused her advances, letting her know the reason for his refusal
(vs8-9). She feels slighted by the continual refusal so sets him up and
later unjustly accused the young Hebrew of seduction. When she repeats the
lying story to her husband, he believes her and Joseph was flung into prison,
without being able to defend himself.
We may be inclined to feel sorry for Joseph since
he was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife, but vs 21-23 highlights God’s
faithfulness to Joseph by providing ‘favour in the sight of the keeper of the
prison’.
Chapter 39 therefore highlights the
following aspects that are important for our lives.
1. When we are faithful and have a
right attitude to doing right in our work, God will assist us and help our work
to prosper.
2. Adultery is not acceptable, nor is
lying to cover one’s own wrong desire.
3. It is always important to listen
to both sides of a story and get the facts, even if it means finding out
something unfavourable about one’s husband/wife.
4. In times of trial and when
injustice has been committed, it is essential to remember the loving
faithfulness of God towards you. God will provide you help and right the wrong
that has been committed, even when it is not always immediate.
5. Always trust in the faithfulness
of God and behave according to His commands.
THE PERSON: JOSEPH
Joseph was the youngest son of 12
children to Jacob. He was a child of his old age and his elder brothers were
jealous of him. Joseph is presented as the ideal wise man who allows
himself to be guided by God., the account shows how God’s providence can turn
men’s actions, even their misdeeds, to good account, for the salvation of the
people.(Gen 50:6). This just man who is persecuted is a figure of Christ,
eternal wisdom, who, handled over by his brothers but saved by God, became the
Saviour of the entire world.
THE EVENT/THEME: GOD'S
PROVIDENCE: During our reflection time today, let
us ponder on our relationships with siblings. We may wish to
1.
Offer a prayer for healing for sibling relationships.
2.
Rediscover God's providence working in my life by making a time of
events/situations where God's loving providence has been at work.
3.
Make a practical commitment: As today's theme is God's Providence, we may wish to
o
take a leap of trust in God to take
the first step to repair a damaged or broken relationship.
o
Acknowledge God's providence by
giving two work colleagues an opportunity to be together to hear the other
person's side of the story. In this activity, it is about actively listening to
both sides and helping both colleagues come to a resolution.
o
examine our life for the vice of
jealousy and make a plan to eradicate it during this Advent season.
o
SYMBOL 8: SACK OF GRAIN OR COAT OF MANY COLOURS.
Joseph is the man through whom God
saves Jacob and his family.
His stories becomes parables of the life of the people of God.
No matter how desperate the situation, God is present and will lift up his people.
His stories becomes parables of the life of the people of God.
No matter how desperate the situation, God is present and will lift up his people.
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