“I Have Sent You to Preserve Life”
Psalm 37 & Genesis 45:1-15 ~ Northwood UC February 20, 2022 ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook
The Joseph story is one that brings awe and wonder to its listeners. Andrew Lloyd Weber saw the dramatic development of this narrative as one which would capture the hearts and minds of theatre goers. And, perhaps, many of you have taken in the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A richly developed narrative spanning over 9 chapters that is more of a novella than a short biblical lesson that ware accustomed to. And in this story, we see ~ in full technicolor ~ youthful immaturity blossoming into wisdom, forgiveness and grace. In this text, we see family at their best and their worst. We see the e gift of reunion in community and the gift of a reclaimed wholeness that is life. (so…we might be here for a while )
As we begin, it might be useful to revisit the backstory behind this text, lest it be a shallow teaching on virtue. And frankly, it is important to remind ourselves of who this Joseph was, and who he had grown to become. As much as we might be drawn to see Joseph as a wonderful man....a pillar of virtue…Joseph was not a very likable young man. The Joseph we meet in Chapter 45 is not the Joseph we first met at the beginning of the story 8 chapters ago. I don’t suspect that you would have much liked Joseph at the beginning. He was a righteous, arrogant, and conceited young man. Joseph’s sense of self-importance annoyed his brothers... It angered his brothers… it resulted in them choosing to sell Joseph into slavery, and finally be done with this arrogant thorn in their family’s side. At the beginning of the story, few of us saw many redeeming qualities with this family. Joseph’s family were akin to a reality TV show of a “Train Wreck”, that we are just seemingly drawn to watch. Yet, the beginning of the story is critical, for it was from this horrible beginning, which growth would one day occur. As the story unfolds, Joseph is sold into slavery and begins a very difficult life. Yet this beginning was the point from where he later matures into a man of wisdom, power, and forgiveness.
In the story, Joseph realizes the special gift from God that he possesses... the gift of interpreting dreams. And through the realization of this gift, he rises from being a common slave, rising up the ranks in Pharaoh's court, to soon becoming Pharoah’s second in command. Joseph survives threats to his life; he guides Egypt through difficult times, and when a famine had ravaged throughout the lands from Egypt all the way to Palestine, he comes across his brothers, the very ones who had sold him into slavery. And in a dramatic twist of irony, while Joseph has risen from slavery to power, the reverse had occurred for his brothers. They had fallen from power to destitute poverty. They now were now hungry and scrounging for food. Joseph…sold into slavery, now risen to power. And the brothers…once powerful and overbearing now struggling for survival. The text before us is this meeting…after all of these developments…the meeting of this family…and we find ourselves on the edge of our seats wondering what will happen next. And we meet a new Joseph. Once arrogant and annoying…sold into slavery. We meet a new Joseph, now powerful and fully able to receive his due vengeance. Yet, what we discover is that Joseph's growth had gone beyond mere power and a desire for vengeance; he had grown in wisdom, grace, and compassion.
I know one of the deepest concerns on many of our hearts in this country, these days, is the growing divide among people as we move through the current pandemic. We are tired; we are fed up; and after 2 years, there is a growing divide on what the next steps ahead should look like. Blockades have been set up, protests are seen in many cities and demonstrations have been growing. And a growing level of fear and divide in our beloved country of Canada seems to be on the rise. Some argue: ‘what about our freedom’? Others counter, ‘what about our health care and its ability to treat a flood of ill people’? And still others ask: ‘what about the widening gulf between sisters and brothers who are decreasingly viewing one another in love?
I would like to look at this challenge through the opening words of the reunion between Joseph and his brothers that we find in the 4th verse. “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here.”
There are two things that I want to explore in that interaction. The first is that of the physical action of ‘coming together’. The text describes a gathering in close enough proximity that the brothers realize one another, not as stranger, but as family. The brothers had sold Joseph into slavery so long ago that they assumed him to be dead. Never in a million years did the brothers think that the esteemed man who held an office in Pharoah’s court was their brother. They assumed Joseph to have died the horrible death of a slave. But when they were together…gathered…when they could see one another …transforation happened.
Conflict will remain as conflict as long as there is distance between the two parties. As long as you stay in your camp and I stay in my camp, we can remain as enemies…or “others”… We remain separated and the divide grows. In this pivotal part of the story, Joseph initiates community and connection. He says “come closer to me”…and they got closer. Churches (before Covid, of course) were so good at gathering people together. We gathered for worship; we gathered for coffee; we gathered for pot lucks…we gathered. And when we gathered, we broke down the separations and boundaries and we created community. It is no surprise that people seem to gravitate to the term ‘Holy Communion’ instead of ‘Holy Eucharist’ because when we commune at Jesus’ table, we remember His sacrificial love and amazing grace that breaks down any boundary and unites us as sisters and brothers in Christ. Joseph’s invitation to his brothers to “come closer” is a call in our living to break down boundaries and find (safe) ways to understand others and invite them to understand. It is a call to create authentic community and re-unite as family…In the space of community, transformation occurs and we realize how are all God’s children.
The second part of this text is Joseph’s understanding of the call to life we all receive. Joseph says: “don’t be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve life.” The Septuagint, the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures, offers an even more elegant statement: “God sent me before you for life.” What we view in that beautiful moment was the inner growth that Joseph had attained. A beginning as an arrogant, self-righteous teen…angering his brothers so much as to kick him out of the family and be sold into slavery. He now grows into a man of wisdom and character. His trials and tribulations have brought him to realize his authentic life’s purpose….“for life”. And he tells his brothers that he does not have hatred or vengeance to unleash upon them…he is there “to offer life”.
The great Christian Reformer, Martin Luther viewed Joseph as a Christ figure. Joseph was betrayed, mistreated, handed over to death. Yet, Joseph unexpectedly reveals himself as alive. He offers forgiveness. He offers a new beginning. In this text, we gain this epiphany calling of the God of life who calls us all to “preserve life” to come “for life.” As we follow the way of the Christ, we too are to offer life by the ways we live ours.
We are in a very challenging historical time in our country: People questioning their rights and freedoms; people questioning the importance of protecting the vulnerable; people getting further and further apart. The Emergency Act and a widening divide between sister and brother. I wonder what call might be heard amidst this growing divide as we look through the lens of Joseph’s story? Can we find ways to as Joseph asked of his brothers “come closer”? Can we rekindle the communal love of sister/brother that once was? Can we seek to “offer life” into this growing divide?
Looking back in history, this pandemic is not the first to challenge our world. An English mystic, by the name of Julian of Norwich lived through one towards the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th Centuries. The plague, or “Black Death” as others called it, killed 75 million people. And, Julian was a Benedictine Nun who was mortally ill. During her illness, she had visionary experiences and proceeded to record them. She wrote: “And so, our good Lord answered all the questions and doubts which I could raise.... Saying most comfortingly: I may make all things well and I can make all things well, and I shall make all things well, and I will make all things well; And you will see yourself that every kind of thing will be well.”
Julian, and Joseph, and Jesus all had a way of finding the mystery of God’s love in all things, in all circumstances, even in the midst of personal and enormous human tragedies. Not that God ever causes these pains and struggles, but that God calls us to be ones who “preserve life” whose way “brings life”, whose lives allow life to flourish.
And, perhaps, with this kind of grace, and forgiveness, and a “call to life”…we might begin, amidst the divides and the tragedies in this present day…to see the mystery of God’s love guiding us in the ways of life.
Amen.