Bibledoorajar on Concocted stories

 

     Joseph's father was waiting for a report as to the welfare of his other sons who had roamed far away from home. He had sent the family dreamer, his favorite,  to check on them and Joseph had been willing to pursue and find them out in the field. But their response on seeing him was to hurl insults and to make plans for his demise. It was Judah who suggested they take him out of the pit and sell him. And so, Joseph came up from the pit whole, his body in one piece. The plan to kill him was forestalled, but they did take his coat and cover it with blood to be able to present a concocted story to their father.

   

"... the Pharisees  held a council against Him as to how they might destroy Him" (Matthew 12:14).
 And so it was, that Judas knew that the brethren of Jesus planned to kill Him, so he took the thirty pieces of silver and sold Jesus into their hands. Indeed, they concocted a story worthy of death and His bloody body was soon displayed for all to see. However, when they buried Him, He arose, His body complete in one piece. All the concocted stories of the brethren were shattered.
    Today, you can find brethren out in the field (world) who still hurl insults and who still concoct all types of means to rid themselves of Jesus. The story of Joseph: myth. The story of Jesus: myth. Then there are those in the field who tell the old, old stories with true conviction and belief. Whose report do you believe?

Bibledoorajar Observes Joseph's Overturning

Can you just not hear the raised voices and angry words of the sons of Jacob as they "discussed" what to do with The Dreamer? As the situation escalated, it became apparent to the eldest that the majority opinion was that Joseph should be killed. As the brothers' moved in that direction, Reuben asked that he not be killed, but rather, thrown into a pit. The brothers capitulated and in Joseph went to a pit. Reuben reasoned that later he would be able to come back and could take Joseph personally to his father. Maybe he intended to sneak away from the callous brothers who removed themselves from Joseph in order to eat. But something else was afoot. Being on a trade route meant opportunities to sell folks into slavery and by the time Reuben got back to the pit, Joseph was not there. The brothers had sold him to Midianite merchants who were well known to Abraham maybe even kin. Joseph would land in a very different place from where he spent his youth with his loving father.

 God is not mentioned during many of the events in the Bible including this one, but one must remember that His involvement is certainly present and the selling of Joseph into slavery was allowed to move forward. Later we will see how important this was and how Joseph saved the the world from famine. Jesus, too, faced an angry mob who wanted to kill Him. Peter thought he could do something about it and drew his sword. His actions were stymied and the mob took Jesus away to face a rule so very different from what He learned at the hand of His loving Father.

    "The kingdom of Heaven will be taken by force"
                                                           Matthew 11:11

"So amid the conflict whether great or small
Do not be discouraged God is over all.
Count you many blessing, angels will attend
Care and comfort give you to your journey's end."
          Johnson Oatman Jr.

Bibledoorajar: Plots and Perjury; Suffering Before Glory

"....to rid him of his hated nephew. Once embarked upon the ocean of crime, one must sail on through all the rocks and quicksands; a straight course is impossible. Already in his fertile brain and treacherous heart a scheme of cruel and underhand vengeance is being planned; his only doubt is whether this generous, and seemingly noble-minded, youth will consent to be his instrument in carrying it out. So much more tractable is Laertes now than when, but a little while since, he rudely burst in upon the royal presence at the head of a riotous mob, that he consents to be ruled by the King so long as he does not "overrule" him "to a peace." The scheme, which in so short a time has grown "ripe" in the "device" of Claudius, answers every end required — it is sure, it is safe, involving no danger or blame to those who execute it: But even his mother shall uncharge the practise And call it accident."  On the plot of Claudius to have Laertes kill Hamlet in A Study of Hamlet by Frank A. Marshall)"

Joseph has been more than willing to roam over sixty miles from home looking for his brothers. This reflects his obedient characteristic to please his father. One does not know how much insight Joseph had into his brothers' hatred of him. It was obviously not completely understood by Jacob or he would have probably not risked the life of Joseph. But there along the trade routes to Egypt the plot is hatched to throw Joseph in a pit and let him die. The brothers will perjure themselves with their father and say that they brother was attacked by an animal. In order to ensure that they would continue on with their father "to a peace" (have a peaceful existence) as Laertes wanted in Hamlet, they would call their actions an accident when they reported the brother's fate to Jacob. When Jacob got the news he placed himself in sackcloth and ashes to mourn the loss of his son in a contrite and humble manner. Before God all the evil propensities of Jacob's life and this world were confessed that may have led to the loss of his son. 
I remember talking to a father once. He was so upset over his daughter's involvement with a man of questionable integrity that he tore his shirt and mourned openly at his inability to save her from what he saw as a terrible fate. Such grief laced with inability to counter evil is very deep within the soul.
This is certainly a part of the agony God's Son felt in the garden as he was called to deal with such evil. Those spoken words of "if it be Thy will, let this cup pass from me" portrayed how great the evil propensities of the brothers of Jesus were. We must ever praise the Father for so great a gift given to a world "so loved".
   "Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified"
                                                    William Newell, 1895 

Bibledoorajar Extends Peace

    "Peace I leave with you, MY PEACE I give to you, not exactly as the world gives, give I unto you..."  ------ Jesus to his disciples in John 14

     Jacob has sent his son Joseph, dressed in royal garb, to bring words of peace to Joseph's brothers and to see if they might return words of shalom (peace) to their father through their special brother. The Word supports that Joseph wanted to extend his father's peace without malice in his heart. Extending peace was important within the culture and implied that all was well between parties. Joseph had gone to great lengths to extend this peace even to leaving Shechem and pursuing the brothers to Dothan. One wonders how much insight Joseph had into his dreams since it is clear that the brothers certainly got the drift. Further, their interpretations had not made them feel peaceful at all! Eleven brothers, all older than the young Joseph, were being told that their leadership would be less than that of a mere boy. It was more than they could contain. Just who did he think he was? And, why of all things, had their father given him such an elevated position in the family? Surely it was the father's fault that led to such discord. No way could they fathom that in their near future their very existence would be saved by the young man they so hated. They would instead not extend peace to the special son and his father and would plan the son's good riddance. So much for dreams and visions! Under the circumstances a lie to the father would be justifiable.

     The disciples had lived with and loved Jesus and knew Him to be a Man of Peace. When he told them it was going to be better for them for Him to go away He promised them even more shalom as a direct result of His provision. He would protect their very existence in what was to be tumultuous situations where peace would not be extended to them but that they were to continue to extend it. Later the Lord would speak to the apostle Paul, saying in a VISION:

        ".......Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace..."  (Acts 18). Living in and extending the shalom of God is very important. We are not to hold back from extending it to a world that often will not extend it back. Such is the situation, but God is active in the midst and will accomplish His will in every situation if we but believe and continue in peace.

                       "It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
                        And Jesus calls us to Heaven’s perfect peace."

                                        Edward Bick­er­steth  1875

Bibledoorajar Shares News from Home and News for Home

      Jacob's older boys have been gone from home a while. They left to secure grazing for the family flocks. Jacob was anxious to share news from home and to get news that the boys might have for those left behind at home. He knows that they were planning to go near Shechem and surely he remembered the difficult happenings with the Shechemites over Dinah. News from home that assured the sons that they were being thought of would surely be a good thing. News for home that they were safely at work would be a great assurance for those left behind. So, Jacob called his beloved son in and told Joseph that he was going to send him to his brothers. Joseph agreed to go and see if all was well with them and bring back news from them.
      In the fullness of time, our Heavenly Father called His beloved Son in and asked him to share news from home and to bring news back from his brothers. We can all be grateful that the Son agreed to bring the Good News from Home, but He said things that were not well received by the brothers. He reported that He was greater than Jonah who spent three days in a big fish and who led the people of Ninevah to repent. He said He was greater than Solomon whose wisdom amazed his brothers. His news from home about His elevated authority was rejected as was Joseph's. It is indeed a sad thing when wonderful news from Home is not received or appreciated. And it is sad for Home, when those of us who have received the Good News, do not take the time to share timely news of our lives with our Father.
     Today, Bibledoorajar is sharing this good news with Home: Hannah Mary Jones has turned seven years old! Thank you Heavenly Father for her and please help her to always want to share her life with You.

Bibledoorjar Views Family Dynamics at Work

     Jacob is now much older. We have learned that Joseph, the knee baby, is now seventeen. In his older age, God has shaped Jacob's character as Israel, the patriarch, through both joys and sorrows. And now, his beloved son, has come to the Prince of Israel with evil reports of his other sons and is telling the patriarch about the content of his dreams. These evil reports were not tattling for tattling sake; the reports spoke the truth about Israel's sons. They had participated in many evil things even to the point of murder at Shechem following the rape of Dinah. Even Jacob knows in his heart of hearts that his sons went too far with that retribution. But now, Joseph was not only speaking the truth about his brothers, he was also implying that all his family, even his dead mother, would bow down to him. This was all taking place at a time when Joseph's greatest achievement to date was that of being a shepherd. How would their knee bow to such a one?

     A greater Son came to earth. He was the much beloved Son of his Father and He gained a reputation for being able to speak the truth about his brothers. And He was hated by them especially when He confirmed that He was the Messiah to whom every knee was to bow. He referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd, capable of finding the lost sheep and, through lovingly speaking the truth to them, bring them to safety. For many, this was wonderful news and they anointed Him with oils of love. For others, not so much. They hatched cruel plans. But still the truths endured. Does your knee bow to such a One?

My sins, my sins, my Savior!
How sad on Thee they fall;
Seen through Thy gentle patience,
I tenfold feel them all;
I know they are forgiven,
But still, their pain to me
Is all the grief and anguish
They laid, my Lord, on Thee.

My sins, my sins, my Savior!
Their guilt I never knew
Till with Thee in the desert
I near Thy passion drew;
Till with Thee in the garden
I heard Thy pleading prayer,
And saw the sweat-drops bloody
That told Thy sorrow there.

Therefore my songs, my Savior,
E’en in this time of woe,
Shall tell of all Thy goodness
To suff’ring man below;
Thy goodness and Thy favor,
Whose presence from above
Rejoice those hearts, my Savior,
That live in Thee and love.

Words by John S. B. Monsell

Bibledoorajar Says "Keep it in mind"

      Jacob's entourage had reached Canaan and the Word says that they settled there. With a little imagination, one can view an active life with a family that included 12 sons.  The Word wastes no time in telling us that Joseph, the knee baby born to Jacob's beloved Rachel, was now seventeen years old and was helping the sons of Zilpah and Bildah tend livestock. These brothers were envious of Joseph's position with his father and hated the fact that Jacob had made Joseph a multicolored coat which Joseph wore in their presence. Their feelings had increased to the point that the brothers actually hated Joseph himself even though a brother. When Joseph began sharing his dreams with them and informing their father of their behavior their hatred increased.

(Narrator)
Joseph's coat annoyed his brothers

(Brothers)
But what makes us mad
Are the things that Joseph tells us of the
Dreams he's often had

(Joseph)
I dreamed that in the fields one day
The corn gave me a sign
Your eleven sheaves of corn
All turned and bowed to mine
My sheaf was quit a sight to see
A golden sheaf and tall
Yours were green and second-rate
And really rather small

(Brothers)
This is not the kind of thing
We brothers like to hear
It seems to us that Joseph and his
Dreams should disappear

                         Joseph's Dreams Lyrics

When Jacob heard the first dream content, he had questions for Joseph and asked him if it meant that his mother and brothers along with himself would bow down to Joseph sometime in the future. Jacob did not totally endorse that they would, but the Word does say he "kept the dream in mind". Perhaps he viewed that there could be a future need that would need to be met and a son with royal attributes would be helpful and Jacob's  rest/peace would be preserved. Perhaps it would happen through this son so he kept it in mind.

The writer of Hebrews says that believers should not fear  but keep the following in mind for times of need:

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need"(4:16)

Thanks be to God's grace that through the work of the greater Son we have a resource in our times of need. Hallelujah! Let's keep this in mind always.