Bibledoorajar is in Egypt with Joseph

 Joseph's brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, then the Ishmaelites sold him to the Midianite traders, then the Midianite traders traded him to the Medanites, and the Medanites took him into Egypt. Now Potiphar has him. There is no record of any complaint of all these maneuvers on this noble servant's part. He was destined to save the then known world. But before that he would be mistreated and jailed wrongly.







Jesus was "sold out" by Judas and the Hebrew leaders and then moved from secular ruler to ruler on His way to the cross with no complaints. Finally He stood side by side with Barabbas whose life was overcome by temptation, his temptation overtaken by sin that demanded death by the law. However, the law was conquered. Its demand was satisfied by Jesus! Jesus became the Substitute, to die in the sinner's place.

You and I live in Egypt far away for the kingdom of God where temptation is overtaken by sin and we are condemned to death. Thank God we have a Noble Servant who stands in our stead only thinking loving thoughts of us.  Praise Him!

Bibledoorajar Speaks of a Magnificent Servant

Joseph, the slave who did not resist his enslavement, arrived in Egypt. The plan was for him to be of service to his master, Potiphar, who himself served at the pleasure of the Pharoah. Soon it became clear that Potiphar had gotten himself a wonderful young man. There seemed to be no ill will within Joseph about his new status in life. He served in Egypt with pleasure. Potiphar realized that Joseph feared God and that God was with him. God prospered Joseph in all that he did and he became somewhat of a special man whose vitality could not go unnoticed.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in his season and will not wither; and whatsoever he does shall PROSPER." (Psalms 1: 1ff)

It pleasures God to have such a servant. As an example we have Joseph, but, of course, our ultimate example is the One who served completely at the pleasure of His God and Father. Joseph is a good role model, but of Jesus, God said He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. Is it not wonderful that God was willing to share Him?
 
"...This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him." Matthew 17: 5 When the disciples heard this they were awe stricken. Are we in awe of Jesus today? Should we repent and agree again to serve the Most Magnificent Servant and pursue the ultimate good life?

Jesus is Life yet we sometimes resist the journey of seeking His truth which will lead us to a wonderful life of service. As we grow, He leads us to places where we can serve at His pleasure. He can give us fullness of life just as He did Joseph if we are willing to go on in service.  Abundance is heaven's plan, not neediness. God gives us directions on the path of life (following Jesus) if we are interested in service to Him. Prosperity without withering. That's a noble goal. 

Bibledoorajar Looks Again at Life Journeys

     In Acts seven, we find the journey of Stephen recorded. The believers had multiplied and a need for additional leadership emerged. The Word says that Stephen was one of the men selected by the believers for the apostles to appoint to leadership.  He was to cover needs within the growing group that now included Gentiles. He was chosen from among men of whom there was an honest report and whom were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. This man started a journey that included being noticed by men in the synagogue. These men were not able to withstand his wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. They became incensed with Stephen and began to persecute him. Finally, he was brought before them and accused of blasphemy. In his defense, Stephen tried to reorient the Hebrews to the history behind Jesus the Nazarene of whom they were really so envious. At one point in his speech he said:
                     "and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. The
                       patriarchs moved with envy, sold Joseph
                       into Egypt: but God was with him."
                                                                          Acts 7: 9 ff.

     We learn from Stephen's  story, that the men of the synagogue were no more able to handle his zealousness than the patriarchs were able to handle that of Joseph. Something about the "journey" of these men was too much for them to accept. I remember going on a mission outing in Virginia one time. The journey included our handing out announcements of a Bible meeting and interacting with people on the street about the meeting. Afterwards a trip to Williamsburg was planned. One brother, full of the Holy Spirit and zeal for the Lord, wanted the group to keep "working" in the area and to make more contacts for the Lord's work. But the majority of the group wanted to seek the recreation and soon the young man was made to look like one gone overboard in his zealousness: a misfit. I am now impressed with how he received this feedback with grace and humility although I must admit I was not mature enough at the time to realize what an ability God had given him.
     So Joseph was sold into slavery and purchased by Potiphar an officer and captain of the guard of the Pharoah of Egypt. Jacob's beloved son has been humiliated and sold into slavery in Egypt.

                "He who was in the form of God, made Himself of
                  no reputation, and took upon
                  Him the form of a servant."
                                                                       Philippians 2:ff.

Bibledoorajar Asks: Where Has All the Purity Gone?

        " Where have all the good men gone
         and where are all the gods?
         Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
        Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
        Late at night I toss
        and I turn
        and I dream of what I need.
        I need a hero. I'm holding out for a hero
       'til the end of the night.
       He's gotta be strong
       and he's gotta be fast"
                                           Bonnie Tyler

As Chapter 37 of Genesis ends, we see the sweet pure and wronged Joseph a captive and on his way to Egypt. We see a grieving father and we see the remainder of his sons return and carry on their lives while Joseph is away. So graphic is the picture of sons unwilling to establish a righteous nation. Judah takes a wife from among the heathens. They produce three sons. The first is so evil that God has to take his life. The second is so evil that he refuses to carry on his brother's family line. The father is so scared that he refuses to give the widow (Tamar) his third son for fear he too will be taken. Then there is that whole scene of Tamar seducing Judah after his worldly friends finish their sheep shearing and are looking for a little pleasure. The trap is set. Tamar becomes pregnant by the patriarch of the family and secures the truth of it, by taking important pieces of Judah's head of family presentation. Judah thinks he can end this evil accomplished wrongly by burning the harlot. However, she has the goods to expose him. The wicked webs have been weaved and we see no hero in sight. Our hero is gone. However, the Hero of the Heavens is watching and He alone has seen why this nation, Israel, will need a savior. He alone has the power to influence and grow the character of the one who will eventually save the needy mass of protoplasm represented here.
Thank God that He loves us so even as when this graphic picture presented here, shows the depth of sin in mankind. Thank God that He is always thinking and always turning evil for good. He is the Strong One and He may seem slow and hidden but He cannot be denied. "O glorious Victory that overcomes the world."
    

Bibledoorajar Looks at Crises

      The crisis in Joseph's life has been escalating and true to the statement above the first steps of a journey can be seen. I do not believe that Joseph and his father could not see the beginning signs of crisis. The brother's statements and behavior toward Joseph belied warnings and risk. But just as clearly the love of Israel and Joseph for the brothers wandering in the fields outweighed the warnings. The risk assessment was that the brothers and their families were worth the rescue even though there were obvious dangers in the field. The future country of Israel was to be built upon their shoulders therefore they must be safe at all costs. What if Israel had not loved his misbehaving sons enough to want their best? What if Joseph had said "You have to be kidding" to his aging father? But they did not. Head on, they faced the crisis alone. The risks would be worth it. Joseph's journey began.

     In Matthew 20, we read of a mother who wanted her two sons to have places of eminence with Jesus. Jesus responded by saying she had misread the warnings signs. She saw no need for risk assessment of the nature of His true path. If she had, she would have known her sons were not up for the task. So, just as Joseph took on the field alone, Jesus went to the Garden. There He assessed the risk to His manhood. There He made His plea. There the Father said the brothers were worth it and Jesus' journey to the cross began. Where are you on your journey? Have you begun?
     

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.