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