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?