Lemons Sweetened: A Series of Unforeseen Events

Lemons Sweetened: A Series of Unforeseen Events
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Scott Roberts, Pastor

Panama City 1st Church of the Nazarene

Joseph’s whole life was marked with sour episodes not unlike the Baudelaire children in the story Leminy Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events. He was sold by his brothers into slavery. He was wrongly accused of rape by the wife of his master in Egypt and thrown into prison where he lived several years. He was forgotten for 2 years by the cupbearer after Joseph interpreted his dream for him. And Joseph was never able to return home to settle once he left his homeland for Egypt. He married and had kids, but he remained the servant of Pharaoh to his dying day. Really unfortunate.

Joseph was also marked by the Lord’s favor as well. His father Jacob had a special love for Joseph that he expressed in gifts and trust. Even though Joseph became a slave in Egypt, the Lord made Joseph prosper under his master Potiphar who entrusted Joseph with his entire household. Joseph was thrown into prison, but the Lord made Joseph successful under the warden who put him in charge of running the whole prison. And when Pharaoh had some dreams no one else could interpret, the Lord gave Joseph the meaning. Because of this, Pharaoh set Joseph to run the whole empire, second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt. Truly unexpected.

Joseph remembered his pain when his 10 older brothers came looking for food during the 7 years of famine which Joseph predicted from Pharaoh’s dream. The sting of their betrayal was enough that Joseph, who had kept his identity hidden for a time, wept so bitterly that the sound was heard by the household of Pharaoh. Although Joseph had played a few tortuous tricks on the brothers (probably to give them a taste of their own betrayal) Joseph finally revealed himself to them. Laying out the whole story, Joseph invited the brothers to return to father Jacob. They could bring the whole family back to Egypt where they could live under the provision of Joseph and the Egyptians. When the family arrived in Egypt, it was a moving reunion of father and son and a remarkable story of God’s provision during a time of great famine.

Still, the story doesn’t end there. Over time father Jacob died while the family remained in Egypt. Because the 10 older brothers believed Joseph only prevented their destruction out of respect for father Jacob, they fabricated a story about Jacob’s final wishes for their forgiveness. Joseph, who saw right through their desperate attempts to save their own lives, reassured them. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” These words gave comfort that Joseph’s suffering was the Lord’s plan to save many lives through His provision and forgiveness. Very sweet!

April 20, 2019No comments

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