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But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:7 (Genesis 42-46)

These chapters hold one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. Joseph, who was sold into slavery and presumed dead, has ascended to the highest realms of Pharaoh’s government. As was foretold in Joseph’s youthful dreams, he is now in a position of authority over the same brothers that planned his demise. However, Joseph has a heart of love and forgiveness and the father and son who thought they would never meet again have a beautiful reunion. When Jacob dies in the foreign Land of Goshen, Joseph, along with his own sons, returns his father’s remains to Canaan.

When God made his covenant with Abraham He established a Messianic line that began with Abraham and ended with Jesus.  The first five links in this chain are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and Perez. No Joseph to be found! The family line descends through Joseph’s older brother Judah, who was not a very nice person!! Four of these men were guilty of egregious sin. If not for Joseph’s holiness and faith, the covenant nation would have ended in it’s fourth generation.

From the beginning of God’s covenant nation struggled to survive. Man’s sin, and now an act of nature, threatened to end all for the Hebrew people.  But God prevailed! He made a way. A pesky little brother became the victim of hatred, but he rose to become the second most powerful man in the most powerful government of that time. Joseph found he was liberated from other’s destructive and sinful behavior when He hoped and trusted in God’s providence. Do right, do good, never take your eyes off the Throne and He who is seated there. The Kingdom of God will withstand ALL forces of opposition.  It is the winning team!

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Gretchen

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”  Genesis 41:16 (Genesis 40-41)

A very quick summary of these two chapters is difficult because they tell a detailed story, but the skeleton narrative is, Joseph has been a slave for thirteen years. While in prison he explains the dreams of the Pharaoh’s chef and butler.  The chef dies, the butler is restored to his position, but forgets to bring Joseph’s name before Pharaoh for a pardon. Two years later Pharaoh himself is disturbed by a vision his magicians cannot unravel. Spoiler! Joseph goes from prisoner to governor in the blink of an eye.

Pharaoh’s dream foretells of seven years of bountiful harvest in the Nile valley, then a drought extending way beyond Egypt’s borders will place many nations in peril. The job of being prepared for both feast and famine is passed to Joseph and he does a stellar job.

Although not part of the Messianic family tree, Joseph takes up quite a lot of space in the story of the Hebrew people.  Egypt was not the brutal, enslaving power we see in Moses’ time. Joseph was judged on his own merit, not pedigree. His steadfast faith and determination toward righteousness made him a vital instrument in Israel’s survival (see details in tomorrows story). Maybe God is showing all of us that the little man, with faith as their strength can quietly change the world.

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Gretchen

Four years ago today I received a message from my youngest daughter. It was congratulatory. She was hours away from birthday number twenty. Melissa probably sensed that I was struggling with her absence while she chased her dreams….with her friends….celebrating without me, a day I was pretty much responsible for. (Insert a tiny bit of sarcasm.)  In her greeting she reminded me this milestone meant I would never again be the parent of a teenager, so my worries of teen drug addiction, rebellion, and pregnancy were over! Her humor  brought a smile to my face, but as my readers know, the default color scheme of my mind tends to be a little less than ‘day glow.’ 

Motherhood, and I suspect fatherhood too, brought the greatest love I ever knew.  Yes, God loves us far more than we could ever imagine, but up until I had a child, I was unaware of this sacrificial, all consuming, no cost is too great kind of love. This love left me vulnerable to great pain, which created fear, and this consumed much of my mental energy as I awaited the arrival of my child/children. There was no option but to move forward and do all I knew to do: Give them back to the One who created them, then hit my knees and follow the model Jesus lived.

I am not a perfect parent. There has been much weeping, whaling and gnashing of teeth over the years. Once while changing sheets on a bed, I stepped on a piece of dead cheese, so dried and hard I bruised my foot. One child had a pet goat that could open locked gates and front doors! These things were a huge problem for this controlling, clean freak! We had some issues!

Sometimes attitudes need to recalibrate and new respect must be found among the interpersonal relationships of those who are connected by love and DNA. When my girls are angry with me, often rightly so, I give them total freedom to be as much unlike their mom as they possibly can, with one exception.  I know my Redeemer lives and one day I will be judged according to His Justice. In time, they will be also. They MUST know! In this there is no wiggle room.

So how is this one, single minded objective achieved? By kneeling! Prayer is the only way.  It grants patience, hope, reckless love, perspective and a vision for the person God created him/her to be. (Leah loves farm animals, and I don’t like smelly boots! I wanted her to be Betty Crocker! She became the farmer God designed her to be!)

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus was preparing His disciples for a grim, frightening few days as His crucifixion was just hours away, but a future full of hope and victory was about to be born. Is this not parallel to the seasons of every relationship man shares with others, especially family?  We must love in order to be strong! It is not in being loved that we find our power, but in accessing the wisdom and authority of The Holy Spirit by loving others.

I cannot force my children into Heaven, but God’s love through me sure makes the devil’s efforts a lot less relevant.  Love Big!  It Never Fails!  I Corinthians 13:8a

Love,

Gretchen

P.S. Happy Birthday my precious child! You are loved beyond measure.

The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Genesis 39:23 (Genesis 39)

Joseph, the favored son, was sold into slavery by his jealous and spiteful brothers. Instead of living in depair, anger, bitterness and regret, somewhere between his father’s tent and the home of the Egyptian man who purchased him, Joseph became a man of great integrity. Because of an impeccable character he is given charge over Potipher’s entire household. With strength of character and body, Potipher’s wife desires Joseph and when she is rebuffed she makes it look as if she is the offended rather than the offender. Joseph is incarcerated, but again, his exceptional leadership and high standard of behavior draw the attention of the prison warden and once again Joseph is entrusted with other’s belongings and well being.

No doubt Joseph is at fault as a bratty little brother, but that did not excuse the actions and reactions of those who responded with evil intent. Neither are the actions of others an excuse for Joseph to despair and turn against God. In the face of false accusations and disgrace Joseph stood righteous.

Shame and sin begin in secret places of hearts and minds and find their way into habits and life choices. What you do when no on is looking is a really big deal. God will not co-exist and share your heart with the devil. Live righteously and satan will have no ability to impede God’s plan and your blessings.

Have a great weekend!

Gretchen

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her my son Shelah.” Genesis 38:26a (Genesis 38)

Oddly stuck in the middle of Joseph’s story is the story of Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah.  It is probably insinuated here as a proper record of all that transpired in the history of this man whose progeny became the Messiah. It is an ugly story with a powerful message.

Judah arranged a marriage for his son Er.  Er was wicked and died young with an heir. His widow, Tamar, was given to the next son so that the family line could continue appropriately and this woman would have safety and security. This tradition is called a Levitical marriage. Son number two took full pleasure from Tamar’s body, but denied her the child that would assure her a place in the family.  For this selfish act, he died also.  With fear that his third son might also die, Judah forfeited tradition and left this daughter by marriage, vulnerable in a world where she had no rights or freedoms.  Eventually she hid her identity and tricked Judah in to conceiving a child with her. When Judah came in judgement, Tamar provided evidence of his sin, neglect and disregard for those he was given charge over.

The following is my commentary on other’s commentary:

I wish God was not blamed for the actions of man. But He is and for this reason, those that say they believe must strive with diligence to intimately know God’s character and trust His ways, not their own. God did not, has not and will not weave together a social order that leaves anyone, male, female, child, adult, red and yellow, black and white…….marginalized or desperate. Only man’s twisted heart does this. We must take care of each other, love one another.  We are not called to take care of everyone, but all are called to care for some one.

If God is going to get credit for what you do, then it had better be good, because God is Good and we represent Him.

Have a Great Day,

Gretchen

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. Genesis 37:21 (Genesis 36-37)

In route a final time home to Isaac, Rachel, the wife Jacob loved, died giving birth to Benjamin. She was buried in Bethlehem. Later, Isaac died and Esau and Jacob laid him to rest. Genesis 36 gives a history of the descendants of Esau and then begins the story of Joseph, oldest child  of Rachel and Jacob.

Jacob’s sons were watching the family herds in Shechem. He may have been concerned for their safety when he sent the seventeen year old Joseph to assess things and bring him a report. It was suspected that dad intended to give this young boy the birthright. Rueben, the oldest, was illegitimate and possibly disqualified as heir. Levi and Simeon had committed the awful crimes in Shechem, leaving Judah, the fourth in line, to become the family patriarch. But, Joseph was the best loved, and the dreams he shared regarding his own ascendancy in addition to sporting a beautiful, custom made robe of many colors, bred strong resentment among his older brothers. They wanted him dead, so they designed a scheme to kill and a story to deflect suspicion.

Rueben, who actually had the most to lose by Joseph remaining alive, tried to divert violence and save the boy. The other nine continue toward murder, until they saw a caravan of spice traders and decided the better option would be to sell Joseph.  They then take his one of a kind coat, cover it in animal’s blood and return to their father with the story of a devastating, brutal, wild animal attack.

Joseph was precious and loved, but he found himself enslaved as the lowest of the low and lucky to be alive. Somewhere out in the desert, in route to Egypt, Joseph decided that his father’s God was going to be His God too and his faith might be shaken on occasion, but he would stand firm!

Something happens when it’s just one man (you) and God.  When He’s your only hope, you find that His hope is everything.

Love,

Gretchen

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:2-3  (Genesis 34-35:15)

When Jacob returns to Canaan he buys a plot of ground near Shechem and makes his home there.  Jacob and Leah’s daughter, Dinah, was out walking when the Prince of Shechem raped her. He quickly asks for her hand in marriage but he was refused because the men of Shechem were uncircumcised.  So, all the men of Shechem are directed to have surgery to become like Jacob’s household. While they are in great discomfort from their circumcisions, Levi and Simeon, Dinah’s full brothers, kill every male in the city and then all her brother looted the community, rescue Dinah and take the women and children as slaves.

When Jacob discovered this horrific act of vengeance, he had no option but to pack up and leave. The shadow of his sons’ murderous act ruined any hope of abiding peace. The move brought him to Bethel, the place he first encountered God. Here, Jacob builds an alter, and God renews His covenant.

Jacob is not counted as saying much to his two sons about their behavior, but in chapter 49 he speaks to their minimized blessing as a result of their sin. Later, Levitical Law sets an-eye-for-an-eye as a standard judgement. No more no less.

Justice and revenge are not the same thing. The first is for the greater good, the later is borne of hatred.  God alone is the Perfect Judge. Retaliation leaves no room for justice and the miracles of God’s wisdom and love. God sees and knows all and He is Holy and just. Let Him handle it!

Have a Great Wednesday!

Gretchen

“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me I pray.” Genesis 32:10-11a (Genesis 32-33)

Upon Jacob’s return home, news comes that Esau, the offended brother, is approaching at great speed with 400 hundred men. Jacob is terrified and prepares to protect his family and property as best he can. He calls out to God, (verse above) then sends his wives, concubines and sons ahead under cover of darkness. Alone in the dark Jacob once again encounters God. This time they wrestle and Jacob refuses to turn loose or be defeated. This struggle leaves Jacob crippled for life.  When the dust settles, God has renamed Jacob, Israel, and God has become his God rather than the God of his fathers. The former arrogant and entitled Jacob is gone and a humble servant has evolved.

Rather than approach his brother with vengeance, Esau offers a very generous reception. Jacob presents many gifts and when Esau accepts them, their reconciliation is complete and they part in peace.

Twenty years earlier Jacob left his home with nothing. Now, as angels welcome him home, he is a prince with an inheritance in the Promised Land. When he left he knew of the God of Abraham and Isaac.  Now he is home and The God has become his God.

The God wants to be your God, your peace, your provision, your hope, your friend!

Love,

Gretchen

It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.”  Genesis 31:49

Jacob met his match when he encountered the deceit and crooked behavior of his father-in-law Laban.  Laban cheated Jacob of the woman he loved and broke every agreement made over wages. Still Jacob thrived and became independently wealthy. His brothers-in-law accused him of abusing Laban’s resources but Jacob knew it is by God’s power and authority he was successful.

God promised Jacob would return to his father Isaac after an extended exile.  The time has come and with discontent in Haran, Jacob packs up his household, wives, children, slaves and herds, and heads back home. The reality is, Laban’s prosperity came through Jacob’s wise management and farming ability, so he was not happy when Jacob secretly fled. He pursued and after negotiations, Jacob and Laban came to a peace agreement before going their separate ways. 

Jacob is heading toward a brother that wants him dead and a father he manipulated. He’s leaving a family-in-law that distrusts him. Who wants to live in a world that is crushing you with hatred and ill feelings? NO ONE!! Jacob and Laban did not conclude who was right and who was wrong, they consented to live in peace with each other. God was given charge of justice and security and all else became irrelevant.  In this way Jacob and Laban were able to move forward with clear hearts and minds.

Peace is a choice that honors God and His plan for your life.

Have a Wonderful Monday,

Gretchen

Another school year has begun and at the end of each day I am exhausted, and more inspired than ever.  I have taught many years, but for the past ten I have been in the Land of Canaan I call Kindergarten. The first children I led into public education, and a lifetime of learning, are now in junior high. This past week I was privileged to watch them walk down the hallways of our school as incredible young people. My breath paused as my heart pounded with pride.

Teachers of young children compare early days in the classroom to herding cats.  It is actually more similar to managing butterflies. One of my earliest frustrations was a certain young child’s propensity to dive across people and objects in an effort to be the first helper when minor mishaps occurred.  In the wake of this well intentioned move, more chairs, tables, cubby contents and people were toppled. I would get so flustered in my inability to redirect this habit of helping/not helping.  But last week I saw a most beautiful, radiant, giving and kind heart walking down the hallway, laughing with friends and I thought how close I came to missing this gift.

The hearts of children are universal in their transparency and goodness. Go to your local splash pad and watch them in action.  When they bump into each other because they are distracted by the delight of cool water on a hot summer’s day, they right themselves, smile and begin a new game with the friend they just met. Matthew’s Gospel,18:3 says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”  These are the words Jesus spoke to His disciples in response to their question, “Who is the greatest?”

Watch children line up and travel from place to place. They help each other with correct ABC order and remind one another to get jackets, backpacks and lunch boxes. They stop when someone falls. (Trust me, no power on earth will make them leave a classmate behind!)  While learning the intuitive lessons of space, time and motor planning, arms, legs and foreheads often collide. Being five makes fixing things simple. The offender, goes to his lunch box, removes the icepack his mother sent to keep his food fresh and gives it to the one he harmed, saying, “I’m sorry, this will make you better.” I ask, “What healed? The cold compress or the kindness?”

The heroics of a kindergartener rivals those of their super heroes. The world has instructed them to be excited and eager, but they are scared. Mom is leaving them with a stranger, in a huge space, with many new faces. Everyone outsizes them in mass and knowledge and they know it!  Yet, they power through with brave, blind hope, believing this is what’s best. They live in submission to someone else’s vision for their well-being and joyfully march forward in faith!

So, if you asked me what I want to be when I grow up, I would say, “Five.” I want to live in the wonderful, innocent, kind and caring world of kindergarten where very little means so very much!

The hearts of children have no malice or prejudice until it is taught.  Among them there is a strong sense of community until it is disrupted by taking and/or hoarding in an effort to gain power and control. Jesus’ words in Matthew continued and warned against causing one of these little folks to stumble, so be careful what you model and teach, because one day an accountability will come.

Love them and LOVE LIKE THEM!

Gretchen