08.10.08

Proper 14

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Recently, ‘Duk on Yahoo’s sports blog, “Big League Stew,” wrote of Billy Crystal’s mighty strike out in his pinstripe debut. Apparently, the 60-year-old comedian led off the bottom of the first inning for the New York Yankees as the team’s designated hitter. Fulfilling his life long dream, Crystal worked out with the team and attended batting practice with Derek Jeter before suiting up and going 3-1 and ultimately striking out. A publicity stunt? Perhaps. But on this particular day, Billy Crystal was a firm believer that sometimes dreams really do come true (March 13, 2008, (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/mlb_experts).

Those days are easy to handle, but what about when dreams don’t come true? Sometimes life can be cruel and circumstances harsh. How should we react when our back is against the wall and nothing seems to go our way? Just one word gives us a glimmer of hope — TRUST. When our world makes no sense and God seemingly turns a deaf ear, that’s when trust is most difficult and most essential. No biblical example illustrates the principle better than the life of Joseph. These verses remind us to trust in the encompassing providence of God when our dreams don’t come true.

I. God Can Use Our Sin for His Purposes (vv. 1-4)

Due to the remarkable life Joseph lived throughout the book of Genesis, we often find it difficult to be critical of him in any way. As a young man, however, Joseph was far from perfect. Verse 2 concludes: “Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.” Despite the efforts of some commentators to explain Joseph’s actions in a positive light, it is hard to deny that as a young man he was a spoiled tattletale.

The added detail of verse 3 sheds even more light on the scenari “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.” Favoritism was seemingly genetic in Jacob’s house. Rebekah loved Jacob more than Esau, and Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Now, as father, Jacob designates a favorite son despite the devastating consequences of the past. No wonder Joseph’s brothers refused to associate with him. Yet, in this environment, God is providentially preparing a path for the Messiah.