January 19- Put Joe in Charge!

January 19, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Genesis 39:1-41:16; Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:33-35

I give a damn, because a good man once made me responsible 
for what was most precious to him in the whole world. 
~ Alfred Pennyworth

Genesis 39:1-41:16

Do you ever just wish there was someone who could organize your life for you and make sure that everything turned out hunky dory?  Someone who made all the wrongs turn out right?

In the comic series and movies about Batman one of the primary character is Alfred Pennyworth.  Alfred is that kind of guy.  As Bruce Wayne's tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and legal guardian after the death of Bruce's parents, Alfred makes life good for Bruce Wayne.  Some people say that Alfred is Batman's batman.  He is always ready to solve a problem and divert a crisis.  Having a person who is trustworthy, capable, and loyal is a true blessing.

In today's reading, Joseph is an "Alfred." Joseph has been sold into slavery and is working in the Egyptian household of Potiphar, the chief of the Pharaoh's guards. Joseph is so blessed by God and so gifted in administration  and organization that he is eventually put in charge of every aspect of Potiphar's household.  He is extremely handsome, well-built, and apparently irresistible to Potiphar's wife.  She becomes like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction and stalks Joseph, eventually falsely accusing him of rape after he rejects her many propositions.

Potiphar has Joseph thrown into prison and the Lord blesses Joseph even in prison.  Eventually, everyone wants to put Joe in charge!  So Joseph becomes the administrator of the prison, while still a prisoner. What a gift of administration this guy has! Wish he could come run my household for a while!

While in prison Joseph correctly interprets two prisoners' dreams, giving God the credit for doing it through him. The prisoners happen to work for the Pharaoh. Joseph is forgotten for two more years until one of the prisoners, the chief cup bearer who was released, tells Pharaoh that Joseph is able to interpret dreams.  Pharaoh has had a disturbing dream that none of his Egyptian magicians has been able to interpret.  When called by Pharaoh, Joseph emphasizes to Pharaoh that only God can interpret dreams.

Joseph is a shadow of Christ in both his attitudes and actions.  Here are some examples:

• Joseph suffers hardship like Christ.
• Joseph resists temptation like Christ.
• Joseph relies on God like Christ.
• Joseph uses his gifts in service to others like Christ.
• Joseph accepts his hardships with humility like Christ.

How do you react when you are put in an unfair situation?  How are you gifted by God?  Do you use your gifts to help others?

Matthew 12:46-13:23

This passage of the Bible starts with an incredible truth, Jesus says that if you do the will of his Father (believing that Jesus is the Savior), then YOU are part of God's family.  Christ is not being disrespectful to his mother and brothers in this situation.  He is using the incident as a teaching moment.  Jesus considers you and me his family.  We are family......you know the song....EVERYBODY SING! 

But seriously, this is important.  Jesus tells the group that many prophets and godly people of old longed to see the day when the Messiah would walk the earth.  These people are the privileged group who get to see Jesus in the flesh.  I know that Eve longed to see this Redeemer Child, as did Abraham, David, and Daniel, just to name a few.

The Parable of the Soil

I will not go through this whole parable again.  You read it today.  I will simply ask you this, is your heart hard, rocky, thorny, or good? 

If your heart is good soil then the seeds of Christ's teachings will be able to take root in your life.  If your heart is made of good soil you will over time see the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control.  Will you be perfect all the time?  NO.  But you will see over the years a gradual change, a wisdom, a quietness, a stillness that seeps into your life. This is a work that God does over time.

If your heart is good soil, your life will affect others in a positive way.  It will glorify the God who created you.

Psalm 17:1-15

To me this psalm is the voice of Christ while he was on earth.  He, alone, can be examined and found innocent Vs. 2.  Only in Him, is nothing amiss Vs. 3-4.  Only Christ has done what is right Vs. 15. Christ knows the Father personally Vs. 15.  We can only hope to experience this through the grace found in Christ's sacrifice for our sins.

Proverbs 3:33-35

Joseph's life is like this proverb.  The Lord shows favor to the humble.

What did you find interesting in today's reading?  What did you notice?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal

Kathy Fullerton