"What We do Matters"

Genesis 37: 12-36


Today’s reading tells the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers.  While Joseph is the focus of this story, I was intrigued by Reuben.  Reuben is the oldest brother, the first-born son of Jacob (Israel) and Leah.  He first shows up in this reading in verse 21 where he tells his brothers not to harm Joseph.  Ultimately, he plans to rescue Joseph and take him back to Jacob.  


In verses 23 – 28 we see how Reuben‘s (and Joseph’s) brothers take things into their own hands with Judah acting as the leader.  The do not physically harm Joseph, but sell him into slavery.  Verse 29 makes it clear that this was done without Reuben’s knowledge or consent. 

Why did the brothers ignore Reuben?  I personally have a high regard for my oldest sibling (brother).  While we don’t always agree, there is something about his place in the family that is special and deserves respect.  Do you share this perspective?  Are you the oldest sibling in your family?  If this is in any way true today, it was significantly more so in Old Testament times.  So why the total disregard for Reuben?  A couple of verses in Genesis 35 shed some light on this topic:  “²¹ Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. ²² While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.”


If you read the rest of Joseph’s story you will see how Judah clearly takes over Reuben’s role.  In Genesis 49: 3-4 Reuben’s fate is “sealed” as Jacob gives his final blessing:   ³ “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
⁴ Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.”


What can we learn from this?  What we do matters!!  Our ability to lead or influence others in a positive way is affected by our actions.  This seems like good reason to continue to grow in our walk of obedience to God’s commands.  Thanks be to God for the many gifts He provides in our walk of faith and the grace and forgiveness that are ours through Jesus Christ when we fall short. 

Who Is Your Master?

READ: John 8:31-39

America is the land of the free. We believe what we want; we say what we want; we do what we want. We are all independent, bound to no master! Or so we think.

2 Peter 2:19 says that all people are slaves to whatever has mastered them. The truth is easy to see in the life of a drug addict or a youth madly in love. Everything must be given to obtain that which has captured the fascination of the mind and the passion of the heart. We just can’t control ourselves. We have to have it.

So what is your it? What has mastered you?

Wealth? Personal accomplishment? Love of spouse, child, or parent? Your reputation for holiness built upon the sins you hide? Escapism through alcohol, through television, through work that doesn’t even need to be done?

Are you a slave unto sin?

We all used to be. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” (Titus 3:3) 

Some of us still are. “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:14-15)

And some of us aren’t anymore. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)

Feel like you’re caught in between? Remember the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

“Therefore, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Forgiveness is Never Easy

…When their message came to him, Joseph wept.  Genesis 50: 17b

Have you ever had to forgive someone a huge wrong?  It’s hard to do isn’t it.

I’m not talking about forgiving someone who talked bad about you or lied about you.  Maybe you have had someone steal from you and you knew you needed to forgive them.  Forgiving someone is always hard but I am talking about forgiving someone whose choices had a life altering consequences for you.

Perhaps someone’s lies lost you your job, causing you to uproot your family in search of a new start.  Maybe you have been the victim of abuse.  Now, because of someone else’s choices you are trying to learn how to trust again. It could be, you have lost a loved one to a drunk driver and your only choice is to forgive or let the hopeless bitterness and despair consume you.

Joseph was confronted with the seemingly impossible decision of forgiving his brothers.  Sold into slavery as a young boy, Joseph was separated from parents who loved him and forced to live a life of servitude.  He was falsely accused of assault, imprisoned, and alone.  None of these things would have happened to him if his brothers hadn’t acted in such an evil way against him.  Joseph had reason to seek revenge yet their father asks him to seek forgiveness.

His dying request for his son was, “I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.”   Joseph’s response to this request was forgiveness, but something happened before he declared them forgiven and I don’t want you to miss it.

Joseph wept.

When we have been sinned against, forgiveness is required of us.  It is not easy, especially when the hurt is deep and life-changing.  I believe to forgive a deep hurt we must grieve.  Grieve what was lost.  A friend, a job, trust, innocence… Grieve.  Weep deeply, then turn to God to fill that void.  When God fills the hurt we can rely on his strength to forgive.

Read the entire scripture here Genesis 50: 12-21