SermonStudio

Making It Preach

Forgiveness is not a natural human impulse. That is why extraordinary examples, such as Joseph forgiving the brothers who sold him into slavery, point directly to God's intervention. That type of witness made by an uncle or someone else we know makes Jesus' sacrifice and offer of a forgiven life take on flesh and possibility for us. The disappointments and changes in the life of Reuben's daughter have begun to work the maturity in her that is sought in Hebrews 5:14, as evidenced in her graceful acceptance of the many changes in her life. Yet, she also demonstrates how with each new offense to our sense of self, we can be pushed back into a vindictive defense mode. Continual preaching and reflection on forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's power to help us with this are so important for that reason.


Making It Play

The fury born of keen embarrassment bubbles out of Reuben's daughter as she bursts onto the scene. Due to her mention of remarriage and the years Joseph spent in Egypt, she is definitely well into her adult years. However, when annoyed by family, she does the typical return to acting like a wronged teenager. Her tunic and head covering would be made of less heavy (due to the climate), yet more ornate material (due to Joseph's status), than other Middle Eastern garb. Her appreciation of what God has done in the life of her father and uncle, she readily admits. But, when reminded of her sister-in-law's wounding words, she is not ready to follow their example. It is not until the last moment of this monologue that she realizes she needs to follow suit. She needs to make that realization obvious to everyone present before she walks off.


Reuben's Daughter Learns How Difficult It Is To Forgive Like Uncle Joseph

(Runs out, obviously distressed; not pleased to see people in front of her) Oh, what are you doing here? (about to walk away, but stops) Hey -- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it out on you. You didn't mean any harm, unlike my own family! Word has spread that I am ungrateful to be here in Goshen, to be in the lushest part of Egypt, while all of the surrounding country is suffering a horrible famine. My own parents just walked past me shaking their heads, with such disappointment in their eyes. And, why? Because if a mountain were set upon my sister-in-law's tongue, she'd just keep wagging it until it crumbled away! Now, letting a few surprises out of the bag is one thing, but she has gone too far this time. Way too far! My loyalty is now being questioned by the entire family. And, why? Because when I shared with her the simple yearning of my heart to see my homeland again, not necessarily live there, she could not keep it a secret between us. She "accidentally" mentioned it, of all times, while serving drink at a meeting about all the herds amongst my father's brothers and their sons. If it was not for the fact that I am related to them, I would probably already be sold into slavery, like Uncle Joseph! And, it is only a matter of time before he finds out, now the most powerful man in Egypt outside of the Pharaoh. I will never forgive her -- never!

I really don't mind it here. We are treated with special respect, due to Uncle Joseph, although we are not allowed to call him that if there are any Egyptians around. We have to bow down low and call ourselves his servants and other things like that. It's all a big show, since Uncle Joseph is one of the most down-to-earth people I know. Not that he was always that way! He's only five years older than I am because my father Reuben, Uncle Joseph's eldest brother, is quite a bit older than Joseph. So, I remember well how arrogant my uncle used to be. I just punched him when he got too full of himself and told me about his grand dreams, although I could never stay mad at him. But, my father used to come home shaking his head when Joseph told his brothers about dreams in which all his brothers, who were sheaves of wheat or stars or something in the dreams, bowed down to him. My father loved Joseph, but even he got awfully tired of him. And, he was worried that some of my other uncles were ready to string him up someplace and leave him. Yet, when he tried to have a talk with Uncle Joseph, it didn't do any good. Uncle Joseph just laughed, rolled his eyes, and changed the subject. And I, for one, would have followed him anywhere. He was too much fun for me to stay irritated with him! At least, that's what I thought. That's not, however, how my other uncles saw it.

The wool finally fell away from the sheep when Grandpa Jacob bought a beautiful coat for Uncle Joseph from the traders passing through. It had long sleeves and looked grand, far nicer than anything we could have come up with there. But, he did not buy anything so nice for his other sons, which was typical, since Grandpa had special love for Uncle Joseph. Uncle Joseph is the son of Grandpa's beloved wife, Rachel. My Grandma Leah, may she rest in peace, though she was the most wonderful person you could ever know, was taken care of by Grandpa, but not really loved. It had to do with some mix-up about who Grandpa was supposed to marry ... I don't know the details. We are not supposed to talk about it. So, Joseph was favored because of his mother. Although, he also had the power to charm Grandpa like he did me, so maybe his mother really didn't matter that much. Whatever the reason, it just fed his ego and made his brothers resent him that much more.

So, that is when it happened. My father and his brothers had been grazing the flocks down at Dothan, and Grandpa sent Uncle Joseph to see how they were faring. When the brothers came home, they brought his fancy coat, torn and soiled with blood, saying Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Of course, Grandfather did not take it well, and neither did I, for that matter. But, I was surprised at how hard Father took it. I knew he loved Joseph, but I had never seen him look so beaten. And, when the rest of us had grieved and were picking up the pieces of life, Father did not come out of it. Mama and I were worried about him, and others learned to steer clear of him because he barely spoke to anyone, and that was in a low growl. He eventually became less irritable, but from the time of Uncle Joseph's death, he was a different person; he always looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The kind, gentle, and tolerant father of my childhood was no more, and I missed him. I gave up hope that I would ever know him in that way again.

But, our Lord God, who has a special relationship with Grandpa Jacob, is good and merciful. I should not have given up hope. Many years later, when Grandfather sent his sons, except young Benjamin, who is Rachel's other son, down to Egypt to buy food, who did they find? I guess Uncle Joseph played with them a bit at first, but who could blame him? Yet, when all was said and done, Uncle Joseph let them know who he was and actually forgave them! He had obviously grown up a lot since we were kids! Just as a wine's flavor becomes richer and more mellow over time, Uncle Joseph's struggles had been the wineskins needed to turn him into an honorable servant of the God most high. You see, he not only forgave his brothers, he invited all of us to come down here and live in some of the best land that Egypt has to offer.

And, Father is finally himself again! He smiles at the children, tenderly holds my mother, even in front of others, and he leads the songs and prayers of praise we lift up to our God. I just couldn't believe it, and I mentioned it to Uncle Joseph. That is when it all made sense. Uncle Joseph told me that Father sought him out, after he had invited the family to come live here. Father fell at his feet in tears and begged his forgiveness. Apparently, my father had suggested the brothers throw Uncle Joseph in the cistern instead of killing him, planning to sneak back later to rescue him. However, when he returned from checking on the flocks, he found they had sold Uncle Joseph into slavery. Father could not forgive himself for not standing up to his brothers, since he was, after all, the eldest. He knew he should have stopped their plans before they got going -- and he should have. So, the guilt of not doing enough plagued him all those years that Uncle Joseph was in slavery in Egypt. Of course, Father did not know how Uncle Joseph's crazy ability to dream was a gift from God, and that Uncle Joseph would eventually interpret one of Pharaoh's dreams. The advice he gave to Pharaoh about what he saw in the dream, about the years of good harvest followed by famine, landed him the best job in Egypt!

Anyway, my father lives again, so to speak, because he knows he is forgiven. Do you know anyone like that? It is amazing to see, really! And, since Uncle Joseph became God's special servant, it means that the great God Almighty must have forgiven Father and his brothers, too. Father obviously felt horrible about what he'd done, but there was really no way to make up for it. Finally, he was forgiven, anyway. As Uncle Joseph says, our Lord God had a plan that was accomplished through this mess, and if God has a plan, who are we to stand in its way with bitterness and grudges?

So, I suppose that was a rather long way of explaining how I came to be in this place, so far from my homeland. The hill country where we lived was also beautiful and not so hot, but now the grass there is withered and barely anything will grow. We have been truly blessed to be here in a place that still has food to spare, thanks to Uncle Joseph, and, of course, the Lord God! That is why the comment I made about wanting to see my home was just a touch of homesickness. Who can blame me for that? There have been a lot of changes in my life lately, with the famine, losing my husband, may he rest in peace, an uncle back from the dead, and, then, making a sudden move. Who wouldn't reminisce about the days that were stable? It is certainly not the kind of thing that should have me "on the outs" with my family. I even agreed last week when Father said he had made a marriage arrangement with one of the men of this land, a righteous man, according to Uncle Joseph. Remarriage was certainly nothing we could contemplate in the midst of the famine, after my husband died; may he rest in peace. But, agreeing to marry here means I know I would never go back. Oh, I suppose my parents think that word of my supposed discontent will sour the marriage offer. You see? My life could be ruined, all because of one woman's words -- as if she didn't have enough other words to keep her occupied! Why is this happening to me?

Well, one thing is becoming clear. I had better go tell Uncle Joseph myself, before he hears the twisted version that came out of her mouth. I am trying to start a new life, which is not an easy thing to do, mind you, and she has to go and throw a shepherd's crook into it! I will just explain to Uncle Joseph that I meant no harm, that I was just homesick, and maybe he will talk with Father and my intended. He still remembers the days I put up with him dragging me around in a headlock! That should count for something, right? And, maybe he will find a way to punish that sister-in-law of mine, so that she can't do any more damage! He's the most powerful man in Egypt, isn't he? He can certainly teach her a lesson! No, sir, don't expect to smear his niece's name in the mud and get away with it. That's practically the same thing as betraying him, and you know he'd never stand for that! No, sir, no mercy, especially when the cruelty comes from someone who is supposed to be part of the family. (said while walking off in triumph until the truth hits her -- she stops) Oh! (lightly smacks her forehead and walks off)