Perspective: Wk1 - FRI
The Father
Genesis 37:29-36
Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”
Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”
Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.
Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.
The deed is done. Joseph is gone.
As Reuben returns to find what his brothers have done, reality engulfs the group. The relief of getting rid of their tormentor gives way to the dread of informing Jacob. They cannot tell him the truth. So they act on the plan they workshopped when Joseph was still approaching in the distance. Taking his coat, they tear it, drag it through the dirt, and soak it in the blood of a goat. But then comes the hardest part, delivering it to their father. In the end, none of them has the courage to face him. They send it with a servant.
Temptation sells us an idea without consequences. Enamored with the prospect of having what we want, we ignore the cost. But then the fine print at the bottom of the advertisement becomes reality. As the years rolled by, guilt and remorse must have engulfed these brothers. Did they ever sit with their father without seeing lines of grief etched across his face, knowing they had drawn them there? Could they rescue a lamb from a ditch and resist the memory of pulling Joseph from the pit? Could they participate in the sacrifice of a lamb and seek forgiveness without seeing the coat awash in blood? Did every sunset bring the mirage of a Midianite caravan disappearing over the horizon?
Forced perspective is a profound problem. We mistake small things for large ones and the biggest things for small ones. We easily minimize the consequences to get the short-term hit of indulging our hunger. Then we pay the price in crippling guilt and paralyzing shame, realizing our secrets harm us. We have all experienced this collapse of perspective. And there is only one remedy. The forgiveness of Jesus.
As you read this, one thing is certain. You are in need of forgiveness. Good news. The one who has what you need is quick to give it. The sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to cover whatever you have done. He promises forgiveness the moment you confess. The scriptures tell us: … if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9). And Jesus reminds us: “My grace is all you need” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Reordered perspective. The hunger you were tempted to satisfy is replaced by something new Jesus is making.
Meanwhile, Joseph… God’s plan to redeem this family and rescue the nations will take twists and turns. It won’t be quick. Joseph will endure 13 years of desperation and difficulty. But make no mistake, Jesus is working. Count on this. Jesus is working.
Genesis 37:29-36
Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”
Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”
Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.
Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.
The deed is done. Joseph is gone.
As Reuben returns to find what his brothers have done, reality engulfs the group. The relief of getting rid of their tormentor gives way to the dread of informing Jacob. They cannot tell him the truth. So they act on the plan they workshopped when Joseph was still approaching in the distance. Taking his coat, they tear it, drag it through the dirt, and soak it in the blood of a goat. But then comes the hardest part, delivering it to their father. In the end, none of them has the courage to face him. They send it with a servant.
Temptation sells us an idea without consequences. Enamored with the prospect of having what we want, we ignore the cost. But then the fine print at the bottom of the advertisement becomes reality. As the years rolled by, guilt and remorse must have engulfed these brothers. Did they ever sit with their father without seeing lines of grief etched across his face, knowing they had drawn them there? Could they rescue a lamb from a ditch and resist the memory of pulling Joseph from the pit? Could they participate in the sacrifice of a lamb and seek forgiveness without seeing the coat awash in blood? Did every sunset bring the mirage of a Midianite caravan disappearing over the horizon?
Forced perspective is a profound problem. We mistake small things for large ones and the biggest things for small ones. We easily minimize the consequences to get the short-term hit of indulging our hunger. Then we pay the price in crippling guilt and paralyzing shame, realizing our secrets harm us. We have all experienced this collapse of perspective. And there is only one remedy. The forgiveness of Jesus.
As you read this, one thing is certain. You are in need of forgiveness. Good news. The one who has what you need is quick to give it. The sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to cover whatever you have done. He promises forgiveness the moment you confess. The scriptures tell us: … if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9). And Jesus reminds us: “My grace is all you need” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Reordered perspective. The hunger you were tempted to satisfy is replaced by something new Jesus is making.
Meanwhile, Joseph… God’s plan to redeem this family and rescue the nations will take twists and turns. It won’t be quick. Joseph will endure 13 years of desperation and difficulty. But make no mistake, Jesus is working. Count on this. Jesus is working.
- What is something you purchased only to quickly regret it? What did you do about it?
- Do you carry guilt or shame over something you’ve done or didn’t do? What should you say to Jesus about this?
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