From the Past to the Present and Future (2)

A sermon series on the life of Joseph

Gen 41:50-52

There is a saying in English:

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is mystery.

All we have is today. It is a gift from God.

Joseph’s life is a good example of that. He learned to live the day that was given to him. He learned to trust God in all his days. He learned to enjoy his days as much he could. In every circumstance he did his best and he achieved something, although he repeatedly lost all he had. Yet he learned to live the present. And I love this; he named his son Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." God helped him forget. We as human beings cannot do this alone. Only God can help us forget.

So we move to the second son. Joseph named his second son Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

What does it mean to be fruitful?

Joseph experienced God’s blessings. His life was an example of being fruitful, blessed. Not only in possessions, but in relationships. His brothers expected that Joseph would change his mind after their father’s death. They were wrong. He was always merciful. That is fruit of the Spirit.

Last week I was talking about Joseph’s severe mercy. A good friend of mine gave me another title: Boundless mercy and I think it is better description of what I wanted to say. When we have God’s forgiving love we learn to forget. We learn not to look back. Only God’s love or agape can give us this.

Joseph experienced God’s love. In 45:14, 15 we see how he embraces all his brothers. It is funny that the brothers are not sure if Joseph forgave them. Listen to what was written in 50:15-21.

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: 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." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

 “18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

This can happen only when we have God in our hearts and minds. We as Christians, we can have this kind of MERCY when we ask the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. It is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 6).

The following verses from Jeremiah have an interesting message:

3 This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:
       "Break up your unplowed ground
       and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD,
       circumcise your hearts,” (Jerm. 4:3,4)

-The land is unplowed. Nothing can be sown in unplowed land. We cannot be fruitful when we do not allow God to prune us, or plow us. When we unplowed, we are bitter. Look at Joseph; he learned to be merciful when he was in unjust situations. God taught him to be “fruitful”.

-Do not sow among thorns. You need a clear land. No one will like to sow in thorns; yet when you throw the seeds, it may fall in thorny places. Jesus told the parable of the sower who spread out his seeds all over. The third category was: “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” (Matthew 13:7) Jesus did not interpret all his parables; he only did some of them. This in one of them and the following is his interpretation about it. “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.”

Worries and deceitful wealth: does this ring any bell? How much do we invest in unworthy places? If you want answers, just look around and watch our economy. Just how much GREED killed our economy. Do you waste your time and energy in “thorns”?

-Circumcise your heart: God wants your heart, not the rituals. We need our hearts pruned. We need our tongues pruned. We need our eyes and actions pruned. God wants your heart not your lips. Remember our annual theme: A Renewing Mind.

Two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim: Forget and be fruitful. Two important names which represent where Joseph stood and stands.

May God talk to you. May God give you names like this in your life, so you learn to live today trusting God, and live fruitful lives.

Amen