Living in the Spirit

August 10, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 45:1-15

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Send everyone away from me.’ So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:1-5

We are called to persevere in doing the work of God. Joseph did that. Nearly killed by his brothers, he was sold into slavery. While a slave, he was imprisoned unjustly. Even in prison, he persevered interpreting a dream and winning the favor of the Pharaoh. In our story today serving as the Pharaoh’s number one man, he encounters again those brothers who were so jealous of him they considered killing him. I cannot imagine what went through his brother’s minds when he identified himself. Much less what they thought when Joseph expressed that everything turned out as good. He was in the right place at the right time with the right skill set to deal with famine. God is good.

Perseverance results from the faith that God is working God’s purpose out. We, as God’s people, are gifted with the freedom to use our talents any way we choose for good or for evil. God’s desire for us is to do good. Our world is suffering from a pandemic over which we have yet to find control. It is a scary time, and we pray that the scientist will find treatments and hopefully, a vaccine that works.

I spent yesterday in a workshop dealing with addressing the many problems caused by poverty in our world.  In the USA, 4.5% of all deaths are related to poverty*. Many of the COVID-19 deaths are related to poverty. Poverty has become a constant in our lives. When Jesus said the poor will always be with us, I wonder if it meant that was a given. Perhaps he recognized the fact that systemic issues like poverty have become our norm. It does not have to be.

Prayer: God of Mercy, we pray for all those dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.  We also pray for all that are caught in the spiral of poverty. Grant us the perseverance to eradicate both. Amen.

*https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/how-many-us-deaths-are-caused-poverty-lack-education-and-other-social-factors#:~:text=Overall%2C%204.5%25%20of%20U.S.%20deaths,for%20those%2065%20or%20older.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.