Thursday, August 11, 2011
What Joseph's story says to us
Joseph was willing to follow God’s plan. Are we seeking God; is God seeking us? When does God find you? If God finds you are you willing to go with God?
These are hard question.
We are all seeking something in our life. We may be seeking status, pleasure, or greater indulgence in life or it may be something to help others. God is seeking us and we must be willing to go where God wishes us to go. Just as Joseph was taken in slavery to Egypt but later occupies the most responsible position in the land. God has a plan for each of us.
This all depends on being found by God then to be open to God’s request. One must be willing to remain open to God.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Joseph the dreamer
Joseph dreamed, but isn’t this what people who are called by God do? All people who are called by God to dream. All people dream but some seem to have a special ability or talent in dreaming. This seems to be the case of Joseph. Joseph was born to dream not to herd sheep.
The narrator of the Joseph story understands that dreams are a gift from God. Did Joseph receive this gift from Jacob as well as being encouraged along the way? To support Joseph, we find a boy with eleven brothers; the elder brothers had occupied places of service in the family, leaving him without a traditional place. Joseph finds that being a dreamer is a wide open field in the family.
The negative side of dreams is they cause conflicts in the family. Joseph’s dreams have destroyed the pecking order in the family. The elder brothers in following tradition would be the one with authority. Even Jacob’s authority is challenged.
We fast forward to the end of the story to interpret the dream to mean that God had a plan for Joseph. This plan included bringing the family back together as well as saving it from the famine. The even larger plan is to save all of Israel. The story changes at this point from Israel as an individual to Israel as a nation.
Did Joseph have any idea of how he would be used by God? Can we interpret events in our life today in relationship of how God will be using us in the future?
Monday, August 8, 2011
What are you seeking?
Sheree began with a quote for Augustine, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” If each of are honest, we would admit that there is a restlessness within all of us.
Joseph is the youngest of the brothers so he is not invited in on most of the fun. Joseph’s challenge is to spoil as much of the fun for all his brothers as he can possible accomplish. To make matters even worse Joseph was Daddy’s favorite. All the favoritism Joseph lost with his brothers was made up by his father.
The first significant point in Joseph’s story is his wandering in the area. The family had a history of wandering in this area of the world. Abraham and Sarah began the wondering, followed by Jacob wandering until he met God. Now Joseph is wandering around Shechem and Dothan until he finds his brothers. Joseph is not only a wander but also a dreamer. His dreaming is the source of his problem with his brothers. The brothers are not fond of the idea of their little brother being in charge of the family.
A man finds him wandering in the fields and asked, “What are you seeking?” Joseph responds, “My brothers who are grazing the sheep.” They are not here; they have gone to Dothan.
Who is sees us wandering around in our restlessness? Do we have someone to point us in the right direction? We, like Joseph, are wanders but sometimes we do not know what we are seeking. This sermon tells us that it is God we seek. Can Joseph teach us how to search?
Joseph is the youngest of the brothers so he is not invited in on most of the fun. Joseph’s challenge is to spoil as much of the fun for all his brothers as he can possible accomplish. To make matters even worse Joseph was Daddy’s favorite. All the favoritism Joseph lost with his brothers was made up by his father.
The first significant point in Joseph’s story is his wandering in the area. The family had a history of wandering in this area of the world. Abraham and Sarah began the wondering, followed by Jacob wandering until he met God. Now Joseph is wandering around Shechem and Dothan until he finds his brothers. Joseph is not only a wander but also a dreamer. His dreaming is the source of his problem with his brothers. The brothers are not fond of the idea of their little brother being in charge of the family.
A man finds him wandering in the fields and asked, “What are you seeking?” Joseph responds, “My brothers who are grazing the sheep.” They are not here; they have gone to Dothan.
Who is sees us wandering around in our restlessness? Do we have someone to point us in the right direction? We, like Joseph, are wanders but sometimes we do not know what we are seeking. This sermon tells us that it is God we seek. Can Joseph teach us how to search?
Friday, August 5, 2011
Jacob discovers a new self.
We find Jacob at the point of change in his life. Jacob is moving for the first half of life into the second half of life. This step is radical discipleship by Ron Rolheiser, OMI or as Richard Rohr describes it as the second half of life. I like both of these descriptions because they describe the process of becoming or returning to individuals as God intended. The process of returning formed in the image of God.
One thing we find that has changed in his thinking from either/or to both/and thinking. The is one of the signs of change as people advance on their spiritual journey. The simplistic thinking of either/or does not continue to remain in their thinking and actions.
Esau chooses the both/and. He accepts Jacob’s return by welcoming home. Jacob had not expected to receive this kind of welcome. Jacob discovers his code of existence either/or is replaced by both/and. Jacob returns home, plus he is welcomed back by his brother. He can now experience a new way of living out his life.
The best of both worlds is possible. This is like those of us who like cowboy movies but do not care for alien movies. Now we can enjoy both at the same time with Cowboys and Aliens. Jacob finds himself in a world where he does not need to prove to himself that he is the strongest, smartest or superior in anyway. He can now just be Jacob.
One thing we find that has changed in his thinking from either/or to both/and thinking. The is one of the signs of change as people advance on their spiritual journey. The simplistic thinking of either/or does not continue to remain in their thinking and actions.
Esau chooses the both/and. He accepts Jacob’s return by welcoming home. Jacob had not expected to receive this kind of welcome. Jacob discovers his code of existence either/or is replaced by both/and. Jacob returns home, plus he is welcomed back by his brother. He can now experience a new way of living out his life.
The best of both worlds is possible. This is like those of us who like cowboy movies but do not care for alien movies. Now we can enjoy both at the same time with Cowboys and Aliens. Jacob finds himself in a world where he does not need to prove to himself that he is the strongest, smartest or superior in anyway. He can now just be Jacob.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Jacob's challenge
Why does God wrestle with Jacob? Many suggest that God responds to Jacob’s history of deception; the story constitutes a disciplinary move on God’s part to teach Jacob that he cannot proceed into the future relying on his own devices. Up to this point Jacob’s life, his behavior has basically been along the path he chooses. The struggle up to this point has come from his desire to achieve the set goals in his life.
The struggle or wrestling with God brings Jacob to a place of change in his life. The inner change within himself may not have been realized at this point in his life. His main goal has been survival, saving his own life. Now he receives a name and purpose. All the change has been done by God, Jacob has been the object being acted on by God.
How will Jacob respond when faced with the challenge of the future? Has God adequately prepared Jacob for this change?
The struggle or wrestling with God brings Jacob to a place of change in his life. The inner change within himself may not have been realized at this point in his life. His main goal has been survival, saving his own life. Now he receives a name and purpose. All the change has been done by God, Jacob has been the object being acted on by God.
How will Jacob respond when faced with the challenge of the future? Has God adequately prepared Jacob for this change?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Jacob wrestles with God
Jacob has come to the edge of his resources. He reaches appoint where he cannot deal with his relationship with God with his present skills and resources. At this point in our spiritual journey, we can find no reason to leave our present comfort zone. We will not leave this comfortable spot until we are forced to leave. The invitation has to be unexpected and unsought by ourselves.
Jacob finds that he is no longer in the driver’s seat. This could be the first time in his life that he is not in control. He also finds that his present plan is not sufficient to take him where he wants to go, back home. Only at this point does Jacob reach out to the real source that provides him a way home. Before, Laban had allowed Jacob to name his own wages but now God does not allow him to choose. There is only one way for Jacob.
At some point in our lives, we recognize that we have reached the place where we cannot fix, control, change, or understand this turmoil happening within us. Jacob has reached this place in his life as he wrestles with the messenger from God.
We see this happening in Paul’s experience on the Damascus road. The voice says, “It hurts to kick against the goad (Acts 26:14b). The goad is a sharpened stick for prodding and steering cattle. The symbol of this object is that it pushes us forward even beyond the point we wish to go and in the direction we do not want to go. Jacob experiences being pushed beyond his comfort zone into a new relationship with God that was never possible in his former state of being.
Jacob finds that he is no longer in the driver’s seat. This could be the first time in his life that he is not in control. He also finds that his present plan is not sufficient to take him where he wants to go, back home. Only at this point does Jacob reach out to the real source that provides him a way home. Before, Laban had allowed Jacob to name his own wages but now God does not allow him to choose. There is only one way for Jacob.
At some point in our lives, we recognize that we have reached the place where we cannot fix, control, change, or understand this turmoil happening within us. Jacob has reached this place in his life as he wrestles with the messenger from God.
We see this happening in Paul’s experience on the Damascus road. The voice says, “It hurts to kick against the goad (Acts 26:14b). The goad is a sharpened stick for prodding and steering cattle. The symbol of this object is that it pushes us forward even beyond the point we wish to go and in the direction we do not want to go. Jacob experiences being pushed beyond his comfort zone into a new relationship with God that was never possible in his former state of being.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Jacob seeks a new journey
Jacob begins to feel the desire to return home. He has spent several years raising a family, securing financial security but realizes something is missing. He asks Laban for permission to go to his own home and country. Jacob is seeking spiritual maturity. He is seeking the opportunity to return home. Jacob is seeking to enter the second half of life. Though he does not know the details of his journey he desires to begin the journey.
What happens to Jacob and his search for the path to return home? His uncle discourages his when he offers Jacob an opportunity to receive more things. Jacob will receive all the spotted and speckled goats and sheep.
Richard Rohr says this is what happens when one moves from the first half of life into the second half of life. The world we live in is a first half of life world. The goal is to acquire “The Three P’s” or power, prestige, and possessions. This is what Laban offers Jacob to discourage the process of moving to the second half of life. The first half of life is prepared to offer us anything to keep us from returning home.
The three p’s stand between Jacob and his new name!
What happens to Jacob and his search for the path to return home? His uncle discourages his when he offers Jacob an opportunity to receive more things. Jacob will receive all the spotted and speckled goats and sheep.
Richard Rohr says this is what happens when one moves from the first half of life into the second half of life. The world we live in is a first half of life world. The goal is to acquire “The Three P’s” or power, prestige, and possessions. This is what Laban offers Jacob to discourage the process of moving to the second half of life. The first half of life is prepared to offer us anything to keep us from returning home.
The three p’s stand between Jacob and his new name!
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