08-18-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 18, 2023
Guest Writer: Rev. Paula Gembala 
This Sunday, we will be talking about the story of Joseph in the Old Testament.  His brothers were jealous of him as their father favored him.  They threw him in an empty well, and later sold him as a slave.  They told their father he had been killed by wild animals.

From there, Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a household slave to Potiphar.  He was accused of attempting to rape Potiphar’s wife and was thrown in prison.  During this time he accurately interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, who were also in prison.  One of them told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret the dreams.  He was sent to Pharaoh and interpreted his dream in such a powerful way that he was appointed second-in-command over Egypt.

Pharaoh’s dream predicted seven years of famine.  Here is where we will pick up on Sunday morning.  During the famine, Joseph’s older brothers came to Egypt to buy food.  They didn’t recognize Joseph.  

How would we react to seeing our brothers, who 20 years ago had thrown us down a well and then sold us to slavery?  Would we want revenge?  Would we put them all in prison?  Would we have them killed?  Would we forgive them?

​Lord God of all, guide us to do what is right, no matter how we have been treated in the past.  Teach us to live in the present and look to the future instead of being stuck in the past.  We know it is difficult at times to offer forgiveness to those that have wronged us.  Be with us in these times O God as we try to see your will in our lives.  This we pray in the name of Jesus, the one who offers forgiveness in all situations.  Amen.