I have always loved studying the life of Joseph in Genesis, but as I prepared my lesson for my bible study group this week, it really began to hit home what Joseph was faced with. In Genesis 39:1-6 , Joseph has already been through the betrayal of those closest to him, has become of victim of human trafficking, has arrived in a foreign country, and has been sold like a piece of meat. This was a young man who was to be the successor and heir to his father's fortune and property back home. He went from being the favored son to being a slave. Joseph did not choose his life - it was thrust upon him savagely and violently. By the time we read the verses in chapter 30 of Genesis above, he has come to realize a new normal. He has come to reside in a country in which he does not know the language, he has no concept of the customs, and the culture is a complete mystery to him. He could have sat in his misery and spent his time and energy thinking of all the hurt and cruelty his brothers
Well, we are at it again. The social media wars are in full swing. Everybody is mad... or at least upset. The memes are flying both ways. Is this really the most productive way to handle a conflict? In Luke 10:25-37, we find the story that has come to be known as the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man is beaten, stripped and robbed while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He is left for dead alongside the road. Other than that, we know absolutely NOTHING about this man. (But that's a story for another day...) As he is laying there, not one but two religious leaders pass him by. Not only do they not help him, they cross the street to get away from him. We live in a nation of people who for one reason or another, have been beaten, stripped, and robbed of their faith in God. Other than that, for the most part we know little to nothing about them. We don't know how they have been hurt, how they were raised, who taught them what to believe. This is not a random act of v