The Story 3: Growing Up Jacobson

“Here’s a story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls. All of them had hair of gold, like their mother, the youngest one in curls. Here’s a story of a man named, Brady, who was busy with three boys of his own. They were four men living altogether, yet they were all alone, until the one day that this lady met this fellow and they knew that it was much more than a hunch, that this crew must somehow form a family. That’s the way they all became the Brady Bunch.” 

Wasn’t that an interesting show? It definitely didn’t fit the family this morning. If anything, it was nice goal to have, an escape from our realities. I liked shows along the lines of the Brady Bunch because that wasn’t my family. 

And as dysfunctional your family may seem, and most seem as such in one area or another, they can be a blessing. Yet how do we see the blessings in the family that we have? Looking at how Joseph grew up Jacobson will give us some keys.

1. Check Your Attitude

Unfortunately for Joseph, he didn’t start off with the right attitude. His family is the epitome of dysfunction. Joseph was the eldest of the favored wife of the family. He’s nearly at the bottom of the birth order, but he’s the favorite son. 

This came about when Jacob fled for his life after tricking his brother out of his brother’s birthright and blessing. Being a trickster, he was sent to his uncle, a master trickster. Laban had a beautiful daughter, Rachel, but Laban wasn’t just going to let her go. Instead, her price, the proof of his love would be to serve for seven years. Those seven years flew for Jacob. Then on his wedding night, he discovered that it wasn’t Rachel he had married, but her older sister, Leah. Of course, after the wedding period was over, he was allowed to marry Rachel, his preferred bride, and stay another seven years. Now having children was problematic. Rachel was barren most of the early years. And then she finally did give Jacob two sons, the latter taking her life in the process. So Joe was naturally the favorite. He was given fine clothes, the larger portions. He was spoiled.

When a person starts receiving such treatment, it becomes a temptation to expect it, to become arrogant and haughty, to develop an attitude that thinks that he’s better than. He’s better than his brothers. What he reported, except with the dream, was taken as golden truth by his dad.

Often the church today seems to have this attitude. Christians are clamoring for their rights. People are lost, but the church is quick to tell them how lost they are, to tell them exactly what is wrong with their lives and what they must stop doing so that God will love them. We are called, “judgmental”. And with some examples, like a church in Kansas, yeah, the world is right. Instead of showing compassion and grace to our neighbors who are eternally lost, we fight for our right to not be exposed to lifestyles and/or philosophies that offend our sensibilities.

Problem is that eventually, people will stand up to it, be they right or wrong. That’s what we see now with people turning their backs on the Church today. It’s easier to rid a workplace of a Christian because that Christian might make the workplace hostile, telling people how wrong they are. Imagine losing your job in the Bible belt because you believe the Bible condemns certain things and spoke your mind, but only in your off-hours? (This is why we must be as shrewd as serpents, but as gentle as doves.)

For Joe, though, his brothers had had enough. They were ready to take his life. But Reuben had other plans. He swayed them not to murder their brother and shed blood. Instead while he was gone to get rope to rescue Joe, the rest sold him to a slaver caravan. He would find himself in Egypt, slave to the captain of the guard of Pharaoh. 

2. Cling to God

Joe’s storm was just beginning. He would rise to the top only to be knocked down again, just as he had at home. So what did he do? In the face of the storm, he clung to God. I wonder if as he was his father’s favorite and therefore shadow, Jacob taught him about following God. We don’t see it spelled out that he did, but it seems that his living, now that he went from being the top brother to the bottom slave.

Yet God was with him because he followed God with his life. He rose to top slave in the house of Potipher.  Then, being a young man, caught the eye of his master’s wife. She chased him, yet he never gave in. One day, she devised a plan that had him alone with her, and she grabbed him so forcefully that he fled shedding off his coat. That was all that was needed. Joe would find himself in prison, now lower than a slave.

Yet God was with him. He rose to the top trustee in the prison. I’m not sure what enterprises that the prison had, but God blessed them under Joe’s care. Then one day, a baker and the cupbearer came in. There was a plot. It was unclear if the poison was in the food or in the wine. They spent a few days while the officials investigated. During this time, they had dreams. God revealed what would happed to each, and as Joe gave them the interpretation, he asked the cupbearer to be remembered to Pharaoh. Of course the baker lost his life and the cupbearer lost his memory.

3. Remember Grace

Now we have his rise from top trustee to Prime Minister of Egypt. After the cupbearer was restored, a couple of years passed and Pharaoh had dreams of famine coming. Then the cupbearer remembered Joe. Joe interpreted the dreams. Pharaoh, you have seven years of bountiful harvest, so prepare because the famine will be so severe, you won’t remember these first seven years. 

Pharaoh instructed him to carry out the preparations. And famine came. And it affected even more than just Egypt. Jacob hears that Egypt had more than enough so he sends his sons, save the youngest, to purchase grain. Here in the grain house, the brothers bow, just as the dream, “Your sheaves will bow to mine.”

Though he had the moment to tell them off, he reveals himself, but only after they bring back Benjamin. Instead, he embraces them. He reveals that though they thought they were getting rid of a bother brother, the big picture was that God was moving Joe into a position that would allow him to serve and save Israel. He repeated this message after his father died and they lied to him because they feared their sins. They still clung to their guilt.

So let me read the text again - Genesis 50.15-21

That is our take home today. Not only do we have our attitude to constantly check, but we need to cling to our Heavenly Father, both in the good times and in the bad. Storms come. Sometimes we brew the storm, and sometimes, not nearly as often, they are storms that we had no control or influence. Storms happen and they are not necessarily God’s retribution. So it is important that we cling to the Father. This also means that we don't need to hold onto that guilt from our stumbles. When our Father forgives, He forgives perfectly. 

And when the storm passes, we need to remember how God stayed with us, even perhaps blessing us so that we can bless even our annoying family. The world is lost, is seeking, trying to find meaning in the midst of the lies that it’s bought. Our neighbors will do things that won’t make sense and might even offend us. I would like to be naive and say that they don’t mean to offend, but they don’t know any better.

They have no idea that we serve a loving Father who removes our guilt as easily as He removes our sins. He doesn’t and isn’t in the business of doling out diving retribution. Nor should we. 

Instead, let us remember that God is perhaps preparing us to be a beacon of light and encouragement for someone who needs it. And if you are struggling with this, with God and how He can forgive you, talk to me. He truly does care and loves you. 

And let us remember, we are also family, you and I.