Words 8.6

Words Twice a Week 

Some of this Sunday's lessons -

Gen 37.1-4, 12-28   Joseph and the Amazing “Technicolor Dreamcoat

+context – this story begins the transition from the ancestral, patriarchal promise to the oppression in Egypt.  A complication is that Joseph is sold by his own brothers.  One writer notes “pharaohs are not the only evil persons in the world.”

+the word “brother” is used 20 times in this chapter, “father” 10 times, and “son” 8 times.  This is a story about family!  Interesting that Joseph, 1st son of Rachael (favored wife) is at least temporarily saved by Reuben, 1st son of Leah, then by Judah.  Ishmael (the Ishmaelites) was half brother of Isaac, the Midianites were Moses’ in-laws.

+the lesson skips over Joseph’s alienating dream – makes him seem not quite so obnoxious.

+Joseph sold into slavery – I usually kind of gloss over this, because I know how it’s going to turn out.   The psalm, on the other hand, is a good bit more explicit.  With out issues today, we really should not read this lightly.

Ps 105.1-6, 16-22, 45b  A Psalm of Thanksgiving for what God had done

vs 1-6  “Give thanks to the Lord; make known God’s deeds among people.

                Sing praise to God – tell of all God’s works”

So it is not just you and God, but you and God in the presence of others, or perhaps even you and other in the presence of God.

vs 16-22  God had prepared for famine ahead by sending Joseph

+”sold as a slave/feet in fetters/neck in collar of iron” – yeah, more explicit than Gen.

+”a tale of the humiliated become exalted, the last becoming first.”

Alternate Old Testament reading  1 Kings 19.9-18   Elijah and the still, small voice

+“I have been jealous for the Lord” references his previous activity.  He is on the run with a price on his head.  “Only I am left” – we also sometimes think and act as if we were the only ones left.

+”Wind, earthquake, fire” – Reminds me of Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.  It took me a day and a half to remember the first line/title!  Does the voice come when we are calm, or does the voice bring calm even in the midst of wind, earthquake, and fire?

+Elijah to anoint 2 kings and a prophet – who will slay numbers of people.  Huh?

+still to come – Naboth’s Vineyard!  “Have you found me, O my enemy?”

Romans 10.5-15   

+”believe with the heart, confess with the lips”  which are you most comfortable with, best at?

+”Everyone who calls pm the name of the Lord will be saved”  Whoa – “everyone”?  But they must first hear of, then believe in, then call upon.  How did that happen for you?  How do you fit into that progression for others?

+”How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.”  Buechner comments  “Generally speaking, if you want to know who you really are as distinct from who you would like to think you are, keep an eye on where your feet take you.”

Matthew 14.22-33   Jesus walking on the water  (after feeding the 5000)

+the disciples by themselves in the boat, in early Christian thought, the boat often stands for the Church

+Jesus in the hills, where it is quiet, calm, to pray

+the boat in the storm/the church in stormy times?

+Jesus comes walking on the water

    Disciples – it is a ghost

    Jesus – It is I  (Does that word bring calm?)

    Peter – Bid me come to you

    Jesus – Come

And as long as Peter keeps his eyes on Jesus, he does ok.  When his attention drifts to the storm, he starts to sink.  How much of this story can we adapt for our lives today?

+Dietrich Bonhoeffer notes 

“Peter had to leave the ship and risk his life on the sea, in order to learn both his own weakness and the almighty power of his Lord.  If Peter had not taken the risk, he would never have learned to meaning of faith….The road to faith passes through obedience to the call of Jesus.  Unless a definite step is demanded, the call vanishes into thin air, and if [people] imagine tat they can follow Jesus without taking this step, they are deluding themselves like fanatics...Faith is only real where there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.”

A Prayer

Dear God, as we approach this Sunday,

help us be aware of our families, and those we have treated well, and not so well.

Remind us that we are all your family, 

and that indeed we have at times treated others unfairly and cruelly.  Help us discover the effects that linger today, even in our own minds and hearts, and find ways to change things.  

Remind us that we are not alone.

Help us hear your voice calling – in the storm and in the calm -

and give us courage to take a chance with you.

And when you have acted to save us, 

open our hearts and minds and mouths to tell all what you have done.

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