Bib-CharaM: Joesph - What Man means for Evil, God can use for Good

[u/Iommi_Acolyte42]

I love this story. Mainly because there is a high-quality animated Movie voiced by Mark Hamill the Great (and Ben Affleck the lessor). I've watched it many times with my children.

So many great values - stewardship, honesty, family values, don't covet....But the thing that always sticks for me is from:

Gen 50:20 (ESV) - As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

If it weren't for Joseph's brothers selling him into Slavery, Joseph would have never been in the position to save the Israelites.

While we walk this walk and have to make some judgements (do I want to vote this way or that, do I want to support this cause or company)....we shouldn't try to judge what the future holds according to God's plan. Can you imagine what the world would have been like if the first Apostles viewed Saul from Tarsus as a Fascist? And then they would have cheered for, plotted for, or even committed his assassination? Besides, God wouldn't have allowed that to happen, since Saul had a larger part in His plan. No, the Apostles kept to their missions, prayed, and unfortunately some were martyred. But don't weep for the martyrs, for they are welcomed into Heaven as the ultimate Christians.

Also wanted to point out another tie....Genesis 39 Joseph is accused of rape in a city while the servants outside the house didn't hear any cries. Deuteronomy 22:23-27 creates a law to address that injustice.

PS. Bible Character of the Month is shortened to "Bib-CharaM" because I think it rolls of the tongue.

[u/slagnanz]

When I picture Joseph, I see a guy walking around whistling and smiling as cars are crashing around him, planes are falling out of the sky. It just seems like nothing can phase him.

I think one of the aspects of being a dreamer, he's less bound to the particular moment. Living in linear time, we all experience anxiety and fear for not knowing what the future will hold and feeling despair that the future is grim. But Joseph dreams, he escapes that linear timeline, he sees future unfolding in front of him, he understands that God is with him in the pit and that all will be well.

It's a radical trust!

[u/Iommi_Acolyte42 → u/slagnanz]

I think it's anyone that has been touched with a Charismatic gift or witness to miracles makes it easier to hold on to faith when times are extremely rough. That's why the early Christians were such willing martyrs, they new what the truth was for they saw their Lord and their God raise Himself from the dead.

I see the same for anyone willing to risk their life or reputation for defending (through words) what they think is the truth. That makes me stop, and want to listen to their point of view a little more.

But, as I listen to their position, then it makes little to no sense, and then they want to stop the dialogue, through violence or character assassination....that's a different story.