Meditation
Tuesday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14, continued the Old Testament lesson in Genesis—the story of Joseph—an archetype of Jesus. Things did not go well for him, but he was faithful and through a series of unfair circumstances—threatened by his brothers, sold into slavery, bought by Potiphar where he rose to the second in command of the house because his work was good.
But because he was handsome, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him repeatedly, but he avoided her. She grabbed him once, and he fled, leaving his garment behind, which she promptly used to tell her husband that Joseph had come on to her and the garment left behind was proof. Potiphar sent Joseph to prison, where again he worked hard and earned the respect of the jailor.
With each bad circumstance, Joseph did his best. He didn’t blame fate or God for things going amiss, and he didn’t allow the bad behavior of others to direct how he behaved. He abided by his own high standards. Joseph achieved respect in Potiphar’s household because he performed well. Even in prison, Joseph demonstrated he could be trusted and the jailor learned Joseph could be trusted to work independently and it would be well done.
Joseph had been favored by his father, but treated poorly by his brothers. He had served Potiphar well, but Potiphar and his wife abused him. Then he was sent to prison and he rose to his best self under dire circumstances.
The New Testament lesson also dealt with harsh realities. The question arose in the early church and has been argued through the centuries. Even popular musicals, like Jesus Christ, Superstar. Who is responsible for being chosen or not.
Paul was emphatic that God was not to blame, but God chose whom he chose.
This seemed arbitrary and whimsical. I suspect that something was lost in the translation, because we know from other parts of the Scriptures that God was patient and kind, wanting the very best for us.
Paul made it clear that believers did not earn God’s love or do something to achieve his favor.
Sometimes, juggling the aspects of who God is becomes difficult because people view things with the limitations of being finite and flawed. God is not flawed, and sees all things clearly.
These truths I know of God:
God is love. God is wise. God is merciful. God is kind. God is just.
God is capable of moving the hearts and minds of kings/rulers. God also gives people freedom to choose.
God doesn’t need us, but God puts our talents to use to further the Gospel.
Paul said God ‘makes people stubborn he wants to’ but that can be interpreted that God moves us about like robots or that God makes people with the ability to choose to be stubborn or not.
If we think of God like the sun, it interacts with things on earth in different ways. For clay, the sun hardens it. For ice, the sun melts it. For water, the sun evaporates it. God sends out love, but for some their hearts harden against the Word when that love touches them. For others, the warmth of the Word melts the heart and the result is a pliable heart, open to God’s leading. It’s not that we ‘do’ something, but God’s impact on us varies depending on our substance—our core. In fact, our actions or what we ‘do’ follow the work of God in us.
Therefore we don’t blame God for our trials and temptations. We recognize that God chooses us out of love because we are known intimately from the basic cell to the brain and heart. What we do with our lives is still our responsibility, just as Joseph’s reactions to his troubles were his responsibility. Knowing that God was with Joseph through it all and helped him maintain his standards and his faithfulness is a faith-builder moment for us.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.







Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen






Ordinary 19, Proper 14Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 28;Genesis 39:1-23;Romans 9:14-29&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV (multiple versions)




Tuesday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Psalm 28
Genesis 39:1-23
Romans 9:14-29

Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating

Psalm 28:6-7
King James Version (KJV)
6 Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.




Single Bible Study chapter to study


Genesis 39:1-23
King James Version (KJV)
39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.


OBSERVE:

Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.

2.

3.

INTERPRETATION:

What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?




APPLY:

Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.


Prayer of Encouragement

Almighty God, we give you thanks for your graciousness to us. Help us to not blame others (including you) for our troubles, but trust instead that you have a great plan to show your glory in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen



Conclusion
Tuesday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14 delved into the struggles that believers have with who is responsible. Are we responsible for our wrongs? Is God unrighteous? The hard questions are answered by Paul without perfect clarity.
We have to come to these issues by being faithful. We can see things more clearly when we see these matters in the context of all of Scripture, and not just a short phrase. There is unity in the Bible. We can trust that God is at work for our good as well as the glory of God.
When we remember that God is love and wants the best for everyone, we don’t have to worry about who is to blame.
When I did rounds as a hospital chaplain, I would introduce myself, “Hi, I am Chaplain Kennedy, on routine rounds (important so that they didn’t think it was last rites even though I wasn’t Catholic. The sight of a chaplain boded ill for many who went through chaplains delivering bad news.) and I am just checking to see if there is anything I can do for you.”
Most patients and their families were grateful for the chance to talk about their circumstances, perhaps voice a concern and receive an ear, a prayer and/or a follow up. But one man stuck in my mind. He was dying. His wife was desperate and sought my council often. He nearly spit at me. “Go away.” “I don’t believe in God.” “I hate the church.” “I hate you.” Etc. were some of the many phrases lobbed at me. I continued to stop in, regardless of his attitude, because his wife would grip my hand—her fear palpable. I watched his deterioration from a regular ward patient to the ICU on life giving equipment. He never failed to be mean spirited and nasty, until he was comatose.
While singing The Lord’s Prayer at a nearby bed for another patient in ICU, I saw the tears streaming down the face of the angry man’s wife. Ironically the heart monitor which showed uneven breathing and beat-irregularities shifted to a smooth steady rhythm.
But I remember praying for him and especially his wife, who wanted his salvation, but feared his rejection. In the room with four patients, three received me well, one did not. I was singing the same songs, reading the same Scriptures, offering the same options to all, but he chose to reject the offering of Christ in a flamboyant way. It was clear to me where he stood on spiritual things. He rejected it. I suspect that God sees us with the same clarity. God knows all. Because of that staggering knowledge, what seems whimsical to us emerges out of a deep knowledge of the spirit of each of us. God is not fooled by external pretense.
God looks at the heart. God knows and chooses. But that doesn’t absolve us of the responsibility of choice. We have been given the freedom to choose and God knows us inside and out. God is not evil or unrighteous. God cannot do wrong.
The old Navy salt, who hated life and spiritual things, made his choice. I didn’t cause his reaction. I offered the good news to him every day that I visited on rounds—not forcing my ideas on him, but simply by my presence in the room attending other patients—there were no private rooms. He chose and will stand accountable for his choices. I prayed that his calming heart and breathing rhythms demonstrated an internal change in his heart for God, but I don’t know. God knows.
Like Joseph, I don’t attribute the bad to God. In the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, the character of Judas blamed his bad choices on his being forced to be the “bad guy,” since God “needed” him to be bad in order for the atoning sacrifice on the cross to be achieved. But that was not the case. God didn’t need Judas to be a traitor. Judas chose. God used Judas’ betrayal to bring about salvation for all.
We must examine our own hearts to see where we are in relationship to God. Are our choices in sync with God, or are we walking further and further away from God’s grace offered to anyone who wants it?
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.