Integrity and the Power of Forgiveness

Last night, I had the privilege of seeing another spectacular show at Sight & Sound.  For those of you who are not familiar with it, it's an amazing theatre that performs shows from the Bible.  They say it's "Where the Bible comes to Life!" and they're not kidding.  They have costumes, live animals, dozens of props, beautiful singing...the works.  Needless to say, I was impressed yet again!  If I have you thoroughly intrigued, check out their website at www.sight-sound.com for more info and pictures!

This production was about Joseph.  It made me think of his life in a whole new way.  So just a few of my thoughts~

Joseph came from a very dysfunctional family.  Just think about it.  His father Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel.  (Even marrying them proved to be challenging!  And then, of course, both of these women's maidservants had sons through Jacob as well.  That's a bit dysfunctional right there!)  Jacob had a total of 12 sons.  However, he loved Joseph and Benjamin more than the others.  They were Rachel's sons, whom he loved more than Leah.  When Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, both of these boys became even more special to Jacob.  So growing up, this family was rooted in favoritism and the sons definitely felt it. 

Things certainly didn't help when Joseph started having dreams.  Sure, he was excited when God revealed these things to him, but it probably wasn't his wisest idea to share them with his already jealous brothers.  Then came the day when Joseph was thrown into a well by his brothers.  They actually wanted to kill him.  They hated him that much, but then came to the conclusion that they wouldn't be "as guilty" if they chose this route.  In the end, they sold him to some Ishmaelites who were traveling by.  Can you imagine the grief that Joseph felt when 1. his brothers threw him into a deep pit and 2. when they sold him as a slave to complete strangers and who knew what would happen to him?  I can't fathom the deep betrayal he must've felt.  And then his brothers lied to their father about what had happened to him.  Being decievers was not a wise idea on their part.  Does Jacob deceiving his father Isaac and his brother Esau ring a bell?  A prime example of the curse of generational sins!

When Joseph arrived in Egypt, God was certainly with him.  He was entrusted with Potiphar's household.  What a responsibility!  Potiphar was the captain of the guard in Egpyt, a highly-respected official.  Joseph became noticed by many for his nobility and honest character.  After being wrongly accused by Potiphar's wife, Joseph was thrown into prison.  He surely questioned God's faithfulness and the dreams that he had previously given to him.  But in prison, Joseph was placed in charge of all of the prisoners.  Think of the positive influence he had on them!  Later, Pharoah's baker and cupbearer were thrown into prison.  Joseph was able to interpret the dreams that each of them had while in prison.  The cupbearer was released from prison and failed to fulfill his promise that he'd remember Joseph.  A few years later, Pharoah had some troubling dreams.  When no one else could interpret them, guess who they turned to?  Yeah, good ol' Joseph who was still in prison.  Joseph, with his God-given wisdom, was able to tell Pharoah that seven years of abundance were coming to Egypt, which would be followed by seven years of terrible famine.  Pharoah placed Joseph in charge of the entire land of Egypt and gave him great prestige.  With this, Joseph could've let it all go to his head.  But he didn't.  He remained faithful to his values and his God.  And God blessed him for that.  Joseph was given a wife, Asenath, who blessed him with two sons.

Joseph's interpretations became true and the seven years of abundance came, followed by the seven years of hardship.  During the time of famine, Jacob sent all of his sons, except Benjamin, to Egypt to obtain grain for their starving family.  Joseph recognized his brothers when they came to him, but they didn't know him.  I'm sure Joseph's painful past came back to him in an instant when his betrayers arrived in front of him.  Joseph tested his brothers by putting them in prison, placing silver in their sacks of grain, and requesting that Benjamin be brought to him as well.  When Joseph was again reunited with his brother Benjamin, he was deeply touched.  He shared a meal with his brothers, but they still did not know him.  Before they left, Joseph had his silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack.  When accused, the brothers protested their innocence and agreed that whoever was guilty, would become a slave.  They were filled with grief when Benjamin was accused.  Joseph asked that the others return to their father, but Benjamin remain with him.  The others could hardly have it as their father cherished Benjamin as he was the only "living" son of Rachel.  Judah pleaded with Joseph and he eventually could not hide his secret any longer.  He revealed himself to his brothers and a great reunion took place.  Joseph's brothers were filled with shame and could not believe how willing Joseph was to forgive them.  He could've placed them at his mercy and put them in prison for life or made them his slaves.  Yet Joseph chose what was right.  The path of forgiveness, which lead to a reunion with his long-lost father and the rest of his family. 

In the end, Joseph's life was a very difficult one, but he lived it with integrity and character.  I know my life is far from perfect, but I have been convicted to search my own heart.  Do I need to show forgiveness to those in my life?  It's not easy, but God commands that we do it and that we do it endlessly.  I desire to live a life of integrity so that my life is a pleasing offering to my Father. 

(Ok, so that wasn't exactly a FEW thoughts, but I hope you got as much out of Joseph's story as I did!)