Sermon 20th August 2023 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Genesis 45:1-15 – God’s
mercy
There is a saying that revenge
is a dish best served cold. What does that mean? It means that often when
someone hurts us we feel the need to pay them back immediately. Tit for tat –
or as in the Old Testament – an eye for an eye. But usually they are expecting
it so they are prepared. The saying suggests waiting till things have died down
and they have forgotten all about it then strike when they least expect it. That’s
what Joseph has the opportunity for today.
It’s been years since his
brothers captured him, threw him into an empty well and then sold him as a
slave to the Midianites who then sold him to Egypt. There, in Egypt, he was
accused of trying to commit adultery with his master Potiphar’s wife and thrown
into prison. In prison he was betrayed by the cupbearer who promised that he
would put in a good word for him when he was released from prison – but he
forgot. So, poor old Joseph has been betrayed and let down on many occasions
and no doubt was looking for his day of justice. Eventually the cupbearer
remembers Joseph and because of his ability to interpret Pharoah’s dream he is
elevated to 2nd in charge of Egypt during 7 years of plenty to prepare for 7
years of famine. No doubt in the back of his mind Joseph is remembering all
those who betrayed him. His brothers, Potiphar’s wife, the cupbearer. And now
he has the opportunity to exact his revenge as he sees his brothers come cup in
hand looking for some food for their starving family. But Joseph forgoes that
opportunity for revenge because he sees that whatever has happened, no matter
how it happened that God was directing everything.
If Joseph takes revenge then
he acknowledges that God had no part in what happened to him and that life is
simply unfair and you have to find your own justice. Here, Joseph leaves
justice to God. Just listen how Joseph explains it to his brothers who were no
doubt convinced he would take revenge against them. God sent me before you to
preserve life. God sent me before you to
preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. It
was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and
lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Later on, in Chapter
50, Joseph will affirm what he had said about God: You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of
many lives.
By having this understanding
of how his life has gone Joseph is able to heal and know that God is going to
act even if it takes years of hardship. And if there is revenge or justice to
be dished up – then God is the one to do so. Paul says similar in Romans: Do
not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of
everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the
contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his
head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.
And that’s exactly what Joseph
has done – trusting in God to do the right thing. His brothers were hungry so
he fed them. Anger doesn’t achieve anything. Just look how calm the woman in
our gospel reading remains instead of getting angry. In our Gospel reading a
Canaanite woman will show the same resilience and trust in God doing the right
thing. Her daughter is seriously ill – tormented by a demon she says. Jesus
ignored her. She doesn’t get angry. Jesus’ disciples demand he send her away. She
doesn’t get angry. Jesus says - I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel. She doesn’t get angry. She came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord,
help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it
to the dogs. She doesn’t get angry.
At what point would you have
given up? At what point would you have lost your patience and gotten angry? At
what point, if you were Joseph, would you have lost your patience and taken
revenge. This Canaanite woman, like Joseph, knew that God was in control and
that God was a God of justice and, like Joseph, she keeps her faith and trust
in God doing the right thing. And this is the same patience that is keeping
Paul confident that even though his brother and sister Jews have rejected God’s
Messiah, Jesus, that God has not rejected them. He says: Has God rejected his
people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a
member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he
foreknew. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
So even though as we journey
through life we face varying degrees of trouble, there is the overarching
promise that God loves us and is with us always. We can get angry at the
situation. But anger doesn’t achieve anything but could in fact cause harm. That’s
why Paul, in Ephesians, says - In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go
down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
As we worry about the future
of the church at times with declining numbers – declining finances – congregations closing – insufficient Pastors
to fill vacancies – we remember the promise of Jesus: On this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. God’s promise is
irrevocable.
It’s easy to get frustrated
when life doesn’t go your way and to take matters into our own hands – but we
have the example of Joseph, the Canaanite woman and Paul who trusted that God
was in control of the situation and allowed him to do his work in his time. They
did not lose patience in God doing the right thing. Sometimes it is hard to
explain why God allows things to happen in our lives that we don’t expect. But
what we understand about God is something we call providence. Providence is the
protection of God that we sometimes don’t see. Like a flat tyre when you are in
a hurry to get somewhere – but what if that flat tyre prevented you
encountering something worse ahead of you. We will never know.
But what we do know, as Joseph
discovered, is that God is the one directing life. What his brothers intended
for evil God was able to use for good. God overcame evil with good. So whatever
is happening in your life – whatever has happened in your life – may you see
the protective hand of God on you. And like the Canaanite woman, if life seems
unfair – bring it before God in prayer and keep bringing it. But in all cases,
like Joseph, like the Canaanite woman, like Paul – remember that God is a God
of love who gave his own Son for you and will do much more as he has promised. And
God’s promises to you are irrevocable.
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