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|
November 25, 2007 "Jacob Blessed
His Family" |
When was the last time you visited the St. Martin's Prime Timers A.B.F.? Well, that's too long!!!
You are invited to come on down to the Payne Education Center, rooms 207-209, right after the 9am Sunday Service, from 10:10 to 10:50am. We are studying the Book of Genesis for the next couple months, Joseph is just about running Eqypt, he is reconciling with the family who sold him into slavery, there is famine in the land, Joseph isn't sure if his father Jacob is still living, what happens next?
The St. Martin's Adult Bible Fellowships (ABF's) are following a course of study based on the work of the Committee on the Uniform Series, also known as the International Lessons. Bible students around the world are using this same framework, why not you!
Prime Timers Good News
At the beginning of our class hear our members Good News. It takes a $1 donation to our Good News chicken, Henny Penny. Currently we are donating this money to the Amistad Mission in Bolivia, a Christian partnership between North Americans and Bolivians for the benefit of children in need.
Today Ben gave thanks that his (grown) children would be home for Thanksgiving.
Four Negotiations and One Reunion
Ben Welmaker is our teacher for the month of November. During the week Ben is a lawyer, well, no one is perfect. Sorry, couldn't resist. Our lesson is about Joseph and his dysfunctional family, and Ben brought a lawyer's analysis to the story. He began by reading this passage from Isaiah 55:8-9:
8"For my thoughts are not your
thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9"As the heavens are higher than the
earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This is to remind us that God can use bad people or events to teach us, and that we are not Gods. There is famine in the land, and by predicting this and preparing Egypt for it Joseph is now a person of great power. Joseph's father Jacob sends his sons, but not Benjamin, the youngest, to Egypt to buy grain. The sons do not recognize Joseph, but he knows them and decides to put them through the wringer. In lawyer terms, we have the first negotiation when Joseph, in Genesis 42:14, calls his brothers spies and says he will put all but one in prison while the other fetches the other brother. Joseph weakens his own position by putting ALL the brothers in prison for three days. The second negotiation begins when Joseph puts one of the brothers in prison, while the rest are to go back with the grain and bring back the youngest brother, if they are honest men. The brothers go back to father Jacob and explain their treatment and the demand to bring Benjamin back to Egypt.
Jacob sees this as all against him. After all they lost Simeon (the brother left behind) and now they want to give up Benjamin as well! Reuben offers his own sons if any harm comes to Benjamin, our Ben calls this a "sweetener by a new negotiator", but Jacob says giving up Benjamin would be the death of him (Jacob) so he won't let him go. The brothers are to go back to Egypt without Benjamin. Jacob asks why the brothers told the man in Egypt (remember they don't know its their own brother Joseph at this point) that they had a younger brother. They reply that they were closely questioned and then Judah offers to guarantee the safety of Benjamin.
Ben describes what happens next as "agreement on the third negotiation after a complicated, face-saving answer by Jacob." He tells his sons to put the best products they can in their bags as a gift, some balm and honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds (Genesis 43:11). Take double the amount of silver, and take Benjamin with you. On presenting this to Joseph, brother Simeon is let go.
Now begins the fourth negotiation with Joseph learning that his father is still alive. We now get a "preemptive action to create a conflict to be negotiated." (I told you Ben is a lawyer!) Joseph orders each of his brothers sacks filled with as much food as they can carry, returned their silver, and then orders his own silver cup put in Benjamin's sack. Joseph sends his men to intercept his brothers with the phony theft. Joseph declares Benjamin is now Joseph's slave, and the rest are free to go. Judah then pleads the case for the release of poor Benjamin, it will be the death of his father, take me as the slave (a counter offer!).
It is at this point that Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and today's actual reading begins!! Now at last we can have the reunion promised at the beginning. Joseph weeps so loud that the Egyptians and Pharaoh's household hear it. Joseph tells his brothers to bring Jacob and that they are all to live out their days provided for and protected from the famine. Later Pharaoh himself offers more to the family.
Joseph always gives God credit for his good fortune, and even uses this to ease his brothers unease. After all they had tossed him into a cistern and sold him to slavery, but Joseph sees this as God sending him ahead to Egypt to save lives! What a family!
Peace be with you!
Prime Timers Contact names and numbers
Mentor
Rev. B. Massey Gentry
mgentry@stmartinsepiscopal.org
Leaders
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
anne.berry@comcast.net
Max Kech
713/802-0690 H
maxkech2003@yahoo.com
Marty Smith
713/464-6737 H
martys47@comcast.net
Teachers
Richard Cruse
Pete Seale
Ben Welmaker
bhwjr@flash.net
Outreach (inviting and welcoming new members)
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
anne.berry@comcast.net
Elizabeth Sleeper
jsleeperjr@comcast.net
Ben Welmaker is our teacher for the month of November.
Joseph Receives His Father and Brothers in Egypt, by Salomon de Bray, 1655, Oil on canvas, in a Private collection.
Remember this Musical? That our Joseph from today's reading.
Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph, by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1656, Oil on canvas, at the Staatliche Museen, Kassel
The Lesson for Sunday, November 25th is titled "Jacob Blessed His Family"
Key Verse: Genesis 48:11
Focus of the Lesson: One generation dies and another is born. What legacies do older generations want to leave for younger ones? Jacob moved to Egypt and lived out his last days; he blessed his grandsons, assured that they would continue to grow into a multitude, just as God had promised Abraham and Sarah.
The reading is Genesis 48:11-19. This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)
Background Scripture: Genesis 48:8-21
11Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."
12Then Joseph removed them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him. 14But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
15Then he blessed Joseph and said,
"May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day,
16the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
—may he bless these boys.
May they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac,
and may they increase greatly
upon the earth."
17When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."
NIV
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