May the mumbling commence!
What does it mean to know someone? It means knowing who they are and what they bring to the table. The Pharaoh of Joseph’s day knew that Joseph was a blessing to him because of Joseph’s relationship with the Lord. Without question, this Pharaoh allowed Joseph to go and bury his father. In fact, Pharaoh sent his highest ranking officials to go with him. Tears were brought to the Egyptians’ eyes. Read from Genesis chapter fifty:
Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph told his morticians to embalm the body. The embalming process took forty days, and there was a period of national mourning for seventy days. When the period of mourning was over, Joseph approached Pharaoh's advisers and asked them to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf. He told them, "Tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath. He said to me, 'I am about to die; take my body back to the land of Canaan, and bury me in our family's burial cave.' Now I need to go and bury my father. After his burial is complete, I will return without delay."
Pharaoh agreed to Joseph's request. "Go and bury your father, as you promised," he said. So Joseph went, with a great number of Pharaoh's counselors and advisers – all the senior officers of Egypt. Joseph also took his brothers and the entire household of Jacob. But they left their little children and flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. So a great number of chariots, cavalry, and people accompanied Joseph.
When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn funeral, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph's father. The local residents, the Canaanites, renamed the place Abel-mizraim, for they said, "This is a place of very deep mourning for these Egyptians." So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them. They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried it there in the cave of Machpelah. This is the cave that Abraham had bought for a permanent burial place in the field of Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre. (Verses 1-13)
What a difference it makes knowing someone well! Trust is rock-solid, and empathy is assured. But, oh how times can change! Read from Exodus chapter one:
In time, Joseph and each of his brothers died, ending that generation. But their descendants had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so quickly that they soon filled the land. Then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. He told his people, "These Israelites are becoming a threat to us because there are so many of them. We must find a way to put an end to this. If we don't and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country." (Verses 6-10)
Not knowing someone bring distrust and suspicion. The Israelite blessing is now seen as a curse. The Israelites are seen as a threat instead of a blessing through the Lord God. It is a sure recipe for disaster.
It eliminates forgiveness. And forgiveness is essential. Read from Matthew chapter eighteen:
"For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. But the man fell down before the king and begged him, 'Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. 'Be patient and I will pay it,' he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full.
When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny.
That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart." (Verses 23-35)
Let’s remember one another for who we are and what we bring to the table. Then forgiveness is possible.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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