Genesis 45

Joseph’s brothers witness love in action, in both his personal forgiveness and his prudent national planning.

Joseph’s brothers witness love in action, in both his personal forgiveness and his prudent national planning.

Forgiveness is hard, and it’s hard for Joseph’s brothers to trust it.

The challenges to unity are great. The reward of unity is tremendous.

The challenges to unity are great. The reward of unity is tremendous.

To preach on only a portion of this passage is to do it a disservice.

How Pharaoh treated the Hebrews and how the US has treated my people

How Pharaoh treated the Hebrews and how the US has treated my people

Is the Joseph story just an old unsophisticated morality trope?

What if I’m the cheek-slapper, the thief, the opportunist?

What if I’m the cheek-slapper, the thief, the opportunist?

Anyone who seeks to divide people is working against God. And refusing to say that is sin.

Anyone who seeks to divide people is working against God. And refusing to say that is sin.

By far the most uncomfortable pastoral work I do is with people who want help for relatives in churches that are far away. I once got a call from one such relative who had been elected secretary of a church committee and wondered how she should minute the meeting. Worse are the complaints about pastors who do things I have done. (“My brother says they don’t sing hymns everyone knows. What can we do?”)

By far the most uncomfortable pastoral work I do is with people who want help for relatives in churches that are far away. I once got a call from one such relative who had been elected secretary of a church committee and wondered how she should minute the meeting. Worse are the complaints about pastors who do things I have done. (“My brother says they don’t sing hymns everyone knows. What can we do?”)

Joseph knows what he is seeing. His brothers do not.

As God's people, we are the remnants and promise of new life.

Keeping score and getting even—that’s what enemies do.