Sermon: We don’t talk about Joseph

             There is always a story before the story

—in this case, we know the story of how Cain and Abel’s sibling rivalry led to death and banishment. 
We know the story of Isaac and Ishmael, who only reconciled burying their father Abraham… 
we know of Esau and Jacob, who only reconciled once Isaac, their father, was dead… 
we know that Jacob’s two wives held a motherly rivalry, 
fighting for Jacob’s affection
—using, even, their children to bolster their status…

These brothers, they were born into a family system long entrenched.

 

1.         The story proper, however, begins simply enough, “This is the story of Jacob…”

            And then it takes a turn, “Well, Joseph was 17…

            Joseph was Jacob’s favorite, given a stripy quilted cloak…

Joseph, his first recorded words, “Please listen to the dream that I dreamed,”

Joseph, this Dream Master, who mashes his brother’s faces in his dreams of glory,

Joseph who even dreams of overthrowing his parent’s greatness with his own.

Joseph stripped of his quilted cloak, by his brothers.

Joseph thrown down a well, by his brothers

Joseph flung into a pit while his brothers casually eat snacks.

Joseph’s brothers do not see themselves as their brother’s keeper.

Joseph’s brothers, think they bear no guilt—save two who scheme to save him.

Joseph sold into slavery, he’s now an object like the gum, balm, and resin—all four being exported to Egypt.

“Joseph” Jacob, Joseph’s father, wails.

“Joseph” he shrieks, seeing shreds of the quilted cloak—false evidence of Joseph’s demise.

 

2.         Down in Egypt, he is raised, even as a slave.

            Down in Egypt, he is trapped, again stripped of his cloak.

            Down in Egypt, his cloak is again used as false evidence against him.

            Down in Egypt, he is thrown into the prison pit.

            Down in Egypt, his status goes up and down and up again.

            Down in Egypt, he is still a Dream Master

Down in Egypt dreaming of the ups and down of Pharaoh’s court.

            Down in Egypt, he, Joseph, is given an Egyptian name, “God Speaks, He Lives!”

 

3.         Back in Canaan, they don’t talk about Joseph.

            Back in Canaan, years pass without him.

 

            Back in Egypt, Joseph is the Dream Master—interpreting Master Pharaoh’s dreams.

            Back In Egypt, warning of a Famine.

            Back in Egypt, they prepare!

Back in Egypt, they put themselves on war footing to fill barns and feed people.

            

Back in Canaan, Jacob sees which way the wind is blowing.

            Back in Canaan, Jacob sees crops are dying, the family’s flocks too.

            Back in Canaan, Jacob hatches a plan to save his family—Go to Egypt!

            Back in Canaan, the brothers ignore Jacob’s plan.

            Back in Canaan, they reluctantly go down to Egypt.

 

4.         There is something eerie in Egypt.

            There is something suspenseful like a horror show.

            There is something that points to the Brother’s guilt.

            -when “God Speaks, He Lives” asks the brothers about their Father and other Brothers. They admit to him, “We don’t talk about Joseph.”

            -When they return back home with gum, balm, and resin. Guilty!

            -When they see the silver placed back in their bags—silver paid for a slave. Guilty!

            -When they plead, “take us as slaves, don’t kill the young one.” Guilty!

            Guilty, Guilty, Guilty.

 

            There is something that points to their change of heart!

            -They’ve matured in the years between. Changed.

            -They’re concerned for their younger brother! (Remember, they weren’t concerned for Joseph!) Changed.

            -They protest, “Don’t do this, it will distress our father.” (Remember, they weren’t concerned for their father’s feelings when they waved the torn quilt in front of his face?) Changed.

            Changed, Changed, Changed.

 

5.         “God Speaks, He Lives” weeps once. 

“God Speaks, He Lives” weeps twice.

“God Speaks, He Lives” sends away his servants, and the interpreter too.

“God Speaks, He Lives” the pharaoh’s right hand man. Alone before them.

“God Speaks, He Lives” let’s out an uncontrollable sob. Heard in the other room, outside, all the way to Pharaoh’s court.

 

“It is me, Joseph. Is my Papa okay?”

“It is me Joseph—the one you sold into slavery, sent down to Egypt.”

“It is me Joseph, the one God is using in this awful time of famine, to feed the whole world… to feed you, my brothers!”

“It is me Joseph, come in for a hug, gather close, close the distance between us.”

“It is me Joseph, our past is past.

“It is me Joseph, we’ve crossed the chasm between us, the desert of Sinai between Egypt and Canaan.”

“It is me Joseph, I don’t seek you harm, nor desire vengeance.”

“It is me Joseph, let’s go see our papa, while he’s still alive.”