Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis - Day Forty
Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
- Merriam Webster
Day Forty – “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” – Joseph’s brothers (Gen. 50: 15)
Well? That would certainly be a logical possibility. It would be “normal” for someone to hold a grudge if their brothers had been so jealous of him that they beat him, sold him into slavery, and then told his father that he was dead. It would be “normal” for that person, if he were in a position to do so, to get some major payback! To forgive the people who did you so wrong, and to love them and still consider them family would be…sort of…weird. But weird is the way we roll in Genesis, right?
Joseph did not do what would have been “normal” in hissituation. Here is what he did instead: He finally couldn’t stand pretending anymore, so he sent all the Egyptian servants out of the room so he was left alone with his brothers. After he had himself another good cry (“He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him…Gen. 45: 2), he said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” Joseph’s brothers were dumbstruck…flabbergasted…shell-shocked. They were so scared that they couldn’t even answer him. Joseph called them over to him, and said again, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (Gen. 45: 4) Now for the really weird part…Joseph said, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Whaaaaattt?
That brings me to another normal-verses-weird situation. It would certainly be “normal” for someone in Joseph’s situation to be angry with God. You know, the whole, “Why did you let this happen to me, God?” reaction. Maybe Joseph went through some of that…we don’t know. But in the end, Joseph was able to recognize God’s hand in sending him ahead. Amazingly, Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Was he going to take revenge on his brothers? The opposite. He said, “ ‘So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Gen. 50: 20-21)
Saint Augustine once said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Holding a grudge is like that. And as for revenge…allow me to give another quote. Confucius said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” It might sound weird, but forgiveness can save your life!
Reflection: Who in your life is hardest for you to forgive?
Action: Read Matthew 18: 21-35 Write down your thoughts
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
- Merriam Webster
Day Forty – “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” – Joseph’s brothers (Gen. 50: 15)
Well? That would certainly be a logical possibility. It would be “normal” for someone to hold a grudge if their brothers had been so jealous of him that they beat him, sold him into slavery, and then told his father that he was dead. It would be “normal” for that person, if he were in a position to do so, to get some major payback! To forgive the people who did you so wrong, and to love them and still consider them family would be…sort of…weird. But weird is the way we roll in Genesis, right?
Joseph did not do what would have been “normal” in hissituation. Here is what he did instead: He finally couldn’t stand pretending anymore, so he sent all the Egyptian servants out of the room so he was left alone with his brothers. After he had himself another good cry (“He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him…Gen. 45: 2), he said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” Joseph’s brothers were dumbstruck…flabbergasted…shell-shocked. They were so scared that they couldn’t even answer him. Joseph called them over to him, and said again, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (Gen. 45: 4) Now for the really weird part…Joseph said, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Whaaaaattt?
That brings me to another normal-verses-weird situation. It would certainly be “normal” for someone in Joseph’s situation to be angry with God. You know, the whole, “Why did you let this happen to me, God?” reaction. Maybe Joseph went through some of that…we don’t know. But in the end, Joseph was able to recognize God’s hand in sending him ahead. Amazingly, Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Was he going to take revenge on his brothers? The opposite. He said, “ ‘So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Gen. 50: 20-21)
Saint Augustine once said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Holding a grudge is like that. And as for revenge…allow me to give another quote. Confucius said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” It might sound weird, but forgiveness can save your life!
Reflection: Who in your life is hardest for you to forgive?
Action: Read Matthew 18: 21-35 Write down your thoughts
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Lenten DevotionalsWeird is the New Normal: Day OneWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisDay 5: Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: Day SixWeird is the New Normal: Day SevenWeird is the New Normal: Day EightWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis Day NineWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis: Day TenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day ElevenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day Twelve
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