From Dilemma to Opportunity

Try to imagine how surprised Joseph was when after twenty years, his brothers who had sold him into slavery were now standing before him. Although Joseph easily identified them, they failed to recognize Joseph. That Joseph could be Governor of Egypt was too absurd for them to contemplate.

There was a severe drought in the region, so his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, and Joseph supervised the grain distribution program. Joseph never could have predicted the dilemma he faced regarding how to respond to his brothers. He held the power to enslave and repay them for the suffering he had endured as a young adult.

Joseph's brothers were now bowing before him. As a teenager Joseph had dreamed they bowed before him and now that dream had come true. Troubles surface at unpredictable intervals to challenge the status quo of our lives and to provide opportunities for resolving old conflicts and making amends. This is one of God’s best surprises, and if we honor it, healing is possible. 

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Praise the Lord! Happy is the person who honors the Lord, who takes pleasure in obeying his commands.

~Psalm 112:1 Good News Bible

He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes.

~Psalm 112:7-8 The Living Bible

I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me.

~Psalm 16:8 Good News Bible

The Best Balancing Act

When Leah gave birth to four sons for Jacob, her sister Rachel went into a panic because she herself was unable to conceive. One sure way a woman could please her husband was to give birth to sons, which insured security and feelings of fulfillment. Rachel’s desperation is expressed in Genesis 30. "When she could not conceive, she became jealous and said to Jacob, ‘Give me children or I will die.’"

Have you had similar feelings longing for something so special and fulfilling that nothing else could surpass its value? Rachel's passion for a child consumed her. She couldn't let it go. Giving birth to a baby was essential to her identity and sense of mental health. She desperately needed to feel equal to her sister.

T. S. Eliot believed that nothing was more important than thinking appropriately well of oneself. However, the apostle Paul admonishes us not to think higher of ourselves than we should. What helps you from going overboard is balancing what Christ has done for you and what you’ve committed to him.