I
have read the story of Joseph several times during my lifetime but I admitted in
yesterday’s declaration (BLOG) Even I Can See That: Forgiveness Pt. 7 that I discovered
a new truth. Joseph forgave his brothers
without knowing if he would ever see them again. He didn’t forgive with his mind or lips, this
is only possible by forgiving with one’s heart.
It didn’t matter that his brothers were in a different country. Joseph’s heart was with him (literally in his
body) and he went through whatever process to make a decision to forgive them
which is evident by his language. So far
we have not referenced any scriptures which quote Joseph as identifying himself
as a slave, he refused to allow the sound
of those words leave his mouth, instead he tells the cupbearer and baker that
he was “stolen” or “kidnapped” – depending on what version of the bible you
read. How is it that Joseph who has no
Pastor, Teacher, Apostle, Bishop, Bible, Bible App, family, mentors, Victory
Room, 6:00 am prayer call, etc. There is no one to speak into or over his life to
help him with what was the most devastatingly difficult process he had or would
ever face, family, hurt? If anybody had
a justification for holding on to un-forgiveness Joseph would get my vote. He didn’t use the excuse of needing to face
his accusers he simply let it go. Making
the choice to “simply” let go doesn’t mean it was easy. At the end of the day God is our source for
EVERYTHING, including the ability to forgive those who hate us, even if you are
your hater.
Tania Not Tanya
Nugget: True forgiveness can only come from the
heart, everything else is lip service which is a step below a lie. Naw, I’m kiddin’ it’s a lie posing as 1/8th
of the truth. Well not really, it’s a lie,
even if the lie you tell is to yourself. I know you probably want it to be a gray,
white or “ernge” lie, but it’s a real one, for real, I’m not making this
up. Guard your heart from being a pretender; guard your heart from abuse,
further hurt, lies, things that are negative that may cause you to become
ill—physically, mentally and/or spiritually. Keep and guard
your heart with all vigilance and above
all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)
Genesis
41: The empty sound of no one coming to
his rescue had been ringing in his ears for two full whole years since the
cupbearer was released from Pharaoh’s dungeon and the head baker was beheaded
(no pun intended). Joseph continued to
serve in excellence as he waited and believed God for release. In my mind I tried to imagine which situation
was better: a slave hounded by an OG snap (aka Cougar, aka older woman that
likes much younger men) or being a slave-prisoner. As much as I hate to admit it, at least he
was able to move more freely, sleep in a comfortable bed, take care of his
hygienic needs, eat better food, etc. but that kitty cat “on his line had to be
the business”. And then it
happened. Pharaoh had a dream two years
later that disturbed him enough to wake him from his sleep but when he went
back to sleep he dreamed a dream even more troubling than the first. When morning came he was irritated, angry,
confused and perplexed so he called for all of his top magicians but none of
them could interpret the dream. I want
to say that the cupbearer remembered Joseph miraculously, but I have a feeling
he remembered how much he disliked being imprisoned and how much he liked his
head so he probably thought of Joseph at that point.
In
ancient times when things didn’t go the way the Pharaoh (or a King) wanted he
could order that the offender be tortured, imprisoned and/or killed on the spot
he didn’t have to really have a reason.
Needless to say, upsetting him made for a highly stressful situation for
every and anyone. At any rate the
cupbearer falls over his words apologizing for not alerting Pharaoh about
Joseph sooner and that Joseph interpreted a dream for he and the baker that was
100% accurate. I can just hear the sound from Pharaoh as he roared: "WHAT,
YOU KNEW OF AN INTERPRETER AND YOU SAID NOTHING?!!!!!!!!! BRING HIM TO ME AT
ONCE.” Given that Joseph’s whereabouts
Pharaoh knew that it would take a while for them to present him properly
because of the conditions of the dungeons.
Tania Not Tanya
Nugget: Can we have a Selah moment right here (press
pause)? You know what it feels like when
you’re funky and can’t wait to get in the tub or hot shower right? That’s probably how Joseph felt magnified except
his funky anxiety was probably multiplied by 178,000. I realize that God’s favor was over Joseph but
there were certain amenities that were not available during that time period as
they are now for county and state prisoners.
Directing
your attention back to Genesis 41:9-14. This
is what I imagine took place: The guards
rush in and practically yank him from the dungeon, scaring the living daylights
out of him. He has no idea what is
happening because the guards are practically carrying him somewhere but where? His mind is racing and the sound of his heart is pounding so loudly
he wonders if the guards can hear it.
The palace was massive, he tried to take it in but they were moving too
fast and his mind was full of so many possibilities that he really couldn’t
take it in. He wasn’t sure but it seemed
as if they were going deeper into the palace which was a good sign because he
didn’t imagine executions took place in this immaculate edifice. Besides, that couldn’t be a possible outcome,
he knew God had better for him. They
reach what he thinks is their destination a bathhouse!!! He stands there in confusion because he doesn’t
know if this is where he will now be serving.
They order him to disrobe and bathe.
He looks dumbfounded and this time the guards bark orders at him to
bathe. In about 1.5 seconds he is naked
and in a tub that’s so large 20 overweight people could fit in it and there
would still be room. He submerges
himself completely under water and begins to pray: Father, what’s happening? The
sound of the father’s silence is
deafening. Am I to be executed? More
silence. Has my family finally come for
me? Louder silence, and then he hears the
sound of a still small voice: For this is the will of God, that by doing
good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Peter 2:15
(NLT). The tears rush out and mix with the bath water
that is quickly turning a murky gray from all of the residue of the pit (mistreatment,
hurt, envy, jealousy, hatred, slavery, loneliness, false accusations and
Pharaoh’s grimy dungeon). He’s down
there so long that the eunuchs panic and splash the water to get his attention. He surfaces to the top with the force of an athletic
swimmer. They give him scented soap to
wash his body, hair and beard which he gladly does as he praises God inwardly
for what is about to happen. Though he
is absolutely clueless of what’s next he has learned to trust God and go with
the flow.
The eunuchs hurry him out of
the pool and give him a large towel spun with fine Egyptian cotton (the finest
in all of the world even in the 21st century). They hurry him off to another room full of
oils which overwhelmed his senses, he had never smelled anything so
beautiful. They tell him to quickly pick
one and he selects one that is slightly earthy with a hint of sweetness. As he oils his body he can barely contain the
joy that is bubbling up in his spirit.
They hurry him to yet another room where a eunuch was on standby to cut
his hair, shape and trip the beard he wanted to keep. From there he was escorted to a dressing room
where a set of garments were neatly folded on an exquisitely designed oak table
along with a pair of new leather bound sandals!!!! These new garments replaced the raggedy ones that
were weighted with mourning, disappointment, dirt, etc. He quickly dressed himself, slips his feet in
the sandals and after he fastens the strap on his left foot he stands up and
sees a glimpse of himself in the full length beaten brass mirror for the first
time in his life. He is stunned at the reflection
of the grown man in the mirror. He can’t
believe how much he looks like his father, it’s amazing. He sees the eunuch approaching him from
behind with a beautiful garment in his hands and without missing a beat the eunuch
raises the garment to Joseph’s shoulders and guides his arms in each arm hole of
the robe made of Egyptian silk and many colors as it falls freely over his body
like the righteousness of God falls over us.
To console those who mourn in Zion to give
them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment
of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 (NLT) Joseph can no longer contain his
emotion. He knows from having served
with Potiphar that these are garments for officials. The eunuch keeps his hand
on Joseph’s shoulder and says: it’s ok, it’s ok but we have to hurry or Pharaoh
will be highly upset.
He
wipes his face with his towel, takes another look in the mirror, pops his
collar (though the others have no
To be continued ....
In His Excellent Servcie
Tania Not Tanya
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