Monday, January 11, 2021

On the way...

On the way...

Ultimately, the brothers of Joseph were headed home to reveal to their father that they had been the cause of Joseph's supposed death and real disappearance.

Most likely, as they traveled, they'd discuss all that had transpired over the many years. In the minimum, they'd realize and dread the chastisement of their father, Jacob (a.k.a. Israel). Think about it; I am quite sure those boys would start blame casting, accusations, arguments, divisions, separations, and such.

In other words, human nature would take over. Despite the joy of discovering the son together, they would lose sight of the good news, and they would lose sight of the joy of their father, and begin to quarrel about the details of their faults or the levels of their guilt rather than the goodness of Jacob's son, Joseph, and the joy of their father, Jacob.

As Joseph's brothers were leaving, Joseph said, "Do not quarrel on the way." (Genesis 45:24 ESV)

Have you seen it yet? This is us!
Our sin nailed the Son to the cross.
The Son saves us.
We journey the rest of our lives to the Father.
We -- THE CHURCH -- tend to live like Joseph's brothers.

Why? Human nature takes over wherever and whenever human nature is not surrendered to the Spirit.

We need Joseph's counsel today: "Do not quarrel on the way."

It's good advice. Do not quarrel on the way.

Their way is our way too. Those boys were on their way to face their father about how they had treated his son. We are on our way to THE Father to face Him concerning how we have treated THE Son. We're on the same way. We're on the way to the Father. Do not quarrel on the way.

We face the same danger along the way. We may fail to rejoice in the Son's goodness. We may fail to join in the Father's joy. Do not quarrel on the way.

We have the same job as those boys had. Receive the goodness of the Son as we journey to the Father. Love the brethren. It's our duty! It's our privilege! It's the Father's joy! Do not quarrel on the way.

On your journey, on your way to the Father, -- and on mine too! -- we must journey with the brethren. Do not quarrel on the way.



No comments: