The Blame Game

Genesis 45:

From the beginning, man has performed very proficiently in the blame game.  Eve blamed the serpent and Adam blamed Eve and at the writing of this paper, it is rare to find anyone who is willing to take responsibility for his or her actions.  That is why the first eight verses of this chapter are so refreshing, if only you and I would stop and reflect on our lives, we might come to the same conclusion as Joseph.

I cannot fully comprehend all the pain and suffering that Joseph experienced from his brothers actions, it would be easy to hate them, it would be simple to do to them as they have done to you, this could be pay back time.  And in a strange way it was!  Joseph cleared the room, with the exception of his brother and told them; I am Joseph, but he was weeping so loud that even Pharaoh’s household heard what he was saying to his brothers.

Now the brothers were blown away and I’m sure, fearful but Joseph told them to, “Come near to me, please.”  No longer is he the ruler, he is now the lost brother, and he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”  What is Joseph saying?  My dear fleshly brothers, you were just tools in the hand of God, and God’s plan was to rescue his people and many others through Joseph.  What is not being said; God did not put jealousy and hate into the brothers hearts, but God who has total control of time, who has numbered your days before one of them has happened, that God was in control.

Picking up the story in verse seven, “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.  He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” 

Why are we so quick to blame others?  Could it be that we do not believe God’s promises?  “For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)  Could it be that we have moved away from a dependent heart and moved to living an independent life, living as if we are in control?  Everywhere we turn the message is, “do it your way,” how is that working for you?  We are told to trust government, but history tells us that government cannot be trusted.  Many are saying put your trust in gold, or real estate, or in the tea party, but the bottom line is; we cannot trust our flesh!  In Galatians 5:16, we are told; “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  When we walk by the Spirit we are trusting in and on God, we are trusting in His promises, we are living like Joseph, dependent on God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice