My Father's Eyes

My Father’s Eyes (Gen 45:23-28)

[Slide: Title Slide]

Prayer:

[Slide: Gen 45:23-28]

23. Joseph also sent his father ten donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other food for his father on his trip back.

24. Then Joseph told his brothers to go. As they were leaving, he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way home.”

25. So the brothers left Egypt and went to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

26. They told him, “Joseph is still alive and is the ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Their father was shocked and did not believe them.

27. But when the brothers told him everything Joseph had said, and when Jacob saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him back to Egypt, he felt better.

28. Israel said, “Now I believe you. My son Joseph is still alive, and I will go and see him before I die.”

[Slide: Edward Walter Fryer]

Illustration: Edward & Eric

Edward Walter Fryer was a Canadian soldier and musician, stationed in England during World War II, there, he met Patricia. From this relationship a son was born, Eric on March 30, 1945, in Ripley, Surrey, England. But as life would have it just like many families coming out of war, the early years of Eric portrayed a family where his father Edward was not present since Edward returned to Canada even before Eric was born.

As a result for much of his early life, Eric grew up believing his grandparents were his parents and that his mother was his older sister. The truth about his parentage was kept from him until he was nine years old, a revelation that left a profound impact on him. Even after learning the truth, Eric had little information about his father.

[Slide: Eric and Mom Patricia]

It wasn’t until much later in life that Eric would begin to learn more about his father Edward Fryer. Fryer was a talented pianist and saxophonist, a trait that Eric inherited and developed in his own right as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Despite his father’s musical background, still, the two never met in person. Fryer had moved on with his life in Canada, where he married and had other children, while Eric pursued his music career in England.

Tragically, Edward Fryer passed away in 1985 from leukemia, just as Eric was beginning to piece together more information about him. Eric was devastated by the news, not just because he lost the chance to meet his father, but also because he had missed out on the opportunity to connect with a man who, unbeknownst to him, had shared his love of music.

The loss of his father without ever meeting him added another layer to Eric’s lifelong struggle with personal demons, which included battles with addiction and a deep sense of abandonment. In his autobiography, Eric writes about the complex emotions surrounding his father’s death, reflecting on the missed opportunities and the unspoken bond they might have shared through music.

Eric’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the key role a bond between a child and their father makes, even if sometimes the painful reality of lives that run parallel and yet never intersect.

Take that story between Eric and his dad Edward as we now linger for a moment in today’s passages found in

[Slide: Coat with many colors]

(Gen 45:23-28)

Point:

Here’s the context that led to this portion of the chapter:

The narrative of Genesis 45 reaches a pivotal moment in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph, who has at this point gone through so many ups and downs and has now risen to a high position of power in Egypt. Impressions many have of Joseph’s roller coaster life though are the lows, where he was tasked to travel alone in the desert to find his brothers so he can bring them food;

[Slide: desert map]

Mind you, there was no GPS during that time, and no hybrid transportation or electric bikes. It’s like, his dad saying, go into the desert and find your brother's mission. And by the way, good luck finding them.

Then when he found his brothers they hurt him, they threw him in a pit, tore his clothes, soaked it in animal blood, declared him dead to his own family, and then sold him into slavery, by his own brothers.

[Slide: torn]

Maybe someone here today is in a moment of their life where their coat of safety has been ripped off of them. Where they have taken advantage of you. They take your food, your money, your hospitality, your kindness, your generosity, and then tear you apart.

[Slide: dark pit]

Maybe someone here today has been thrown in a deep pit at work. Where the person's ego at work, their mistakes, their carelessness and lack of accountability has been dumped on to you and the blame is on you, leaving you in a deep pit, dark and alone.