(Preached 2 Sundays After "911.")
INTRODUCTION
"Why are your faces so sad today?" The events of and since September 11 have had varying affects on all Americans. Most have been moved with a patriotic zeal that just a few years and weeks ago was thought not to be in vogue. The supply of American flags has not kept up with the demand for their purchase. Sporting events include not only the "National Anthem" but also songs like "God Bless America," "God Bless The USA," and many other songs that affirm love for our country and hope in our God. Even aging Pat Boone is re-releasing an old album of patriotic music.
Football teams have prayed with the opposing teams after the games. Some schools have even allowed students to have times of prayer in their classrooms… Our country has observed moments and days of prayer…
Some citizens who have hated President George W. Bush, at least for now, are overwhelmingly tilting the political polls in his favor. There appears to be a new found unity in our great land. I was happily surprised when I noticed this week that one of our area’s liberal newspapers had, next to a red, white and blue American flag, next to the front page headlines, the words "God Bless America."
There has been an outpouring of sympathy for the victims and families of those harmed by the terrorist attacks on our land. Never before have so many volunteered to donate blood. Relief agencies have been recipients of millions of dollars in cash and goods to help those devastated by the cruelty of September eleven’s horrific acts. Millions of dollars have been raised with heartfelt sympathy for victims and their families.
Saturday’s newspaper had an extensive article about pacifist churches and denominations and their reactions to terrorism. Some pacifists say that they may serve as medics or firefighters. They love and want to help our country, but they will not fight. In past wars they have done heroic service for America.
As with all wars in American’s history, a minority of Americans, both religious and non religious, are saying we should talk and not fight with the terrorists. "Terrorists:" A word that some of the media will not call these murderers of over 3,000 Americans and citizens from many other lands: People who were innocent victims of a "holy war" of hate declared upon "Americans and Jews" as stated by Osama bin Laden and his fellow disciples of hatred. Ecclesiastes 3:8 reminds us that there is, "a time for war and a time for peace." Jesus reminds the soldier to be a good soldier…And at times soldiers have to kill... But a good soldier acts with justice and with mercy. We need to pray for the men and women from our congregation who serve in today’s military.
Not every American’s words and actions have brought unity. Some hate filled and prejudiced citizens have attacked people whom they thought to be Muslim, Arab or of Mid-Eastern heritage. Some mosques have been the target of vandals seeking revenge.
Schools, businesses and even television programs have employed grief counselors to help students, employees and other hurting Americans to understand, feel and verbalize their grief. After the shock of that Tuesday’s events, all of us have had to deal with all types of emotions. Shock, anger, depression, denial, grief, hatred, fear… So many American’s hearts and faces are sad.
Last Sunday, as I lead the morning worship service, I NOTICED that many of you in the congregation, instead of the usual joy that you usually express at the worship of God, had looks of tiredness and sadness on your faces. We were just beginning to realize the horror of this tragedy and to NOTICE that just maybe, America would never be quite the same. We asked, "Will I ever feel safe again?"
This week we have seen news accounts of more funerals and memorial services and heard tales of the gruesome Ground Zero, Pentagon, and Shanksville piles of rubble and bodies. The stock market is on a roller coaster.(Biggest drops in history…) We read of job layoffs and bankruptcies and we ask, "will I be the next to be downsized?" This week, as I prayed for you, my congregation, and for my country, I could not help but wonder the atmosphere that today’s service would present.
As I planned for this morning’s service I was reminded of Joseph’s ancient words to the then King of Egypt’s imprisoned Chief Baker and Chief Cupbearer, "Why are your faces so sad today.?"
Let us look at Joseph’s story and words for a while today and see if after observing Joseph we can leave this worship service with new hope, stronger faith, and courage to face what ever evil Satan sends our way. By the way, please NOTICE my use of the word "NOTICE" as we review the story.
I. JOSEPH CHOSE TO SERVE GOD EVEN THOUGH LIFE HAD TREATED HIM CRUELLY.
Almost all Sunday School children know the Bible story of "Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors."(Or "long-flowing coat") Let us quickly review.(Genesis Chapters 37 and 39 to 50) Joseph’s father whose name was Jacob, appeared to love Joseph more than his son’s eleven other brothers. He showed it by giving Joseph a fancy coat. Both Joseph and his brothers NOTICED this favoritism. Joseph, in his immaturity, told his brothers of two dreams that he had where he appeared to be ruling over his eleven siblings They became jealous.
As the jealousy increased, they plotted to kill him and tell their father that "a ferocious animal had devoured him."(37:18-35) One brother, Ruben, said that they should not kill Joseph but throw him into an empty cistern there in the desert. Ruben planned to later rescue him and take him back to Jacob. While they ate their lunch a caravan of Ishmaelites, who were headed for Egypt, appeared on the scene. Motivated by jealousy and greed, the other ten brothers agreed to sell him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. The Ishmaelites took him to Egypt and sold him as a slave to "Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard."(39:1)
The Lord blessed Joseph, even in his slavery and separation from his father. Joseph did his best and Potiphar NOTICED. Potiphar "put him in charge of his household."(39:2-6) Potiphar’s wife, Mrs. Potiphar, NOTICED that "Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ’Come to bed with me!’"(39:6-7) Day after day she tempted him to commit adultery. Day after day he refused. Joseph the slave, surely NOTICED and was tempted by her offers. He could have given into the temptation that life had treated him unfairly and that he deserved some sensual pleasures at the expense of his captor. One day Mrs. Potiphar went too far and tried to remove his clothing: And when Joseph fled from her grasp, she tore his cloak from his body and screamed that Joseph was trying to rape her.
Potiphar believed his wife’s lie, and in anger, had Joseph cast into the prison where "the king’s prisoners were confined."(39:19-20)
How would you and I react in a similar situation? Let us NOTICE a second part of Joseph’s story. How are we reacting to the events the terrorists have set in motion?
II. JOSEPH CARED FOR OTHERS EVEN THOUGH GOD ALLOWED HIM TO REMAIN IN UNJUST AND UNPLEASANT SITUATIONS.
Joseph could have become absorbed in self-pity while in prison. He could have been angry, depressed, combative, hateful, non-cooperative, self-centered and angry at God because of the major injustices he was enduring. Instead, while in prison Joseph did his best and the Lord blessed him and the Prison Warden NOTICED.
The warden made Joseph "responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did."(39:20-21)
The special job did not make Joseph proud and self-absorbed. One day he NOTICED that the King’s Chief Cupbearer and Chief Baker were "dejected"(40:6) and he asked them the question I asked earlier, "Why are your faces so sad today?"(40:7) They told him of dreams that they had experienced. Joseph interpreted their dreams. The Chief Baker was to be hanged by the King and the Chief Cupbearer was to be restored to his former position. The Baker left the prison dead. The Cupbearer left the prison a free man. Joseph remained in jail. Let us notice a third installment of this story.
III. JOSEPH CHOSE TO ALWAYS KEEP HIS FAITH IN GOD.
During World War II, Corrie Ten Boom, in her book THE HIDING PLACE, a story about her imprisonment by the Nazis in a concentration camp, wrote, "There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still." Joseph had been in some deep pits. He did his best, but was forced to stay in places where he could have given up on his God.
Pharaoh had some disturbing dreams. No one could interpret them until one day, God caused the Chief Cupbearer to NOTICE that he had done Joseph a grave injustice by forgetting the imprisoned Joseph.
Joseph was brought from prison and interpreted the Pharoah’s dreams. He told him that seven years of plenty would be followed by seven years of famine.
Pharaoh NOTICED the "spirit of God"(41:38) in Joseph and his God-given plan to save Egypt from starvation. Again God blessed the slave Joseph. "Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command… he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt."(41:41-45) Plenty and then famine came: And I am sure by now that you have NOTICED that at age 30, after 13 years of captivity, Joseph was still a slave in a foreign country. Even though he had good clothes, jewelry, a limousine, and a powerful position., he was still not a free man. During the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine, at age 47, he was still a slave and separated from his father…
Have you NOTICED or anticipated where I am going?
CONCLUSION
You already know… God NOTICED the injustice that Joseph had to endure. He knew all along and He had helped a faithful Joseph. He blessed him and God, through Joseph, saved Egypt from starvation and saved the lives of Joseph’s father Jacob and Joseph’s brothers and families. The story of Joseph is one more picture or story in God’s plan of salvation. God used Abraham’s, Isaac’s, Jacob’s and Joseph’s families, the Children of Israel, to bring us the Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth. One who was also treated unjustly. One who NOTICED our sins and carried them to the cross of Calvary. One who died and arose to provide salvation from our sins. Believe on Jesus, no matter what your condition, and He will save you. He will give you grace to live. He loves you.
When we remember the events of this September and we are tempted to become sad of face and of heart, when we think about what evils and calamity the future may hold for us and for America, we must remember Joseph. We must remember the One who will walk with us through the "valley of the shadow of death," and we will "fear no evil."(Psalm 23) "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also (will) rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."(Romans 5:2-5)
The world is looking for help and for hope. They will NOTICE our active faith. They will see, as Pharaoh said, "the spirit of God"(41:38) at work in our lives. With God’s help we can take Jesus and joy to a sin-saddened world.
Always remember that God NOTICES and is recording what we do. Remember that just as He blessed Joseph, He will bless His Christian children with the blessings that we need.
