Our Lost Brother

In Genesis 42, we read the unfolding of a great drama. Joseph hated by his brothers is sold into Egyptian slavery. You know the story. Several events occur that place Joseph in power. Now he is managing all the resources of Egypt in order to enable the nation to survive a sweeping famine. Twenty years later the same brothers who sold him as a slave come begging and pleading for food. Nothing new. Familiar. Typical Sunday School material. But I noticed something I have never really paid attention to before. Notice in Genesis 42:7-8 that the Word says that although Joseph recognized his brothers the brothers did not recognize him. In other words, they made requests to a man they did not know. They asked a man they did not know to give them what they needed to stay alive. There was no glimmer of recognition in their eyes. They never guessed that Joseph was their long lost brother. Joseph was simply an avenue to get what they needed to survive.

I wonder how many times we approach the One who manages all the resources of the universe to beg for life giving sustenance, supplies, favor, and goods and yet we don’t know Him. He recognizes us and, like Joseph, responds with mercy and grace. However, we don’t know Him. We know what He can do for us, but we don’t really know Him. We bow before Him to plead for things. He has become nothing more than our supply officer, loan officer, or welfare agent. I know He wants us to ask. However, I think it is time that before we ask we look into His face and recognize Him. Get to know Him and then make your requests. Spend some time at His feet, but rather than going through the prayer list above, stop and gaze deeply into His eyes and recognize Him. He is our elder brother. Punished for and by us, now elevated and kingly. Do you know Him? Does He look familiar to you? He desires to bless us but I believe His greatest desire is to be known by us! The account in Genesis teaches us that the greatest blessings always follow recognition. After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers they received more than enough to survive. They were given more than they ever dreamed. Would our Brother do any less?

Prostituted Praise

It is one of the seediest stories in the Old Testament. It is one of those portions that we like to overlook. We travel past this account like it belongs in the grocery store aisle next to the cheap, risqué romance novels. Eyes diverted. Head ducked. Slight blush on our face. Almost red faced, let’s take a quick stroll back to Genesis 38. Judah chooses a wife for his oldest son, Er. Tamar and Er are married. But Er is so wicked that God kills him. Onan, Judah’s next son, also displeases God and is slain. So Judah tells Tamar to go back to her father’s house and remain a widow until his youngest son, Shelah, grows up and takes Tamar as his wife. But Judah fails to keep his word. Shelah grows up, but Judah doesn’t send him to join Tamar.

Tamar receives word that Judah has lied to her and that he is in the neighborhood, so she dresses as a prostitute and covers her face with a veil. Judah approaches Tamar, not knowing it was his daughter-in-law, and propositions her. Tamar asks what payment she will receive for their time together. Judah responds that he will give her a lamb from his flock. Tamar asks for a pledge or something to hold as collateral until he delivers what he has promised. Judah agrees to these terms and gives Tamar his signet ring, bracelets, and his staff. Then, being driven by lust, Judah takes Tamar and sleeps with her. Tamar leaves Judah and soon discovers she is pregnant by her father-in-law. Judah has a brief encounter that basically meets his needs and makes him feel better. This red light district account is certainly not one of the finer moments in the history of God’s people; however, this incident teaches us a powerful lesson about worship.

As you know, Judah’s name means praise. In this account we see praise, Judah, driven by his own needs, wants, and desires. He is only concerned about doing what makes him feel good. Therefore, praise becomes prostituted. Judah’s pledge to Tamar reveals what happens when praise is prostituted. He leaves behind his ring, bracelet, and staff. The ring represents Judah’s authority. This was the ring that would be used to seal orders and messages. His bracelet and staff represent his identity because these items told those around him who he was and to which tribe he belonged.

We must learn that worship is not about us. When the focus of praise is no longer God, but our own comfort, goose bumps, dance, and excitement, we make the same choice that Judah made. When praise revolves around our needs and we only worship because it makes us feel good, then our praise becomes prostituted. We leave our brief encounter feeling satisfied and excited, but receive the same results as Judah. We leave church week after week losing our authority and identity. It is time for Christians to leave behind the red light district and reclaim our rings, bracelets, and staffs. As we worship in spirit and in truth we will once again have authority and a keen sense of who we are and to whom we belong.