Scripture
After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers said to each other, “What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?”
~Genesis 50:15, CEV
Quote
Theologically speaking, insecurity is a deficiency of assurance.
~Ya’akov
When Adam and Eve transgressed in the garden, immediately they became insecure. They lost their confidence to approach or to be near God. In fear, they tried to hid, not only their sin, but themselves. This curse has been transferred genetically to every person since. I am insecure–you are insecure–we are all insecure. The question is–how are we going to deal with our insecurity? Joseph’s brothers were pathological liars. Jacob didn’t trust them and he was their father. Jacob had twelves sons but only one with character and that was Joseph. Jacob had no reason to doubt Joseph but every reason to doubt his older brothers. One of the fruits of insecurity is lying. Insecure people believe that lies protect them and you and I are not going to change the way they think. They hid themselves in a prison of lies. After Jacob died, the ten outlaw brothers conjure up another lie. They send a message to Joseph reading:
Before our father died, he told us, “You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you.” Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.
First of all, we don’t have a record of Jacob making this statement. Personally, I think it was fabricated due to their deep insecurity. They used Jacob’s name because they knew Joseph had great love and admiration for his father. They had been living in Egypt for seventeen years and Joseph had never said or done anything to lead them to believe he would become violent or vengeful after his father was gone. This indicates a problem: insecurity projects. Insecure people always assume that others are like them. These boys would have gotten even with anyone who treated them the way they treated Joseph so they assumed Joseph would react the same but Joseph was nothing like his brothers. His fearful brothers are asking themselves, “Why does Joseph love us? Why would he forgive us?” They could not understand Joseph’s kindness. At least these hoodlums had come to realize their own unworthiness. They knew they had no integrity and Joseph was the exact opposite, he was a man of noble character and impeccable integrity. The truth helps us understand things more clearly: Joseph was a good and God fearing man who choose to forgive on the basis of his own good will. His forgiveness had nothing to do with their worthiness: he knew, better than anyone, what they were.
I am rambling a bit but here is the point: WHY WOULD JESUS LOVE ME? Comparatively speaking, there is a greater gap between my integrity, or lack there of, and Jesus integrity than there was between Joseph and his sorry brothers. What can I do to earn this forgiveness? How can I do away with this infinite breach between Christ holiness and my sinfulness? I can’t; there is nothing I can do. I have to accept the truth: Jesus loves me because He choose to love me. It has nothing to do with my character or performance and everything to do with His character and performance. I am saved by His grace and His grace alone. I believe He loves me because He said He loved me. I have His word or promise. I can’t do anything to make Him love me more than He already loves me. His loving me is based on His sovereign choice, not my effort to please Him. I never understood this truth until I read the CEV and the book of Genesis some 20 years or so ago. This insight changed my life completely. There is hope for the insecure but that hope is in Christ. His love for me gives me confidence.
I don’t think it got as cold as they were predicting, PTL. There was no ice when I walked out this morning and I am thankful. Big Mama get her staples out today and she is pumped. She will get to drive herself to Krogers. She’s already informed me that I am coming home after the Doctor’s appointment and she is going back to Krogers. Well, hallelujah, I have no problem with that whatsoever.
I have not gotten anything done lately due to sickness [hospital visitation] and basketball tournaments. I hope to get some trim work done in the house this evening so we can get our garage back. We’ve been forced to use the front door for two weeks due to the furniture in the garage. May the LORD give me energy. Hey, that is a big issue at my age.
Lilly’s bone marrow transplant was successful. They encountered one problem but managed to work through it. I think the next three weeks will be critical so keep praying for these kids at St. Jude’s [Kooper and Lilly].
God bless you, have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.