There are certainly a number of great lessons and examples and warnings to learn from as we listen and read through the story of Joseph in Genesis, chapters 37-50. One illustration that stands out to me is the danger of "group think" vs "God think". Joseph seems to be unique among the twelve sons of Jacob. He has an independent and firm faith in God and takes guidance directly from God. His trust is so complete that he seems unafraid of whatever others might do to him and he experiences God's presence and provision whether he is thrown into a well to die, sold into slavery, wrongly imprisoned, or placed in the highest levels of government. He has learned that God is with him. On the other hand, Joseph's 11 brothers seem to move as a mob through life. Rather than looking up for guidance and trust, they seem to depend on each other. This leads to schemes, rumors, sinful errors and a lack of peace. Whether they are deciding together to dispose of Joseph and lie to their father, or earlier when they decided to wipe out all the men of a village for the sin of one man in that village, or even when their father Jacob dies at the end of the story and they still haven't learned to know and trust Joseph....they are characterized by "group think". I think we are challenged to develop a personal relationship with the living God, as Joseph had. The group thinks that its collective wisdom is where safety is found, but the group is like a herd of lost sheep that is bound to run together over a cliff. Joseph knew that even if others threw him off a cliff, his God would never leave him.
Genesis 45:3 "I am Joseph!" he said to his brothers. "Is my father still alive?" But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.4 "Please, come closer," he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, "I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5 But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives."
blessings,
Rob Smith
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