Nike is a world-renown brand name. It became dominant with its star athlete Michael Jordan. There’s a Netflix documentary “Air” about how Nike originally signed Jordan to the brand. Yet, it is little known or remembered the rest of the story.
In 1984, Jordan donned black and red sneakers in a preseason game. The NBA sent a letter to Nike stating the colors violated league policy and the shoes had to be 51% white, and their athlete would incur a $5K per game fine. Nike could have caved. Instead, they showed resiliency and embraced the challenge. They paid each fine, but what looked like a debt or punishment actually became a strategy of investment. The fines only drew attention to the shoe brand and publicly marketed the shoe more than Nike could do on their own.
Even lesser known is 3-years later Jordan’s contract was up for renegotiation with whispers Jordan was considering other shoe brands.[1] Nike tasked Tinker Hatfield Jr to design the next Jordan shoe to win his contract. Hatfield was panic-stricken. By training, Hatfield was an architect. He understood that he could not design a house without knowing the people who will live there. Hatfield applied this same principle to designing Jordan’s next shoe. He spent several weeks listening and asking questions of Jordan. He researched Jordan’s young basketball career. When the advertisement pitch meeting arrived, Jordan was still on the golf course. Nike was nervous and thought Jordan was disinterested. When Jordan finally arrived, instead of a sales pitch, Hatfield started the meeting asking Jordan what he would want in a shoe. M.J. reiterated his preferences that he had shared at various times with Hatfield previously. Then, Hatfield went to the table and pulled a sheet cover off a shoe. The shoe matched M.J.’s description with a less restrictive mid-top and smooth suede lining the leather. But the new signature look was the Nike swoosh moved to the back of shoe and in its place was a silhouette of Jordan performing his signature dunk. Hatfield had done his research, empathized with the client, which enabled him to set a strategy to satisfy his Nike boss Phil Knight, but more importantly Michael Jordan. Today, the Air Jordan brand has an estimated value of $10 billion.
Joseph is part of a family of 11 other brothers by 4 different mothers.
Joseph’s father Jacob played favorites.
Joseph’s brothers despised him since he was favorite. They got rid of Joseph, thinking he was dead.
Yet, the Lord was with Joseph. God orchestrated circumstances that providentially positioned Joseph from a pit to Potiphar’s palace, then to prison and then the highest oversight next to the Egyptian Pharaoh.
With God’s help, Joseph foresaw 7 years of abundance and 7 years of famine. So, Egypt stored food and funds and was a source of hope and refuge for an entire region. Joseph was responsible for the nation.
Thus, when Hebrew brothers approach Egypt looking for food, Joseph must protect his nation. Yet, he also recognizes they are HIS brothers, and there’s an opportunity not only for reconciliation, but to fulfill God’s plan. Joseph’s dreams as a teen make sense in light of his position as an adult.
*SO, we learn from Joseph’s life with hindsight, and going beyond a horizontal obsession, to discerning a vertical perspective – not just for Joseph, but ourselves.
gave these instructions to the steward of his house: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man’s silver in the mouth of his sack.
Joseph still has not revealed his identity to the brothers. After full bellies from an elaborate meal and foggy thinking with merry drink (43:34), Joseph sends them home with the sacks of grain they requested. Plus, he returns their money – again – to reflect both his graciousness and desire for them to return for a strategized reconciliation. [BUT…]
2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” And he did as Joseph said.
Joseph’s strategy is to once again test the brothers. The first test of imprisoning Simeon achieved the purpose of retrieving Benjamin. But now Joseph’s plan is finalizing toward the larger vision.
We have to remind ourselves that we’re reading successive chapters. Yet, the course of events has happened over decades between the brothers and Joseph, and now over several months with Joseph safeguarding himself and his nation, but also strategizing reconciliation with his family.
3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? 5 Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’ ”
Joseph’s cup is special: 1) it’s silver, so it’s costly, 2) the Hebrew term “cup” is unique and distinguished from a common drinking cup; it more like a large chalice.[2] Egyptian culture practiced divination, but this was sinful according to God’s commands (Dt. 18:9-14). We know Joseph disavows divination and only affirms revelation from God (Gen 41:16). So, it’s likely the many Egyptian servants merely believed Joseph practiced divination. But notice that Joseph instructs the servants to make this claim about himself, which indicates Joseph’s strategy has positive motivation but deceptive intention.
There’s a saying, “Hurt people, hurt other people.” Further, Joseph is setting up Benjamin for guilt, fear, and shame for multiple accusations and crimes he hasn’t committed! How dreadful for Benjamin and essentially coldhearted for Joseph! So, we finally see a cavity in Joseph’s character. While he’s dealt with some of the pain, it is obvious a wound was re-opened for Joseph. And 3) the cup is personal to Joseph and the brothers likely saw him using it at the previous dinner and would know they were in trouble with the Egyptian leader.
6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.”
Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!Apparently, the brothers have forgotten about their own character. Surely, they must know each of them are tempted toward fraud, theft, violence, or worse. Instead, they make a vow they are hoping they don’t have to uphold.
Prov 17:18; 20:25 “One who lacks sense gives a [hasty] pledge… It’s a snare to rashly make a vow”
10 “Very well, then,” he said, “let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”
11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
All thought: “Not Benji!” He’s supposed to be a good son. Further, the brothers have been trying to make amends and live differently. They promised their father, Jacob, they’d all return home with Benjamin. /// But flight delayed; object on runway; plans are changed!
13 At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. 14 Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”
There’s Joseph again, speaking rashly himself and behaving foolishly by lying about divination instead of relying on God to make his point. Sometimes we act in ways that we don’t understand ourselves, and God is far removed from our lips or mindset (cf Rom 7:14-25).
16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”
Uno card reverse. Now Judah steps up his faith and speaks with composure and faith conviction. And stepping back from the scene, Judah likely speaks more truth than he realizes: God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. Judah realizes self-justification is empty.
*Illus: self-justification with police officer… or take ownership w/o excuses
17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”
Remember, Joseph strategized whose backpack received the cup. He knows!
18 Then Judah
This portion is a speech/dialogue from Judah; the longest in Genesis, which is significant. The key figures in Genesis: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph… but the author wants us to add Judah as a prominent person of interest, even though he’s a minor character in the book. And the reasoning is glorious to our NT eyes… [hold that thought!] *Also, FYI: Judah’s speech is a worthy study for advocacy and defense lawyers… **Essentially, Judah is replaying history with Joseph
Judah went up to Joseph and said: “Please, my lord [Joseph], let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.” 19 My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ 20 And we answered, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
Joseph hears about his father and then hears his own eulogy. /// How many would want to hear now what will be said at your funeral? /// They say ”Benjamin’s brother is dead.” Yet, “though dead, he still speaks.”[3]
21 “Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.’ 22 And we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’ 23 But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ 24 When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. 25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’ 26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 “Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
Wait, 2 sons? Weren’t there 12 sons? Yes, but remember Jacob’s favoritism? Judah, on behalf of the brothers, is also replaying their hurt, bitterness, and grief with “father wounds / daddy issues” due to Jacob’s dysfunctional parenting.
28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’
Judah shares with Joseph what his father heard the day he was ill treated and sold away from the family – that he was “torn to pieces.” It’s been multiple decades, and the brothers are allowing the lie to linger – – though we see redemptive qualities in Judah & brothers.
30 “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life,
Notice, Judah is able to spot his father’s idolatry. *Parents: God uses our children as “tiny teachers”[4] about life and faith. Gary Thomas says, “Unless we are stone-cold spiritually – [or] virtually spiritual corpses – the journey of caring for, raising, training, and loving children will mark us indelibly and powerfully. We cannot be the same people we once were; we will be forever changed, eternally altered. Spiritually speaking, we need to raise children every bit as much as they need us to raise them.”[5] And another author says, “God doesn’t just send you to do his work in the lives of children; he uses the lives of children to advance his work in you.”[6] In other words, parents, let us not pursue our hopes to vicariously live through our children, or rest our soul in their happiness. Instead, let us view our children as God’s gift to love them and learn from, that we might discover the depths of God’s love for us, and grow in His grace and truth.
“Unless we are stone-cold spiritually – [or] virtually spiritual corpses – the journey of caring for, raising, training, and loving children will mark us indelibly and powerfully. We cannot be the same people we once were; we will be forever changed, eternally altered. Spiritually speaking, we need to raise children every bit as much as they need us to raise them.”
– Gary Thomas, Sacred Parenting
“God doesn’t just send you to do his work in the lives of children; he uses the lives of children to advance his work in you.”
Paul Tripp, Parenting: 12 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
31 if my father sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 32 Your servant [I] guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’ 33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.”
Next 2 weeks:
Resiliency & Reconciliation
Resiliency & Redeeming Loss
APPLY/TAKEAWAYS
Embrace solidarity. The brothers have come a long way in maturity. As typical brothers, they’re filled with competition, jealousy, and rivalry. Their selfishness shifts to anger and violence toward their brother. They disrespect their father with savage lies. They were slothful and immature, not working to help the family find food during a famine and needing the prodding of their father to take action. And through a series of adventures and adversity, God awakens them from a spiritual stupor. They exchange me for we.
They stand before Joseph, not knowing he’s their brother, and they recount their life story embracing solidarity.
Upon their perceived baby brother’s dilemma and danger, they grieve together – collectively tearing their clothes, loading their donkeys to return to the city to defend their brother and plead for mercy. 16 Judah “What can WE say? How can WE prove our innocence?” The brothers show unity instead of division. They’re not leaving Benjamin out to hang on his own, but standing up with authentic compassion and strategic advocacy. Instead of just Joseph showing maturity, the brothers are exercising resilience and responsibility too.
One evidence of Christian faith and spiritual maturity is embracing solidarity with God’s people. As Americans, we cherish independence and individualism. These traits are helpful for physical and national health, but they can also become dangers. Too much independence creates isolation, and too much individualism creates passive consumers rather than contributors toward a shared mission. And spiritually speaking, we approach church similarly only considering what is in it for me: does the music fit my preference; does the sermon entertain me; are there ministries that will serve me – – instead of considering how God might also want you to serve in ministries, or participate in worship and a church family for the good of others.
One evidence of Christian faith and spiritual maturity is embracing solidarity with God’s people through giving our time, talents, and treasures.
Some of the ways we can embrace solidarity are becoming a meaningful church member. Meaningful implies you’re taking responsibility for the whole by giving of your time, talents, and treasure.
Time: Interacting beyond Sundays with phone calls, visits, meals, and meeting needs, along with prayer.
Talents: Initiating serving somewhere. Everyone greets N-E-W-S. Discovering a place and people to serve. — ministry fair 3/30. –Easter Journey.
Treasure: Christians are stewards not owners. God blesses us with income to outgo – to provide for our family, but also to further His kingdom. I want to challenge SPBC members to view their giving as a percentage and not just a token charity donation.
Let us stand firm together in one spirit, with one aim, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, not frightened by anything (Php 1:27-28).
Embrace substitution. Remember earlier I noted the author of Genesis wants to emphasize and include Judah along with the key figures of the book? Why? Because Judah is the first person in Scripture to willingly offer his life as a substitute for the death of another. 33 “Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. Once, Judah with his brothers were selling Joseph into slavery, is now standing up for a brother by placing himself into slavery – or potentially worse. And with our NT understanding, we see how Judah is a shadow of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who became a servant and offered his own life as a death ransom for me/you/us (cf. Mk 10:45). God saves us not by our strength but His substitution: His perfect deeds for our imperfections; His death for our punishment, so that we might have life, abundantly.
Today, will you receive the substitutionary life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?
God’s strategy for our resiliency is a relationship from God Almighty, through Jesus, with the Holy Spirit who saves, sustains, and strengthens us day by day.
[1] Illustration story from Taryn Marie Stejskal, The 5 Practices of Highly Resilient People, pp. 46, ff.
[2] K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 798.
[4] See Gary Thomas, Sacred Parenting, pp.14, ff, along with the whole book. Thomas describes how ancient society undervalued children (cf 1 Cor 14:20), but Jesus frequently taught that we should be like and learn from them (cf Mt 11:25-26; 18:1-9; Mt 21:15-16).
Growing Godly Generations 