Studies in Genesis

1. Studies in Genesis Presentation 68

2. Appearances Can be Deceptive Gen 47v13-31 Presentation 68

3. Introduction One of the themes that runs through the life histories of both Jacob and Joseph is that ‘appearances can be deceptive’. The work of God and the purposes of God can so easily be misunderstood. We are often quick to criticise God when we do not understand what he is doing or why. The hymn writer rebukes this dullness of vision when he writes: Thrice blest is he to whom is given, the instinct that can tell That God is on the field, when he is most invisible. He hides himself so wondrously, As though there were no God He is least seen when all the powers, Of ill are most abroad Appearances can be deceptive. Presentation 68

4. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Much of this passage is taken up with Joseph's administration during the years of famine in Egypt. The severity of the last stages of the famine is abundantly apparent. The hungry Egyptians began buying grain from Pharaoh's storehouses with money. When their money ran out they exchanged their livestock for grain. When their livestock ran out they sold their land and services to Pharaoh. The situation was not dissimilar to feudal England, where the landowner benefited from the provision made by his serfs. He supplied them with seed which they sowed. At harvest a percentage of the cultivated crop is returned to their liege lord. In the case of the Egyptians a fifth of all they grew went to Pharaoh. Presentation 68

5. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Joseph's behaviour here has been described by some as despotic. One commentator writes, "we cannot escape the conclusion that this whole procedure on Joseph's part cannot be ethically and morally justified." Another writes, "as we read the story images of Hitler and Stalin not to mention Machiavelli come to mind". Another remarks on how little attention is paid to this section of Genesis in the Sunday school materials dealing with the life of Joseph, "This passage is too hot for Christians to handle and their reluctance in dealing with it demonstrates a conspiracy to protect the reputation of one of the Bible's best loved characters". Are these valid criticisms? Presentation 68

6. Joseph’s Provision Criticised One thing to remember, when we read and judge history, do so in its own historical context and without importing a C21st understanding of society and government into earlier historical contexts. The ancient world knew little of free enterprise or even democracy. The feudalism, which Joseph introduced was commonplace in the ancient world. Historical sources indicate that the 1/5 of the produce returned to the landowner was not burdensome by ancient standards, where rents could fluctuate from 1/3 to 3/4 of all that was produced. Presentation 68

7. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Secondly, this famine was brutally severe. Many of us know little of famine. Think of what you have seen on TV in recent years. The pencil thin children from parts of Africa with bloated stomachs, their flesh constantly irritated by flies and little human strength to drive them away. That is famine! People who are faced with life and death are principally concerned with survival and not predominantly with how democratic the government is, which offers them help. To those who are facing death a benevolent dictatorship can seem much more attractive than futile independence. Presentation 68

8. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Many who are presently living in famine conditions would welcome the kind of offer that Joseph made. Nor was the 20% taxation rate on the crop particularly severe. Compare it with what what many developed economies pay in income tax etc. Thirdly let the Egyptian people speak for themselves. Did they think they think they were being ripped off cf. v25 'You have saved our lives. May we find favour in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.' They grateful to Joseph that there was any food available. Joseph is hailed not as despot or dictator but as saviour. Presentation 68

9. Joseph’s Provision Criticised It is easy to criticise Joseph's relief efforts. It is easy to criticise any attempt to alleviate suffering. The Jerusalem church in Acts has been criticised for selling their goods and sharing the proceeds with others, who had come to Jerusalem as Jewish pilgrims, and were subsequently converted. The provision made by the church meant they could stay on in Jerusalem and so benefit from apostolic instruction. Subsequently in years during of famine the Jerusalem church had no monetary reserves to fall back on and so a collection was made for these impoverished saints by the apostle Paul. Critics harshly claim that is the Jerusalem church had not sold their possessions and held ‘all things in common’ Acts 4.32, this relief effort would not have been necessary! Presentation 68

10. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Throughout history the church has faced some criticism for the way in which it has handled aid efforts. 'You mustn't help the starving you must help them help themselves!' The church has recognised the wisdom of this policy and sought to implement it by sinking wells, sending out agriculturists, encouraging land conservation and soil enrichment etc. But immediately they do so they are criticised for being paternalistic by sending foreigners in, ‘nationals could be trained to do these jobs’. When Christian relief agencies endeavoured to use more nationals they were criticised for subscribing to appeasement through tokenism – there will always be criticism. Presentation 68

11. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Those who are most vocal in their criticism generally fail to do anything constructive themselves. It is easy to criticise from a safe distance, without getting your hands dirty, and entering into the heartache of others. At the same time the church and individual Christians have to learn to live with criticism. If we hesitated from helping the suffering for fear of criticism, we will never accomplish anything. Joseph worked with faithfulness and diligence in order to preserve life in the most desperate of circumstances. Perhaps he could have done things differently. But he gave himself to the work and he did what he could. Presentation 68

12. Joseph’s Provision Criticised Wherever God has placed you, to whatever task he has called you, whatever office he has given you or avenue of service he has laid before you, learn to throw yourself into that work without fear of criticism. Do not hang back because history might judge that you could have acted in a different way or done the job in a different manner. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might now! Presentation 68

13. The Prosperity of the Israelites This passage not only describes Joseph's administration but Israel's amazing growth cf v27.... where Abraham's descendants are first called Israelites. 70 persons was all they had to show after 205 years of promised nationhood but the years in Egypt were growth years. Israel flourished during the famine when things were most stringent! The second significant growth spurt is recorded in Ex 1.12, where again harsh conditions did not reduce their numbers but rather increased them. Pharaoh's policy of infanticide in Ex.1.20 far from damaging Israel's growth rate also served to accelerate it! Presentation 68

14. The Prosperity of the Israelites There is an important Biblical principle unfolded here - God's ability to care for his people in a hostile environment. Many can cite all sorts of sociological, geographical, economic, and statistical reasons that argue against church growth. Think of the material produced by the ‘church growth school’ in recent years. Having examined sociological patterns in society, it suggests church structure, strategy, and forms of leadership that are likely to be most successful. But often there is one great omission in their thinking, which is picked up in these verses. God delights to buck the sociological trends and often works despite there being an unfavourable environment for church growth. Presentation 68

15. The Prosperity of the Israelites If you had the opportunity to create the environment for ‘church growth’ in Jacob's day, would you have chosen Egypt, the most spiritually debased and idolatrous land in the ancient world? Would you have chosen a land as densely populated, comparatively speaking, as Egypt was? Surely not! Would you have added to that a period of severe famine followed by a period of cruel bondage? It is very unlikely! And would you have sought out a location, where one day the ruler would order the deaths of male Hebrew children? Undoubtedly not! But God did! Presentation 68

16. The Prosperity of the Israelites The rigours of material deprivation and physical bondage could not thwart God's plan to build a people for himself. God is not the victim of the environment that surrounds his people's lives. We can so easily be persuaded that he is! When some Christians hear of the environments in which some of their fellows are working and seeking to build God’s church a look of pity flirts across their face as they think, “Its madness to work for God in that situation for there is nothing about it that is conducive to church growth. It is expecting too much of God!” Is it? God in his grace often works in such situations and proves all the church growth pundits wrong. Presentation 68

17. The Prosperity of the Israelites In 1950 Communism took over in China Missionaries were obliged to leave behind a church estimated to be around 840,000 in number. Church leaders were imprisoned. Church buildings were closed. Christians were ‘deprogrammed’ and persecuted. Many believed this would mark the end of the church in China. Today Jonathan Choa of the Chinese Church Research Centre reckons there are more than 50 million Christians in China. He writes, “In my opinion the church in China is growing by leaps and bounds because it has suffered for Christ's sake and has learned that suffering is central to Christian maturity and church growth”. Something equally significant is taking place in Iran today. Since the Iranian revolution the church has experienced unprecedented growth. Presentation 68

18. The Prosperity of the Israelites There is a link between suffering and church growth. The church in the West has much in the way of material wealth but so little experience of suffering for Christ. The church in many places is stagnating. Successful churches are deemed to be those, which are holding their own in terms of church membership. Might not the church in the West have to experience suffering before it can make any noticeable growth? Will we be called upon to pay the price of our faith so that it really hurts to be a follower of Jesus? Will we need to become a suffering church in order for God to refine us and make us both effective and fruitful? Presentation 68

19. The Prosperity of the Israelites Now this principle of God blessing in a hostile environment holds good not only for the numerical growth of God's people but also for their spiritual growth. Whether we experience personal attacks, abuse, derision or find ourselves caught up in an environment of suffering, sickness, and bereavement, or if financial insecurity and unemployment take hold of or lives, these things can provide an environment for spiritual growth. Events like these are often sent by God to do a pruning work and make us more fruitful. The scalpel of suffering in God’s caring hand is often used in the operating theatre of God’s grace to produce increased fruitfulness in the lives of his people. Jn 15 Presentation 68

20. The Prosperity of the Israelites Years ago these words were written by Amy Carmichael a missionary working in Southern India, who knew what it meant to suffer for Christ: Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot or side or hand I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascending star Hast thou no scar? Hast thou no wound? Yet I was wounded by the archers spent Leaned me against a tree to die and rent, by ravening beasts that compassed me; I swooned Hast thou no wound? No wound? No scar? Yet as the master shall the servant be, and pierced are the feet that followed me. But thine are whole: Can he have followed far, Who has no wound nor scar? Presentation 68

21. Conclusion Appearances can be deceptive. And when we find ourselves under the knife and experiencing suffering we must remind ourselves of that. God is a surgeon, not a butcher. A butcher gets to work on a carcass in order to satisfy the needs of others and to make some personal profit. A surgeon operates in order to save life and to promote the quality and usefulness of life. Are we able to see God’s hand at work in our sufferings which are often designed strengthen our faith and increase our fruitfulness? Presentation 68