In this week’s OT lectionary reading, the story of Joseph reaches its climax. In this episode, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Rather than seeking revenge, Joseph offers mercy. Rather than casting them out, like they did to him, Joseph welcomes his brothers and their families into a place of abundance and provision. What a powerful ending! What a statement of God’s redemptive purposes!
I find it interesting that as good as this conclusion is, the story of Joseph takes place over 13 chapters. Those who formed the book of Genesis thought that the details of the story were important. The rises and falls of Joseph’s fortunes, along with some of the people involved, were also included. In some sense, without the details of the individual episodes, we would miss the depth of meaning the story offers us.
How we narrate history matters. Typically we hit the “high points” in order to cover a lot of ground quickly. However, what constitutes “high points” is based on the perspective of the narrator. Both the lack of details and a limited perspective skews the unfolding of God’s gracious activity. To say the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 is true, but it does not account for all the people who invested themselves, at great sacrifice and even unto death, into the movement that led to this historic legislation. Of course, we also discovered that legislation does not necessarily change action and intentions. Ever since this bill was passed, others have worked tirelessly to ensure that both the letter and the spirit of the law would be fulfilled.
Personally, I am grateful for Black History Month. I have been blessed by the multitude of stories of persons I had not previously known, but who have impacted the world in which I live. I am thankful for other times when other stories are shared that remind me of the rich tapestry of people who have shaped history and culture.
It seems to me, as Christian leaders, part of our work is to share not only the major advances of Kingdom work, but also to flesh out the details – to share stories of faithful individuals. This is true for persons who may have full Wiki pages and others who may never make the list. Each story is a reminder of how God’s grace blesses, empowers and enriches the witness of individual lives. While some people may have sensed they were at a hinge point in history, others were surprised that their simple acts of faithfulness were amplified by God to make an impact greater than their intentions. Such stories are a reminder that all of us can be agents and catalysts for God’s good work on planet earth.
One other point is important to mention. History is best when it is understood in a broad perspective. Despite the Bible being for specific communities tied to Abraham and Sarah (both Jewish and Christian), there are a variety of stories that include people outside the community who are both blessed by and bring blessings to the “Children of Abraham.” Our stories must be larger than the dominant community in which we live. Scripture teaches us that God is always at work in the world and works through all people. Sharing that good news brings hope to us all.
If you would like to view past editions of Moments with Mike, follow this link: https://corridordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/