Second Chances

The saga of Joseph’s journey from pit to palace in Genesis is one of the most exquisite accounts in all of scripture. The plot is fascinating and the account is perfectly woven together.

But the story is long, and after Joseph ascends to the Pharaoh’s right hand to take over management of Egypt and save the world from starvation from the famine, I suspect many readers tune out, thinking the “good stuff” is over. One might look at chapters 42 to 50 as the “after thought”—just a long account of Joseph settling his family in Egypt.

The term we use now is “TLDR”—“too long, didn’t read.” We prefer the short memes and sound bites, and a long read just doesn’t hold our attention. Blame social media and Twitter. 

May I urge you—don’t tune out quite yet! How Joseph deals with his brothers from chapter 42 and on might just be the whole point God was driving at since they threw him in the pit in chapter 37!

Because here we learn that God is the God of second chances. Because who doesn’t need a do–over from time to time? This is a lesson of God’s grace we all need to hear.

And we learn that you can forgive someone who has totally messed your life up—because God’s plan is greater. Once again, a lesson we all need to hear.

So, don’t tune out yet. Joseph still has a lot more still to teach us!

Hope you’ve had a marvelous Thanksgiving. As we look at Joseph, let’s remember to give thanks “in all things”—even the hard things—as we lift our prayers to God (Philippians 4:6–7).