Louise Gevers
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.” Genesis 37:3, NIV
Even patriarchs make mistakes. Have you ever reflected on families in Biblical times, and wondered about their daily life? What was it like to mostly walk everywhere, or ride a donkey if going on a journey; and who would run errands, or bring back pizzas?
Families tended to stay together in mutual support. The psalmist writes: “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” (Psalm 127:4-5a)
Jacob was certainly blessed with a full quiver, but life was messy. Sometimes, we think families held together better then, but in fact it was complicated having different children from different wives, plus the wives, themselves, all living together. Undoubtedly, the potential for drama always lurked.
In any family, daily, there’s the risk of sibling rivalry and squabbles flaring up in minutes, and frustration with parents who "don’t understand." This was no different for Jacob and his twelve sons; but in Jacob’s case, another problem emerged – favouritism – evoking jealousy, and animosity, which caused grief, and guilt, in them all. Our verse has already alerted us to Jacob unwisely making Joseph the apple of his eye.
Joseph had already become unpopular with his brothers when “he brought their father a bad report about them” (Genesis 37:2) but when Jacob presented Joseph with an elaborate, colourful coat, it enraged his other sons. The result was that when “his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.” (Genesis 37:4)
By putting Joseph in charge to check on them, Jacob compounded this hurt; and Joseph, immature and proud, incensed them by telling them all about dreams he’d had in which the whole family bowed down to him. This made even “his father rebuked him and said, '... Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?’” (Genesis 37:10)
As we know, they actually did, in Egypt, years later, where Joseph was second-in-command to Pharaoh, and after much turmoil, anger and fear. Plotting to kill Joseph, then selling him as a slave, and lying to their father about it, took its toll. Grief for Joseph hung over the family, and guilt consumed the brothers. Jacob paid dearly for idolising Joseph, and the brothers for treating Joseph ruthlessly. Joseph suffered too; firstly, sold as a slave, and then, unjustly, for long years in a foreign prison; but God had His hand on him throughout.
God redeemed the situation.
Joseph rose from prison to power, and was able to save Egypt, and his family, from starvation. And, able to see God’s bigger picture, that “it was to save lives that God sent [him] ahead of [them] … to save [their] lives by a great deliverance”, (Genesis 45:5,7) Joseph forgave his brothers and provided for them, and his father. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)
Prayer: Dearest Father, family life is seldom easy because we are sinful human beings, but You are love. Thank you for Your grace that enables us to love one another through all circumstances and forgive the wrongs against us. Amen
Louise Gevers
Van al sy seuns was Israel die liefste vir Josef, die seun wat in sy ouderdom gebore is, en daarom het hy vir Josef lang klere met moue gemaak. Genesis 37:3, 1983-vertaling
Selfs aartsvaders maak foute. Het jy al ooit nagedink oor families en hulle daaglikse lewe in bybelse tye? Hoe was dit om hoofsaaklik oral heen te moes stap, of wanneer jy op reis gaan, op 'n donkie te ry? Wie moes boodskappe gaan aflewer of pizzas huis toe bring?
Families het gewoonlik saam gebly en mekaar ondersteun. Die psalmdigter skryf: "Soos pyle in die hand van 'n krygsman, so is seuns wat gebore is toe hulle vader nog jonk was. Dit gaan goed met die man wat sy pylkoker so gevul het! (Psalm 127:4-5a)
Jakob was definitief geseën met 'n vol pylkoker, maar die lewe was deurmekaar. Soms dink ons dit was vir families in daardie tye makliker om bymekaar te bly, maar inderwaarheid was dit baie gekompliseerd om kinders van verskillende vroue plus nog die vroue almal onder een dak te hê. Ongetwyfeld was daar altyd 'n kans vir familiedrama.
In enige gesin is daar daagliks 'n kans vir wedywering tussen broers en susters en 'n stryery kan binne minute uitbreek. Dan is daar nog die frustrasie met ouers wat "nie verstaan nie". Dit was nie anders vir Jakob en sy twaalf seuns nie. In Jakob se geval, het 'n ander probleem egter kop uitgesteek – voortrekkery – wat jaloesie en afguns laat ontstaan het. Dit het hartseer en skuldgevoelens vir hulle almal tot gevolg gehad. Ons teksvers het ons reeds bewus gemaak van hoe onverstandig Jakob was om Josef die appel van sy oog te maak.
Josef was reeds ongewild onder sy broers toe hy "slegte stories oor [hulle] by hulle pa aangedra [het]" (Genesis 37:2), maar toe Jakob boonop vir Josef 'n lang, kleurvolle kleed gegee het, was sy ander seuns woedend. Die gevolg was dat "toe sy broers sien dat hulle pa vir Josef liewer het as vir enige van hulle, het hulle 'n afkeer van Josef gekry en het hulle niks goeds oor hom gesê nie." (Genesis 37:4)
Deur Josef te stuur om te gaan kyk wat die broers doen, het Jakob hierdie gesindheid vererger en 'n onvolwasse, trotse Josef het hulle weersin in hom groter gemaak deur hulle te vertel van drome wat hy gehad het waar sy hele familie voor hom neerbuig. Selfs "sy pa [het] hom hom berispe en vir hom gesê: “Wat vir 'n soort droom is dit wat jy gehad het? Verbeel jy jou ek en jou ma en jou broers moet voor jou kom buig?” (Genesis 37:10)
Soos ons weet, is dit na baie onrus, woede en vrees, presies wat hulle jare later in Egipte gedoen het waar Josef die farao se tweede in bevel was. Hulle sameswering om hom dood te maak, die uiteindelike verkoop van Josef as 'n slaaf en die leuen wat hulle vir hulle pa daaroor vertel het, het begin om sy tol te eis. Die gesin was hartseer oor Josef en skuldgevoelens het die broers verteer. Jakob het baie duur betaal vir sy voortrekkery van Josef, en sy seuns vir die manier hoe hulle Josef behandel het. Josef het ook swaargekry, eers as slaaf en toe onregverdig vir baie jare in 'n vreemde tronk – maar God se hand het deur dit alles op hom gerus.
God het die situasie herstel.
Josef het uit die tronk na mag beweeg, en hy was in staat om Egipte en sy familie van hongersnood te red. Josef kon God se groter plan sien, en hy het besef dat "God [hom] voor [hulle] uit gestuur [het] om lewens te red...." (Genesis 45:5-7) Josef het sy broers vergewe en vir hulle en sy pa voorsien. "Julle wou my kwaad aandoen, maar God wou daarmee goed doen: Hy het gesorg dat 'n groot volk nou in die lewe gebly het." (Genesis 50:20)
Gebed: Liewe Vader, gesinslewe is selde maklik want ons is sondige mense, maar U is liefde. Dankie vir u genade wat ons in staat stel om mekaar in alle omstandighede lief te hê en te vergewe. Amen
Louise Gevers
I will run in the way of your commandments for you set my heart free. Psalm 119:32, ESV
I was very touched, today, when I switched on the News, to get a glimpse of several Remembrance Day Services that had taken place across the country. Though held in different locations, a unity of spirit prevailed, each displaying the same dignity and decorum, as people dressed in sombre colours, stood silently, listening to the ‘Last Post’ and watching dignitaries laying poppy wreaths with deep solemnity. It was a moving scene: humanity honouring courageous people who had paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend their loved ones against an enemy, and enable them to live free.
Freedom, to the human spirit, is so important because it brings with it the privilege of self-determination and individual growth. The right to live according to one’s own culture and beliefs and pursue happiness, and the ability to choose the best life possible in one’s circumstances, captivates our imaginations.
But freedom is double-edged: it can bring great joy as it enables us to pursue our dreams, and enjoy achieving them, but it can also leave us bored and unfulfilled – like children after the first week of school holidays. To be free without a purpose doesn’t necessarily mean continual happiness; it could even lead to despair. Ironically, freedom with restraints adds the missing link it requires.
It never ceases to amaze me how joyfully freeing it is to live life within a framework of limitations, and embrace the boundaries. It makes us secure to know how to respond in a situation and to know that the limits that are in place are for the common good; and by sticking to the system, it frees you to focus on whatever you’re doing with your life. This applies to everything – who hasn’t watched a rugby game where the spectators don’t all boo any infringement of the rules?
I love our verse today because it expresses beautifully how being grounded in God is liberation. No chains to hold us back – we can run with joy. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free …” says Paul, “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NIV)
When God is our focus, and his commandments are embraced, we connect to His perfect goodness, wisdom, love, and grace which have the power to free us from worldly limitations – “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts” (Psalm 119:45, NIV) – and opens to us the beauty of who God is, and what life in Him makes possible.
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart – they do no wrong but follow his ways.” (Psalm119:1-3, NIV)
What about us? Have we discovered this life-changing irony?
Prayer: Gracious Father, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.” (Psalm 119:89-90, NIV) Thank you that to be grounded in You brings me freedom because You light my path and Your Word is true. “I delight in your commands because I love them.” (Psalm 119:47, NIV) Amen.
Louise Gevers
Die pad van u bevele volg ek geesdriftig, want U verruim my insig. Psalm 119:32, 2020-vertaling
Ek was onlangs diep geraak toe ek Nuus kyk en iets sien van verskeie herdenkingsgeleenthede wat op Wapenstilstanddag oral (veral in Brittanje) plaas gevind het. Alhoewel dit op verskillende plekke gehou is, het daar tog 'n gees van eenheid geheers, by elke geleentheid was dieselfde waardigheid en dekorum te bespeur. Mense, in somber kleredrag, het stil gestaan en luister na die Laaste Taptoe en gekyk hoe hoogwaardigheidsbekleërs plegtig die rooi poppiekranse neerlê. Dit was 'n roerende toneel: die mensdom wat dapperes vereer wat alles opgeoffer het om hulle geliefdes teen die vyand te verdedig en hulle in staat te stel om in vryheid te kan leef.
Vir die menslike gees is vryheid belangrik want daarmee saam kom die voorreg van selfbeskikking en individuele groei. Die reg om volgens jou eie kultuur en oortuigings te leef, geluk na te jaag en die beste lewe moontlik in jou omstandighede te kan kies, gryp ons verbeelding aan.
Vryheid is egter tweeledig: dit kan groot blydskap bring, want dit stel ons in staat om ons drome na te jaag en dit te geniet wanneer hulle waar word, maar dit kan ons ook verveeld en onvervuld laat – soos kinders na die eerste week van die vakansie. Om vry te wees sonder 'n doel beteken nie voortdurende geluk nie; dit kan selfs tot wanhoop lei. Ironies genoeg, vir geluk is beperkings die ontbrekende skakel in vryheid wat benodig word.
Ek staan steeds verstom oor hoe heerlik bevrydend dit is om binne 'n raamwerk met beperkings te leef, en die grense te aanvaar. Dit laat ons veilig voel om te weet hoe om in 'n spesifieke situasie te reageer en te weet dat die beperkings daar is vir gemeenskaplike belang. Deur die stelsel te volg, bevry jy jou om te fokus op wat jy ook al met jou lewe doen. Dit geld vir alles – wie het nog nie na 'n rugbywedstryd gekyk waar die toeskouers nie luidkeels van hulle laat hoor vir enige oortreding van die reëls nie?
Ek hou van vandag se teksvers wat so mooi verduidelik dat om aan God verbonde te wees, is vryheid. Daar is geen kettings wat ons terughou nie – ons kan die pad met geesdrif volg. "Vryheid is waarvoor Christus ons bevry het", sê Paulus. "Staan dan vas, en laat julle nie weer onder 'n juk van slawerny indwing nie!" (Galasiërs 5:1)
Wanneer God ons fokuspunt is en ons sy gebooie onderhou, is ons verbind aan sy volmaakte goedheid, wysheid, liefde en genade wat die krag het om ons van wêreldse beperkings te bevry – " Ek wil in hierdie wye ruimte voortbeweeg, want u opdragte ondersoek ek" (Psalm 119:45) – en ons oë te open vir wie God is en wat 'n lewe in Hom alles moontlik maak.
"Gelukkig is mense wie se lewenspad onberispelik is en wat die wet van die Here volg! Gelukkig is hulle wat hou by sy bepalings, wat Hom met hulle hele hart soek; wat ook nie onreg pleeg nie, maar net sy paaie volg!" (Psalm 119:1-3)
Wat van ons? Het jy al hierdie lewensveranderende ironie ontdek?
Gebed: Genadige Vader, "vir ewig, Here, staan u woord vas in die hemel. Van geslag tot geslag duur u trou; U het die aarde gevestig en dit hou stand." (Psalm 119:89-90) Dankie dat om aan U verbonde te wees, my vry maak want U verlig my pad en u Woord is waar. "Ek vind vreugde in u bevele wat ek liefhet." (Psalm 119:47) Amen