tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025801700827713515.post6504929847429844853..comments2014-09-01T21:54:14.998-04:00Comments on Lifting the Spirit: Experience of a UU Christian: A Wrong Turned RightLaVerne Coanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09689659861818243420noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025801700827713515.post-59231941976814327672009-06-11T10:36:50.222-04:002009-06-11T10:36:50.222-04:00For myself, the story of Joseph is one step in th...For myself, the story of Joseph is one step in the realization of God's divine plan. It is necessary to place the Israelites in Egypt to set up the Exodus. Many scholars believe the story of Joseph was written in the time of Solomon when "God's" wisdom was valued highly. People were interested in addressing the difference between accepted justice and divine justice. It was intended to show how God works through people, who typically prove to be stubborn, disobedient, shortsighted and even unscrupulous to bring his plan to fullness. That is not to say we are puppets in his program but that if we need to remain faithful that God will overcome even in the most challenging situations. It also shows that God is not restricted by social custom of what is considered right and wrong, such as birth rite, or excepted laws for retribution. Even as the brothers try to make up for their own past wrong to save Benjamin Joseph demonstrates divine wisdom, that revenge for an act from the past will not makeup for the presumed wrong done now. Joseph wants "only the one who has presumably wrong him now" God is not vengeful, he does not hold a grudge but abounds in forgiveness. I must also learn to let go of passed wrongs in the realization that just as God has already forgiven and moved on so must I. God has already worked to make good come out of past injustice so I must not hang on to my bad feelings but look for the good that has resurrected from the wrong. Another thing that strikes me about Joseph's story is the showing of his human emotion. His love for his brothers and father was overwhelming to him. It was these emotions that he choose to let rule his decision making instead of focusing on the wrongs that were done to him. Like Joseph, I see God is similar emotional struggles. If I believe God is father to all, and I do, than I can not avoid to think of the pain he must feel when some of his children are destroying other of his children. In our world he would be justified to destroy us all but luckily for us his divine wisdom is deeper than ours.lyndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08270385268598711913noreply@blogger.com