Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 41:39-41

39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

Ultimately, Joseph never even has to make his case to Pharaoh, never has to convince him that he was wrongfully accused and unjustly imprisoned. So far as our record shows, Pharaoh never inquires about what really went down with Potiphar and his wife.

Joseph doesn’t have to prove his innocence because it is self-evident. The man exudes worthiness. Pharaoh has seen that God is present in him, and that means Joseph must be a clean vessel.

And so, just like that, Joseph goes from the lowest of stations, a prisoner in Egypt, to becoming more elevated than any other. With one conversation with Pharaoh, Joseph supplanted every counselor and prince, every man or woman who had spent their entire lives climbing the social ranks and vying for power. It goes beyond belief. Indeed, it even goes beyond what most of us even dare to imagine in our private grandiose fantasies.

And also, just like that, Joseph must have finally understood the hand of the Lord. Now he must have known why his Heavenly Father had not redeemed him from slavery and imprisonment before this moment. Suddenly the great confusing injustice is a sensible and merciful plan.

Posted on by Abe Austin

Service to Others- Matthew 5:38-41

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

COMMENTARY

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
Our carnal tendency is to give as we have received. Not to give as we would like to receive, such as the golden rule recommends, but only to give as we have already received. As such, we have no mortal motivation to show a kindness to another unless they have already shown a kindness to us first. The problem with this approach is that then no kind act can ever be performed, as it requires an initiating factor. The whole pattern must be begun by one who does a kindness without reason, having received no kindness of their own. To the carnal mind, this is inconceivable.
What is conceivable, though, is an initiating unkindness, a moment where someone takes advantage of another for their own benefit. This would then start a toxic chain of retaliation unkindness through all humanity, and there could never be an end to the series because it requires a terminating factor. The whole pattern could only be closed by one who receives an unkindness and then, without reason, chooses not to retaliate. To the carnal mind, this is inconceivable.

Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also
So would acting charitably mean giving unfairly and forgiving where it isn’t deserved? Quite frankly, yes. And that is the ultimate ambition. It is just that sort of charity that brought our Savior to lay down his life for us, even though we did not deserve any such kindness. And so charity is a principle in direct contrast to that of an eye for an eye. It is an uncomfortable principle, one that goes against our natural sense of indignation. But it is the only way to ever end a dance of abuse and counterattack, and the only way to ever start a dance of benevolence and generosity.