Divining the Truth by Actions

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 44 Listen: (4:38), Read: Matthew 5 Listen: (6:03)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 44.11-15

11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13 At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. 14 Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”


“The play’s the thing in which to catch the conscience of the king.” — Act 2, Scene 2 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Reflection: Divining the Truth by Actions

By John Tillman

Divination refers to spiritual practices from diverse religions and sects, that are believed to derive the truth, usually the future, through interaction with “the divine.”

When Joseph said he could find things out by divination, he was being clever.

Among the divination practices of the day were the interpretation of natural phenomena (such as the flight patterns of birds or weather), examining of animal entrails or tea leaves, and interpreting dreams.

Divination was used by Joseph’s family. Laban told Jacob that he used divination to discover God was blessing him because of Jacob. (Genesis 30.27) Joseph’s interpretation of dreams was a God-empowered form of divination. Later, God would ban the Israelites from pursuing knowledge through these methods. (Leviticus 19.26)

It’s possible that Joseph did use the silver cup for divination practices learned in Canaan or Egypt, but that is not what Joseph was talking about. Joseph wasn’t reading tea leaves or entrails at the bottom of a cup. Joseph used the planting of the cup to read what was at the bottom of his brothers’ hearts.

Like Hamlet, Joseph’s theatrics were a play in which to catch the conscience of his brothers. The way Joseph constructed this event suggests that he wanted to know certain things.

First, he wanted to know if his brother, Benjamin, had met a similar fate. He wanted “proof of life” that Benjamin was still living and well. But seeing Benjamin alive wasn’t enough. Joseph needed evidence of changed hearts. Would the brothers abandon Benjamin in hardship or betray him to save their own necks?

Joseph places before them a chance to save their lives by abandoning Benjamin to a false accusation. When Judah offers his own life in place of Benjamin, the test is passed and the play is over. The curtain comes down and tears of reconciliation flow. (Genesis 45.1)

Forgiveness can be one-sided. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers without ever seeing them and we can forgive anyone for anything. Reconciliation, however, often requires steps that reestablish trust.

Joseph’s situation was unique. If you weren’t sold into slavery for decades, don’t go around planting evidence and carrying out elaborate plots. But it is not unreasonable to expect reconciliation to be a structured process that is more robust based on the severity of the offense.

When reconciling with people, trust but verify. Watch for evidence of change. Don’t doubt their intentions, but divine the truth by their actions.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

He said again to the crowds, “ When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it’s going to be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?” — Luke 12.54-56

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Dream On

Did Joseph wonder why a pagan cupbearer’s dream should come true, when his dream, given by the one true God, seemed denied?

Read more: Truth in the Cistern

Joseph and Jeremiah share something else in common other than being held prisoner in a cistern—telling the truth put them there.

Treasure in Our Sacks

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 43 Listen: (5:02), Read: Matthew 4 Listen: (3:09)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 43.11-14; 19-23

11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

19 So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 “We beg your pardon, our lord,” they said, “we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them

Reflection: Treasure in Our Sacks

By John Tillman

The brothers tried to pay for the grain from Egypt. Their silver ended up back in their sacks. When headed back to Egypt for more, they feared a misunderstanding.

Before they left, Jacob helped prepare a special offering of local products and things not commonly available in Egypt. Ever the schemer and diplomat, Jacob hoped these offerings would smooth things over with the harsh-tongued man his sons feared. Little did Jacob know that he had made a gift basket for his own lost son. It is hard to imagine that Joseph did not feel pangs of homesickness when he saw these familiar gifts.

We, at times, come to God as if he is a harsh-tonged bureaucrat with whom we must curry favor. We pack up our purest silver. We throw in our unique, most personal niceties. We put our best foot forward. We come to God with the false belief that we must buy blessings from him and the false pride that we have the means with which to do it.

When we do this we are making several key miscalculations.

We underestimate our need. Our spiritual famine is as destructive as the one that struck Egypt. Like the cows and the corn, our good deeds are eaten up by the horrors of our sins.

We overestimate our offerings. All the resources of Egypt could not outlast the famine. All the resources we can muster will never finish the job of covering our sins.

We underestimate God’s love. Just as Jacob had no idea of the deep love that Joseph bore toward him and his family, we do not fully comprehend God’s love for us. We have misidentified him as a harsh and vengeful ruler.

We underestimate God’s generosity. Like Joseph, Jesus doesn’t accept our payments, he suffered and made our payment in full. Not only that, he will give us more than we asked for. Rather than just a few bites to survive on, he will see us planted and flourishing in the best part of the land.

Focusing on the cross and seeing what Christ gave up for us is the best way to keep the depths of God’s love in mind. May we remember that we have no righteousness to bring, but in mercy, God will give us righteousness, like treasure in our sacks.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. — Psalm 119.174

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Truth in the Cistern

Joseph and Jeremiah share something else in common other than being held prisoner in a cistern—telling the truth put them there.

Read more: The Undeserved Banquet of the Gospel

We, the undeserving, motley, scandalous louts that we are, find ourselves with our feet under Christ’s table. Christ invites all to the banquet.

Dream On

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 40 Listen: (2:59), Read: Matthew 1 Listen: (3:29)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Genesis 41 Listen: (7:30), Read: Matthew 2 Listen: (3:18)
Read: Genesis 42 Listen: (5:08), Read: Matthew 3 Listen: (2:17)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 40.7-8, 23

7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Reflection: Dream On

By John Tillman

From favorite to outcast. From a son treated like a prince to a slave treated like a criminal. From dream teller to dream interpreter.

The ups and downs of Joseph’s life sound exciting in a story but would be awful to live through.

Joseph was rejected, abused, and nearly killed for his dreams. After his brothers’ attack, the muck of the cistern, the shame of enslavement, the shock of sexual abuse, the scandal of false accusation and being imprisoned for something he did not do, he must have been questioning his and his family’s interpretation of his dreams.

Instead of the Sun, Moon, and stars bowing to him, Joseph is imprisoned. Instead of being the dreamer, he hears others’ dreams. Instead of sharing dreams that make others jealous, he hears others’ dreams and wishes for a similar outcome.

I’ve often wondered if interpreting the dreams of the prisoners was a flash of hope for Joseph or a mark of despair.

Was it exciting to use his skills? Or, was it a painful reminder of his apparent failure? Did it boost confidence that God would fulfill his dreams? Or did he wonder why these men’s dreams should be fulfilled within days while he waited years? Did he see them as encouragement from God? Or did he wonder why a pagan cupbearer’s dream should come true, when his dream, given by the one true God, seemed denied?

The repetition in the last verse of this chapter, I think, hints at Joseph’s mood. “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” (Genesis 40.23) Repeatedly, Joseph’s hopes were dashed and his dreams crashed.

Do you feel unremembered? Forgotten? Have you been in a downward spiral away from the dreams you thought God had for you? Have you gotten cast into cisterns, mired in mud, mistreated, or thrown in a prison of doubt?

Joseph’s journey is a picture for us of the path of Jesus, our suffering savior. As we follow Jesus, we will walk this path too.

Joseph was not forgotten in prison. Jesus was not abandoned in the grave. Certainly we are not forgotten or abandoned when the ups of our lives turn to downs.

Let us remain faithful in the downs and humble in the ups. Not every dream is of God, but every dream from God will come true. All God’s promises are “yes,” in Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me. — Psalm 40.14

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Dream Like Joseph

Both of the Bible’s dreaming Josephs are sons of Jacob and lived for a time in Egypt.

Read more: Inaugurating The Era of the Servant

Jesus is the fulfillment of every era and every need. Today, his body, the church, is called to live out the era of love and service.

Dream on.

Not a Temptress but an Abuser

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 39 Listen: (3:08), Read: Mark 16 Listen: (2:34)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 39.10-12

10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Reflection: Not a Temptress but an Abuser

By John Tillman

Joseph is deservedly held up as an example of the distinct sexual ethics demanded of those who follow God. Even when it would be advantageous or pleasurable to give in to wickedness, God’s people must follow a higher standard.

Potipar’s wife is often held up as an example of women being wicked temptresses or making false accusations against “men of God.” Men have been taught to avoid being alone with women so they don’t get attacked or slandered like Joseph. Defenders of sexually abusive pastors often accuse victims and whistleblowers of being like Potiphar’s wife.

False accusations do occur but are extremely rare. (In the over 4,000 years of history covered in the Bible, this is the only example of a false accusation.) It’s foolish to say false allegations never happen but more foolish to exaggerate their frequency to defend accused abusers.

Equating sexual abuse victims to “Potiphar’s wife” is reading the passage backwards. Potiphar’s wife is the abuser and Joseph is the victim. If anyone in this story is analogous to a sexual abuse victim, it is Joseph and if anyone in this story is analogous to an abusive pastor, it is Potiphar’s wife.

Modern society didn’t invent sexual assault and abuse by leaders like CEOs, moguls, or pastors. It has been around a long time.

Any sexual abuse victim would spot the familiar pattern Joseph faced: unwanted attention, comments, messages, and contact, followed by the attack. Like many victims, Joseph tried to avoid being alone with his abuser, but she created an opportunity to take advantage of him. Then she manipulated the evidence to accuse Joseph of being the aggressor and make herself the victim.

Scripture doesn’t record Joseph telling Potiphar the truth. Perhaps Joseph did. Perhaps that is why Potiphar imprisoned him instead of killing him. But it seems more likely that Joseph, like many abuse victims, feared that the truth wouldn’t be believed, and never reported what truly happened.

We should emulate Joseph’s personal commitment to holiness. Even when it harms us to resist wickedness, as it did Joseph, we should do what is right regardless of the consequences.

We should empathize with Joseph’s unjust treatment and imprisonment, and advocate for today’s abuse victims. Many have been unjustly “imprisoned” by being ostracized from churches and communities. May we also be inspired to ensure our spaces are structured to keep people safe from “Potiphar’s wife-like” leaders.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

The Lord is King; let the people tremble; he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake. — Psalm 99.1

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: No DARVO

How can we live in a world dominated by Sauls and Ahabs, the disciples of DARVO? How can we know what the truth is and who is telling it?

Read more: Woe to Abusers and Victimizers

God will bring justice to victimizers and abusers…They will be the ones naked and exposed and shamed.

Women Interrupting History

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Genesis 38 Listen: (4:24), Read: Mark 15 Listen: (5:16)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 38:26-27

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.

Ruth 4:11-12

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Reflection: Women Interrupting History

By Erin Newton

The story of Tamar interrupts the narrative of Joseph. It is a jarring interruption at that. The scandalous nature by which the men withhold their duties of levirate marriage and her tactics are both perplexing as well as sordid.

The narrator doesn’t cast much of a critical shadow over the actions. Was such behavior acceptable in the ancient world or did the author simply prefer to focus on the greater purpose of the text (to tell the history of Israel’s genealogy)?

The outcome of Tamar’s plan is clear in the text. She conceived not just a child but twins. In a culture that did not fully grasp the concept of eternal life, “living forever” was generally seen in one’s offspring. Not only was Tamar’s lineage continued but it was doubled, a blessing for this once discarded woman.

Laying aside the ethical questions of Genesis 38, the birth of the two boys is seen generations later as a blessing on par with the offspring of Rachel and Leah.

Once again the question of levirate marriage is in focus in the story of Ruth. The elders of the city speak of Ruth as a blessing for Boaz. She is not marked by her foreign identity or her status as a widow. She is a woman that can bring blessing.

Women are not often named in the Old Testament and even less are they given central roles in the telling of Israel’s history. But the story of Tamar interrupts the narrative and, I think, intentionally.

The next story returns to Joseph but with his own trouble with a scheming woman. Joseph is not like Judah; the reasons for their situations are different. Joseph is portrayed as honorable and full of integrity. Judah is marked as self-serving and untrustworthy. Even the women are seen differently.

The interruption of Tamar’s story calls attention to her. But such attention to foreign women is nothing new in the Old Testament. It is Zipporah, Moses’s wife who rushes out to save their son Gershom. It is Rahab who saved the Hebrew spies. It is Ruth the Moabite who enables the line of David.

The two distinctions that should have placed Tamar outside or on the periphery of the narrative—being foreign and being a woman—are honored by God and highlighted by the narrator.

We serve a God who honors that which the world dismisses.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. — Psalm 126.6-7

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Tamar’s Story

Tamar is not defined by the abuse she suffered at the hands of men or by her assertive (and questionable) actions…She is a matriarch of Jesus.

Read more: Ruth’s Story

Ruth stands in the spotlight…Boaz redeemed her, but Ruth’s character is the focus…she decided by faith for “your God” to become “my God.”