Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors – Chagall
Joseph’s Coat by Chagall; Joseph and the coat of many colors? Stained glass window (1978-85) by Marc Chagall in St. Stephen’s Church, Mainz. Holly Hayes, flickr CCL
Meditation
Sunday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14, celebrated the many ways that faith made a difference. The Old Testament lesson continued the story of Joseph. Jacob favored Joseph because he was the son of his love, Rachel, and he was older when Joseph was born. Because of that favoritism, Jacob had a special coat of multiple colors made for him. The young Joseph wore it proudly and when he brought a message to his brothers, they recognized him from afar off. Their anger at his dreams which suggested he would be superior to them, their jealousy at their brother’s extra blessings and favoritism of the father burned in them enough for them to want to kill their younger brother.
The intensity was assuaged by the eldest, Reuben, who planned to save Joseph and release him, was able to agree that instead of killing the kid brother, they would sell him to traders, take the coat to their father with blood of an animal implying their brother had been attacked and killed.
The Psalmist retold the summarized version of Joseph’s life—how all the terrible things worked together for him to become the governor of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh.
The power of God at work—things not always seeming to be what they are. God used the vile behaviors of jealous brothers to effect a great work in the lives of Jacob and his heirs—the children of Israel would grow into a huge nation that would return to their Promised Land,…well, because…God promised..
The New Testament lesson in Matthew told of the miracle of Jesus walking on the water…defying the specific gravitational pull to sink. This miracle of Jesus was for the discrete followers that made up his immediate disciples. Unlike the Sadducees of yesterday’s lesson, these followers hungered to learn more about Jesus. Their hopes were becoming buoyant at the thought that Jesus could be the Messiah.
After Jesus had preached to the multitudes, he sent his disciples in a boat across the Sea of Galilee while he retired to the hills to pray. Jesus often prayed all night long—his communion with the Father—before a significant miracle or event like choosing the disciples. In the early hours of the morning as the sun was rising, the wind had picked up on the sea and it was tough to manage the boats (and the disciples were trained fisherman). Jesus walked across the water towards them.
At first, they screamed with fear, believing the ‘being’ was a ghost. Hearty stout men—used to fishing and hauling nets—screaming in a panic, until Jesus spoke and they realized it was not a ghost but a miracle. Boisterous Peter didn’t hesitate but put forth the challenge, “If it is you, ask me to come to you.” Of course, Jesus responded with “Come.” Peter didn’t falter but leapt out of the boat and walked on the water. Then, he realized he was walking on water, looked down and began to sink.
Why did he sink? Was it because his faith was keeping him buoyant? Yes and no. No, because his ability to walk on water was not of his own doing, but God’s doing. However, Jesus tied Peter’s faith into the action, to teach him and us all a lesson. We must have faith. Faith—the believing in things hoped for and without evidence that it is possible.
Peter’s faith was integral to the process of his learning to trust Jesus. He doubted when the wind kicked up and his fear outweighed his belief. Peter cried to Jesus, who grabbed him and said, “Your faith is very small. Why did you doubt?”
The two returned to the boat and yet the message was clear to the disciples. They proclaimed, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Their faith strengthened because of the miracle they saw with their own eyes.
The same is true for us. Each time we see the evidence of a miracle in our lives—when money arrives to pay a bill that we have no means to pay—or when a person is healed of terminal cancer—or a job is offered beyond our expectations etc.—we can ‘deposit’ our faith balance in our faith bank account. The more events, the wealthier our faith account becomes, so when those moments of doubt hit us, we have the faith bank account to draw from…like Jesus reaching out his hand to lift Peter up from sinking…and we find our buoyancy in the tempest tossed life.
The New Testament lesson in Romans reminded us of the offer of salvation—available to anyone who believes in Jesus as Savior. The egalitarian aspect of salvation being offered to anyone—Jew and non-Jew—was revolutionary. The chosen people of God—the Jews—expanded to the chosen people of God—believers in Christ. Everyone had a chance.
Faith was our responsibility; the rest was God’s action.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Let Us Plead for Faith Alone – Hymn Site
Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors
Jacob blesses Joseph and gives him the coat. Illustration by Owen Jones from “The History of Joseph and His Brethren” (Day & Son, 1869). Scanned and archived at http://www.OldBookArt.com where it was marked as Public Domain. Wikipedia CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Creator of the Earth and Skies – St. John’s Darlinghurst
Ordinary 19, Proper 14Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:22-33;Romans%2010:5-15&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV#table1
(multiple versions)
Sunday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
Genesis 37:1-4. 12-28
King James Version (KJV)
37 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Joseph’s Coat of many colors; Adam’s next painting, this is the sketch Sarah Razak; flickr CCL
4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
Joseph Coat_Of_Many Colors; Forrest McDonald; flickr CCL
18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Image from page 99 of “The Life of Jacob and his son Joseph” (1836); Internet Archive Book Images, flickr CCL
21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
Image from page 48 of “True stories for little people..” (1894); Internet Archive Book Images; flickr CCL
27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, you are faithful even when we doubt. Help our faith to grow, even as Peter and Joseph’s faith grew as you worked all things together for their good. Help us to see the miracles when they surround us. Empower us to share the Good News. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Music
Christ Be My Leader – Mayc Orchestra and Singers
Ordinary 19, Proper 14 Humor
Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
Jesus Calls us From the Tumult – First Baptist Congregation of Pacific Beach
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 19, Proper 14.
Conclusion
Sunday, Ordinary 19, Proper 14 demonstrated that the faith of Joseph, Peter and Paul made a difference for their lives. Disasters happened to them. Their faith grew with each miracle and ability to overcome the disasters.
Joseph’s resume defied belief, yet his dreams, which foretold that his family would bow down to him, inspired jealousy and anger in his brothers, who sold him to Ishmaelite traders on their way to Egypt. That opened the door for Joseph to suffer with Potiphar’s wife and live in prison. Despite helping the steward with his dream (he was returned to Pharaoh’s favor) and asking for the steward to mention his plight to Pharaoh, the steward betrayed him and forgot. The baker, of course, was hanged as Joseph said.
But God used the time as a slave and in prison to help him be humble, especially when he was elevated to Governor of Egypt, second in command to Pharaoh and faced his brothers, who had betrayed him.
The bad things that happen can teach us, prepare us for being better people. Great people often come out of overcoming great suffering. The late Nelson Mandela didn’t start out as the great man he became. His attitude changed in prison. Through his suffering, the stellar man grew into the statesman that transformed not only a nation, but the world.
Jesus can transform lives, if we allow him to work in us—working all the difficulties, trials and temptations together for our good and the good of the community of believers.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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