Genesis 37:5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

As if they needed a reason to hate him more. 

Normally a person wears a coat on his back, covering his shoulders, arms, and part of his torso.  In Joseph’s case as we continue our look at Joseph: A Life With Many Colors, we can guess his coat went to his head.  At least that’s what the half-brothers thought and soon we’ll see that his father, too, was wondering if he’d created a monster with that coat.  And it’s all because of two dreams that Joseph could have kept to himself, but he didn’t. 

(Stepping out of the story for a moment, I’m glad he told the dreams and it made it into Scripture, because it would be proof in the future that what happened was foreseen and foreordained by God. It adds to the narrative and the proof.  You see, before the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, dreams held a special place as evidence of divine revelation.  These dreams are no exception so it’s good that Joseph shared them, and it made it into Scripture).

These are two dreams hinting not only at God’s sovereignty, but also at the importance of dreams for Joseph’s future.  Here’s the first dream, in Genesis 37:6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

Do you see it’s the issue of authority, same as with the coat?

That’s certainly how the brothers interpreted it.  Genesis 37:8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

As if they needed a reason.

Think about it:

1. Jacob deceived his brother Esau and his father Isaac to get a birthright and a blessing.  Joseph was gaining the edge over his 11 brothers simply by being Daddy’s favorite.  No deception required.  All he had to do was exist.  How might this have particularly irked Reuben, Leah’s and Jacob’s firstborn who usually received a father’s blessing and double inheritance?
2. Does anything in this first dream indicate this ruling will extend beyond the family dynamic of Joseph’s ruling over his brothers?
3. These guys were herders/shepherds, not farmers.  Do you find it an interesting detail that this dream involved grain?  (See Genesis 41:53-42:3 for insight)

In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Charlie Brown goes to the mailbox and it’s empty.  “Rats,” he says, “Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season.  I know nobody likes me.  Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?”

There’s nothing like evidence of affection elsewhere (or lack thereof to yourself) to send a message straight to the heart.  When it happens, it’s painful whether it’s a shock out of the blue or like proof in your face of what you’ve already known deep in your gut.

Genesis 37:3 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 a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 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.

Enter the coat, probably one of the most famous things about Joseph, especially thanks to a catchy tune by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sunday School coloring pages to enjoy with the Crayola 64s, 96, or 120- pack.  In fact, so much attention is paid to the coat that you’d think it is the greatly anticipated unveiling of the Ancient Near East collection from the House of Dior, launching the modeling career of Joseph, son of Jacob.  But that would be to misunderstand the coat.

No one exactly knows what the coat looked like, the same wording of “richly ornamented” being used in 2 Samuel 13:19 to refer to the robe that beautiful and desirable Tamar (virgin daughter of the king) tore after being raped by her half-brother Amnon.  (Half-brothers. Aargh!) 

The visual appearance of the coat is far less clear than the meaning of it. 

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It was a status symbol saying in effect, “You know that management potential you saw displayed in the shepherding field?  It’s now an official title.  He’s headed for management not left to labor like you.”  As we continue our look at Joseph: A Life With Many Colors, make no mistake: It’s all about authority, and undeniable evidence of the special love Jacob had for his son Joseph.

No wonder the half-brothers were ticked off.

They already knew he preferred Joseph. 

They didn’t need a coat to emphasize it.

Think about it:

1. If it was just a coat, they could have saved up and bought one, or had a duplicate made for themselves.  Deep down was it the coat, or was it what it said about the nature of relationship between a father and his various children? 
2. As an illustration for insight, I am not ordained because the denomination that trained me and those for which I have worked and in which I have compatible theology will not ordain women.  Lots of women I know have gotten “online ordination.”  I can’t bring myself to do it.  How does this apply to the question in item (1)?
3. Someday in the biblical future for the Israelites one of the Ten Commandments will be “Do not covet.” How do coveting, envy, and jealousy lead nowhere good? 
4. Read how James describes the progression:   James 1: 14 “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”  How do you see that playing out here for Joseph’s brothers?

In the Bible there are only a few people whose lives we know about in some degree of detail from their origin/birth to their death:  Adam, Abel, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Samson, Solomon, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ.  That’s my list so far.  There may be others and certainly, if you have additions, I’m all ears.

As we pick up our story of Joseph: A Life With Many Colors, the truth is that Joseph’s brothers (half-brothers, actually) hated him well before the famous coat.  It had been a long time coming, probably from shortly after Joseph was born as the cherished child and pushed them out of favor.  Finally, at seventeen he’d get that coat, but before the coat, he’d gotten the brothers’ goat with an event that became pivotal in turning their anger into future action against him.  It’s what made the coat significant and why it’s a prelude that made it into the biblical coat narrative. 

What event was that?  The report.  The bad report.

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Genesis 37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah [Dan and Naphtali] and the sons of Zilpah [Gad and Asher], his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

The children of Bilhah and Zilpah are depicted on a human scale as third-rate kids legally adopted by Rachel and Leah, but born to pagan maidservants (concubines), who became Jacob’s “standby wives” doing the fertility bidding of Leah and Rachel in an Old Testament custom for barren women. 

But as Jacob’s actions had shown by preserving Joseph and Rachel (and probably many times before and after), what chance did Leah’s sons (Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun), or children of concubines (Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher) stand when faced with a kid who walked on water as far as their dad was concerned? 

When we read Joseph was “tending flocks with his [half-]brothers,” read that as a supervisory role.  At seventeen, Joseph was a combination dad-ordained-overseer and snitch.  His father saw him as the former.  His half-brothers saw him as the latter.

It’d be easy to pass off Joseph as just a bratty kid…but at seventeen in the Ancient Near East, girls were married with babies and young men were gainfully employed, some even married.  All of those brothers being older, their anger was evident at this upstart who was giving them a bad performance review.  After all, from their perspective, he’s seventeen and full of himself.  Who does he think he is?

Think about it:

1. Favoritism breeds all kinds of bad feelings.  Read Romans 2:11 “For God does not show favoritism” and for additional insight. Leviticus 19:15, 1 Timothy 5:21, and James 2:1-9.  What about favoritism offends God?
2. Interactions within blended families are always a challenge.  There was only one wife Jacob ever really wanted: Rachel.  The polygamy thing was all borne out of human response.  Jacob was deceived into marriage with Leah because Laban said Genesis 29:26 “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.” Human customs somehow justified deception in Laban’s mind.  The concubines also were a convenient answer for barren women to have children, but Jacob never wanted them as actual wives–they were originally just servant girls.  How did the one wanted wife and the one wanted child—and everyone else’s status as unwanted—create a recipe for ongoing familial strife?
3. Read Genesis 27:36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” What do you think about the original seeds of deception taking root in Jacob’s life and the fruit it continued to bear? 
4. Do we ever escape, truly escape, the consequences of our own sin?

We all try to protect what we love or what is valuable to us.  It explains the rise of “spider wraps” and other anti-theft protections on expensive products, home security camera systems, and smart homes that alert us when there’s been a breach. It also explains everything from child-safety car seats to tamper-evident technology for electronics, containers for foods, medicines, and baby formula.  Safety and protection are important to us.

Such is the case today with Jacob and the way he was reunited with his brother Esau after many years. Jacob clearly remembered how he deceived his brother into receiving Isaac’s blessing as a birthright and to see him after all these years would be awkward at best.  So, he sends a message to Esau clearly implying “Don’t worry.”  He hasn’t been sneaking or hiding, he’s not coming to take anything that belongs to Esau, and he wants to let the past be forgiven. 

Why that?  Well, he imagined—without too much difficulty—that Esau may hold a grudge, long ago turning into bitterness, and then there’s the confusing message brought back that caused Jacob to be alarmed.  Genesis 32:6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

Four.  Hundred.  Men.  An army!  Jacob feared the worst and put a plan in action.  Genesis 32:7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” 

He knew who he wanted to ensure would escape: Rachel and their son Joseph.  Above all, Joseph was the protected child.

Jacob begins to schmooze Esau to win his favor…all kinds of animals as a gift!  Yet Esau and his army still came!

Genesis 33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.

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And that tells you everything you need to know about Jacob’s special relationship with Rachel and their son Joseph.  His children with maidservants, valued, yes, but expendable.  His children with Leah including the one who’d be in the lineage of Christ (Judah)…valued, but not so much as the child with Rachel.

Jacob stands between himself and all his offspring.  And after a quick quasi-prayer (which is about all we ever get with Jacob), Genesis 33:3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

A lot to think about today:

1. In Jacob’s prayer life, he resorts to prayer as a final alternative (Gen 32:9-12).  In what ways do we often try everything humanly possible for our own protection, exhausting everything else before trusting God as a last resort? 
2. Jacob’s prayer is more like reminding God to honor His promises instead of beseeching God to be merciful.  What does that do to grace, God’s unmerited favor? 
3. Finally, Jacob admits his own unworthiness and inability to rely upon himself.  Have you ever been driven to that point?
4. Even after acknowledging his unworthiness, Jacob still plans and plots to show favoritism, even among his own children.  What message does that communicate to his other wives and children, and what sins does this favoritism foster? 
5. In what way did Jacob overall have a less gracious response than his brother Esau?
6. Joseph was a protected child.  So was Jesus (Matthew 2).  Why was the protection of Jesus necessary and God-honoring in a way that the protection of Joseph was not?

We’re a couple of weeks into the New Year, yet it seems Christmas 2018 is far behind us.  The birth of Christ gets shelved along with the Nativity scene for many of us.  But today, we have reason to think of another special birth in our new study, “Joseph: A Life With Many Colors”. 

First, let’s be clear because the name Joseph is just as confusing as the name John with respect to the Bible.  (Let’s face it: not everyone was lucky enough be named Tychicus or Onesiphorus.)   We’re looking at Joseph–not the one with Mary and the manger and no room at the inn—we’re looking at the one born in Genesis 30 and we can see this birth was a special moment too.

Why was it special?  Cherished?

Joseph was born to Jacob (also known as Israel) and his wife Rachel.  They had tough start in marriage since Jacob—deceiver extraordinaire—reaped what he had sown over that whole “sell me your birthright” stuff with his brother Esau.  What goes around, comes around.  I’d say karma, but I don’t actually believe in that. 

Jacob had been working for a guy named Laban—a relative who made Jacob’s deception look like child’s play.  Laban had two daughters: Leah and Rachel.  Leah was older and headed for Old Maidsville.  Rachel was the girl Jacob wanted.  Laban (Deceiver Dad) pulls a grand switch and hides Leah under a veil and after the vows are said and the act is done…it’s morning and Bride Surprise.

Jacob naturally protested this situation, an Ancient Near East version of WTH?  You can read the whole multiple wives thing yourself.  It’s all right there in Genesis 29.  (Betcha Jacob peeked under the second veil to make sure it wasn’t someone else.  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.)

Two wives, double trouble, and the birth wars began.  Frankly, if the wedding situation was a mess, this sibling rivalry between Leah and Rachel was worse.  These two women plus their maidservants and garnished with some fertility mandrake plants populated the official Tribes of Israel in a very messy way.  Genesis 30:15 But [Leah] said to [Rachel], “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

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Sisters.  Hmmm.  Just as an aside, don’t you find it interesting that the Chosen People of Israel would be like this and how into the total mess of human life, God sends a deliverer?  Not “the deliverer” who will come much later, but one named Joseph whose many-colored life would in fact provide a pattern anticipating the Christ to come.

And it all began with a cherished birth:  Genesis 30:22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph.”

Think about it:

1. Why does God choose to send deliverers into messy situations? 
2. What encouragement does that offer for your life and mine? 
3. Why would Jacob favor Joseph, the first biological offspring of himself and his favorite wife, Rachel? 
4. Is it right for parents to play favorites with their children?  What types of trouble does that invite? 
5. In 1 Chronicles 2:1-2, we read that “these were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.”  Only two of them were born to Rachel.  Which two?

There are very few Bible characters about whom we know as much as we do Joseph, son of Jacob (also known as Israel).  And there’s a good reason we know so much.  But don’t let me get ahead of myself and spoil the telling of this amazing story.

In our new series, “Joseph—A Life With Many Colors” we’ll look at this person who first appears in Genesis 30:22 and predominates the next 20 chapters of Scripture. He also appears in the speech Stephen gave before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7 even though he’s not strictly one of the 3 patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He was a favorite son of Jacob–indeed a favorite of the Jewish people throughout history but he’s not even in the lineage of the Messiah.  He’s not that Joseph.

For thought:

Why does Scripture devote 20 chapters to someone who doesn’t lead directly to the Christ? 

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Join me next time for the first lesson on Joseph– “A Cherished Birth” — as we work toward answering that question of why there’s so much air time for Joseph along the way.  As always, you can have these studies in your email in-box by signing up on the sidebar of the Seminary Gal Home page or if you have Facebook and you “Like” my page (Seminary Gal), they’re always reprinted there.  Or visit every day.  I love having your readership since you are the reason I write.  Thank you for blessing me and let’s start the New Year with learning together!  In His grace, Barbara <><  

As we get ready to turn the page on a new year, my prayer is for you to have health, happiness, and peace throughout the year.  And knowing that life doesn’t always go the way we want it, and struggles come our way, I pray you’d know the Healer, Jesus Christ, in times when it seems health is only a distant dream for the future or a forgotten past; I pray you’d know joy in Christ which surpasses every earthly happiness because it’s rooted in eternity; and that you’d know the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who can give you the peace that counts: peace with God.  May His peace calm your heart and your mind as you face the year ahead. 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am praying that the work of God would be displayed in your life (John 9:3) during times, both good and bad.  Whether through consequences of the natural world and human sin or the spiritual attack faithful Christians know all too well, I pray you would stand firm in the Truth and as a witness to unconditional Love God has for you because He is Love (1 John 4:8-16).  May God make all grace surround you in every good work. 

Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ– to the glory and praise of God.

Happy New Year!  In His grace, Barbara <><

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). 

It was all too amazing, so awe inspiring, only Adonai could have arranged such a thing.  She looked down at her baby, nestled in cloths, warm and secure, sound asleep on her still enlarged belly that previously held the long-awaited Messiah.  Just amazing! 

She let great tears of joy flow freely as she thought back to the night before and the shepherds who had been Luke 2: 8 “living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Mary relived the proclamation the angelic messenger gave to the shepherds.  “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” 

The Son of the Most High.  The throne of his father David, forever. 

Oh, Joseph, wasn’t it was all too wonderful for words? 

So for now, she’d treasure this in her heart.  It’d be a lifetime in understanding what she’d heard prophesied by Isaiah and seen fulfilled in her time. 

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

This little baby.  The Messiah.  A Miracle whose name is Jesus.

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Their Story, Your Story: 

1. Mary treasured the proclamation of the angelic messengers, high and holy, delivered to her through the words of shepherds, the lowest of the social scale in her time.  Do you treasure the proclamation less because of the messengers from whom you’ve heard the good news? 
2. Will you welcome the Christ Child into your heart today?  He wants to be good news in Scripture and in your life.  He’s no longer a baby, but He’s still looking for room to come in where doors have been shut.  Revelation 3:20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  The invitation is there, please friends, open your heart to Jesus this day.

Self-Reflection topic: Treasuring the Messiah

Prayer:  Father God, I pray that if anyone reading has yet to welcome the Christ Child, the Son of God, the Perfect Lamb of God sacrificed for human sin, that today You would show them how great the Gift and how lovely the Giver that You would send Jesus to save the world.  I praise You, Lord Jesus, for coming –clothed in the flesh of humanity–to make God approachable and to help us understand who You are and the immensity of God’s love for us as His image bearers.  On this Christmas Day, we reflect on the message of this Story which is truly timeless.  “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  Thank You, Lord Jesus for being a Miracle in our midst and creating miracles by giving us new birth by faith in You.  We praise You, Father, and we celebrate with all the angels “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”   Amen!

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This concludes the Storyteller Advent devotional series and I sincerely thank you for your readership.  May this Christmas Day find you blessed and surrounded by the joy of men and angels who celebrate the birth of Christ.  Merry Christmas!  In His love, Barbara <><

“It’s just you and me,” Joseph reassured Mary.  He loved her so much.  “And Adonai” Mary reassured him as a sweet smile spread across her face, blooming with the aura of anticipated motherhood. 

She had loved Joseph before, but now she loved him all the more for the risks he was taking to his reputation and for his total righteousness in following all that the angel commanded.  He had taken her home as his wife and she was profoundly grateful. But because he was righteous, he had no union with her.  He understood what was at stake in all of this.  (Matthew 1:24-25).

They were almost at Bethlehem now because of that census.  Joseph would obey that too.  What inconvenient timing, though!  He couldn’t leave Mary at home.  Bringing her on this journey wasn’t easy either. 

But strong he would be…for her.  Faithful he would be…to Adonai. 

Honest he would be…even for the Romans and their census.

Luke 2:6 “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

Mary and Joseph smiled at each other as he wiped the strands of wet hair from her sweaty, tear-stained face, and kissed her forehead.  A hint of salt upon his lips and in her arms, a beautiful son whom he’d named Jesus, just as the angel told him.  He marveled at the event … this amazing child who looked so average. 

Who would ever believe this happened?

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Their Story, Your Story: 

1. No two people will ever experience what Joseph and Mary did.  This moment of Christ’s birth redefined miraculous.  In what ways did it lift miraculous to a whole new level? 
2. What distinguishes this birth event from all other human births?  What about a virgin birth would be important to the story of salvation? 
3. Every birth is a miracle in a sense.  When you stop to think about a man and a woman coming together and what starts as a fertilized egg in one moment changes as a process unfolds in which the baby develops a spine and lungs and has a heartbeat.  In what sense is this miraculous, too?  What makes it casual, almost a given? 
4. What types of events heighten a precious view of the miracle of a safe, healthy pregnancy and childbirth to living, healthy babies?
5. Was childbirth dangerous in times prior to modern medicine?

Self-Reflection topic: Miracle of birth

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, please give us an elevated view of the sanctity of life in the unborn, a view that upholds the miracle You designed from the beginning.  Thank You for the faithfulness of Joseph and Mary, for their patient endurance all the way to Your birth.  Thank You for condescending to us in the Incarnation, for stepping down from every privilege and honor, from being the King of kings and Lord of lords to live among us, though we are sinners.  It’s miraculous that You came as a helpless baby in Your flesh yet You were every bit as divine–at that same moment–as You were when sent.  It is too amazing for words that You would do this for us!  Your goodness inspires us to praise!  Be glorified, Lord!  Be exalted, O God!, Be King of our hearts now and forever!  Amen.

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Tomorrow is the last day to receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email during Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  After Advent is over, there will be devotionals from time to time until the next series at Lent.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

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Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.

Telling Joseph went better than telling her parents who already had her things on the doorstep to greet her upon her return.  A spoiled-purity daughter was of no use to them and definitely no longer welcome to set foot in their home for the sake of their own honor.  They wouldn’t speak to her or accept any of her pleading or explanation that she was right about Elizabeth. 

Bizarre as the explanation was, she had committed to telling them the truth because she couldn’t let them believe a lie.  She couldn’t let them believe a lie about Joseph or about any involvement with another man.  But to her parents, this was simply too far-fetched, and she had brought shame upon her entire family.  Disowning a daughter—Aieeee–it was something they’d never dreamed possible with such a daughter as Mary!  How could she do this terrible thing to them?

Joseph, too, had heard that she was pregnant, and he knew for a fact that baby wasn’t his.  He loved Mary but in life sometimes, you need to draw a line, even with those you love.  Was he angry?  He didn’t know!  Well, yes it seemed so, but anger didn’t feel quite right.  Was he disappointed?  Certainly!  This was never in the bargain for him when he made arrangements with Mary’s parents to become betrothed to Mary.  Did he feel sorry for her, being thrown out of the house?  Yes, but actions once done bring about consequences.  She was pregnant, and she deserved it.  Her parents were righteous and that’s what righteous people do.  But to throw a pregnant woman out of your house…?  His mind was consumed with so many conflicting thoughts. 

How do you treat someone you loved so deeply who has betrayed you in the most profound way possible?  How could he remain righteous in Adonai’s sight and yet forgive this most unpardonable offense of her being pregnant and bringing shame upon him? 

At last, he made up his mind.  Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”  which means, “God with us.”

Mary’s story didn’t make a bit of sense, but it was confirmed by an angel of the Lord.  So, he did as the angel commanded.  Joseph, after all, was a righteous man.

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His Story, Your Story: 

1. In the Middle East, at the time of the birth of Christ, bringing shame upon your family was unforgivable.  Women were stoned for situations such as Mary’s because in the normal course of events it was sin akin to adultery.  What has been lost in our culture by acceptance of out-of-wedlock pregnancy as routine? 
2. Mary’s situation wasn’t sin, but a miracle of God.  Even if the world saw her pregnancy as sin, what can Joseph’s story teach us about grace and love that covers over everything?
3. Joseph is usually treated like a cardboard sidekick in the whole Christmas story, but there are valuable lessons we can learn about righteousness, true righteousness, and its connection to humility from him.  His story displays a level of forgiveness and obedience that are genuinely remarkable.  Much is made of Mary’s obedience and because Joseph wasn’t the “real” dad, he’s relegated to the role of expendable accessory.  What do you think of that given what today’s Scripture says? 
4. Would you necessarily believe a dream you had?  What do you think made this dream believable? 
5. What does this whole scenario say about Joseph’s humility?

Self-Reflection topic: Shame and humility

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the lessons we can learn about shame and humility from the example of Your earthly parents and modeled throughout Your life.  Thank you that Scripture reminds us, Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Shame doesn’t need to be our final state and it was not for You.  Thank You that shame and humility often precede glory.  We seek like-mindedness that Paul talks about in Philippians 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  We confess Your holy Name, Lord Jesus, and gratefully acknowledge You as Savior and Lord.  Amen.

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Just a few days left to receive these Storyteller devotional studies in your email during Advent 2018 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  After Advent is over, there will be devotionals from time to time until the next series at Lent.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><

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Acknowledging inquiries about the entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• Last year’s Advent Devotional Series (2017), Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.