violence without cause

hours 'til the dawn

A sermon about Jacob's 12 sons:

You know, it’s more true than we like to admit, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

The old and faithful Abraham finally had the child he was promised back in Genesis 21. And Isaac, meaning laughter, has two children, twins of his own. Esau the eldest, and Jacob the huckster. Jacob who has a con going from the start, born holding his elder brother’s heel - trying to steal the birthright. Finally, in Genesis 27 he does steal the birthright from his older brother, Esau. 

And it is from there that Jacob drags the reputation of God’s family through the mud…

Jacob has twelve children himself. And in the scripture passage we just heard, you have to admit; the apple has not fallen far from the tree, has it?

Every single one of the characters in this story has a con going! Why they make “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” look like “Little House on the Prairie” by comparison! 

So much for good, biblical family values!

It all started with Jacob, and we see that being a father hasn’t changed him one whit. He’s still playing fast and loose. Doting on Joseph, his youngest. Not even trying to hide his favoritism from his other boys!

Not that Joseph is any saint, either… 

Just imagine the scene. His brother’s already don’t care for the preferential treatment he receives. Then, one day he comes up, wearing -by the way, the expensive robe his father gave him- and says; “hey, get a load of this dream.”

… And there’s no need to interpret what the dream means, they all get it…

The brothers figure his dream is a forecast of more of the same. More of Joseph being favored. His privilege even forcing them to bow to this bratty, baby of the family…

So one day, while they’re out shepherding, his brothers get their chance. Jacob in a brilliant move, has sent Joseph out to his brothers who can’t even share a peaceable word with him.

While Joseph’s still far off, the 11 brothers hatch their plan. “Here comes the dreamer,” they hiss. “Let’s kill him, then we’ll see just what shall become of his dream.” To make the whole thing look like a freak accident, they fabricate evidence, dipping his robe in the blood of a goat. 

No differently than when their dad slaughtered a goat to cheat his brother, Esau, out of the family inheritance back in Genesis 27. 

No, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, has it…

Before they can act on their plan, though, there’s a twist. Reuben the eldest intervenes. “Let’s not kill him,” he reasons. “Just toss him in this pit. After all, he is our brother,” he intones; like the arrogant eldest he is.
Now, don’t be fooled. 

Reuben’s doesn’t have anyone’s intentions in mind, but his own. He’s planning to be the hero! He’s fixing to double-cross his brothers. When they’re gone, he’ll rescue Joseph, take him back to the old man and finally get the respect he’s deserved all along.

In this sleazy affirm, Reuben’s working his own angle! No different than daddy dearest, always plotting to advance his own narrow self-interest. 

No, the apple has not fallen far from the tree…

Well, his brother’s never suspect Reuben. So, instead of killing their brother, they just toss him in the pit. 

Once that’s done, they spread out to have a picnic. Reuben sneaks off, waiting for his chance to play the hero… 

But then, there’s another twist! Judah looks up and sees some merchants, and he gets an idea. They could make a little money out of this. 

“Boys, you’ve got to have that entrepreneurial spirit,” he insists. “Look here, we could sell Joseph. No reason not to make a little money.”

And presumably the brothers only kick themselves for not coming up with that one on their own. Not a one of them protests to this idea…

In no time, they make a deal. Joseph and his dreams are gone, and they’ve turned a profit! 

I don’t need to say it, do it? They’re all a bunch of cons! There isn’t a single honest one in the lot!
No, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. They’re all Jacob’s kin…

But then there’s a twist none of the brothers counted on…

Bringing the tainted evidence to their father, they give the prized robe back to their dad. “Joseph won’t be needing this anymore, don’t you think,” they ask. Jacob sees the robe covered in blood, and connects all the dots; Joseph, his son is dead.
Instead of choosing a new favorite, though, Jacob refuses to be consoled. Even in death, Joseph will still be Jacob’s favorite…

Their plan has failed to displace Joseph as the apple of their father’s eye…

Now that’s where our lesson takes a big jump. Skipping over Joseph’s unlikely rise and fall and rise again, from slave to second in command of the world’s most powerful nation, Egypt. 

It’s Genesis 41 when Joseph gets his chance, interpreting Pharaoh’s dream of impending famine.

Joseph tells Pharaoh to stock up during the seven years of plenty, because there will seven years of famine afterward. He’s right on. When the famine does hit, Pharaoh’s storehouses are stocked. Everyone has to come to him to buy grain. Sold at a profit of course. Joseph makes Pharaoh very rich… 

Apparently, although not an Egyptian, in Joseph’s narcissism Pharaoh saw an ally. 

After everything, Joseph is still no different. If he can gain an edge, you can bet he’s going to take it.

No, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He’s still Jacob’s son at heart…

Then there’s yet another twist. One even a guy like Joseph couldn't have seen coming.

In Genesis 42, Joseph’s brother go to Egypt to buy grain. Even after all these years, Joseph still recognizes them. All decked out in his regalia, though, the brothers don’t recognize him. 

Seeing them, it all comes back. 

Growing up in those fields that make the palace look shabby, being the apple of his father’s eye, but not because his ability to turn a profit. 

He also remembers, though, his brother’s betrayal.

He can’t bring himself to just let bygones be bygones. He jerks his brothers around. Accusing them of espionage. Threatening the death sentence. The brothers are scared witless, of course. 

Eventually, though, it’s just too much. Joseph can’t keep it up. Weeping, he breaks down, revealing his identity to his brothers. 

It’s the moment from back in Genesis 33, all over again. When Jacob and Esau are reconciled. When, instead of bearing a grudge for all his trickery, Esau forgives his brother Jacob - their dad.

You see, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. 

But now they’re acting like family in a way none of them would ever have imagined. Now they’re acting like their uncle, Esau. Apparently that moment of forgiveness had a bigger impact than any of them knew…
In the end, it turns out the bond of family of God is stronger than any of their sins. Reconciliation is more powerful than their own intentions. 

And there’s the twist no one saw coming…

It is at this moment that Joseph’s dream is finally fulfilled, isn’t it?

The brothers do indeed brothers bow to Joseph. But not in service. Instead they bow in love love. 

In love that dares to beg for reconciliation. In a love that’s brokenhearted. 

The brothers had intended to displace Joseph from their father’s love and undo his dream. But all the while, behind the scenes and certainly in unexpected way, God has been at work. God has intended it for good in the long-con of surprising grace, unscrupulous goodness. 

No one has mentioned God, not even the Scripture we just heard. And that’s the point! What God is up to can’t be spoken of, not until you look back and see that God’s been working an angle all along!

And that’s the twist not even you saw coming.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. No.

But the tree isn’t Jacob. It isn’t Isaac, either. And it certainly isn’t Abraham. It’s God.

Everyone of them, they’re con artist. 

But the biggest hustle in this story, is God’s.

God who stoops down to a family feud. 

God, who would take fratricide, to wrest good. Who would take hubris, to do good. Who would take even greed, to further good. Who would take a family of hucksters, to be about goodness. 

God the conman who would take all their dubious intentions, and put them in service of God’s great long-con. The con of surprising grace. Unscrupulous goodness.

That’s what it means not to fall far from the tree, you know. It’s being a forgiven con, living by grace… 

What? You don’t believe me???

This isn’t how any self-respecting God would behave, you protest? And beside, you say, the world doesn’t work like that anyway?

Perhaps not. Or, perhaps you too are in a hustle. A twist not even you can see coming…

No? …Well, fine. 

I’m not going to try and convince someone like you, anyway. You have got your own intentions, I see. You’re not about to be conned, are you??? 

Have your own way then. That’s the kind of people you are. As they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…