Happy Reunion

DEVOTION

GENESIS

HAPPY REUNION

Gen 46:28-34

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." 31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.' 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' 34 you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

NIV

The happy reunion is at hand. Jacob has arrived in Egypt and knowing he is supposed to go travel to the region called Goshen, he sends Judah ahead to get the directions. Joseph heads there as well and when they see each other tears flow. What a wow event. The long lost son and his father are embraced with tears filling their eyes. We see similar scenes when returning soldiers are greeted by their spouses and children. The reunion of family after a long separation always seem to be one of those wonderful times in life. Yet we have also witnessed in our journey through Genesis a great deal of dysfunctional families. This one we are with now has had its share of maladjusted times. The discord between Joseph and his brothers due to the special attention given to him by his father. Then the dreams brought even more division among them to the point of selling him off and making their father think he was killed by wild beasts. But all that is set aside, forgiveness has prevailed and all are once again together rejoicing. How often we experience some form of dysfunction in families today. Maybe not to the point of selling off a sibling, but we have certain amounts of discord at times. Hurt feelings for various reasons that cause a various forms of separation. Some of them are emotional separation, some a spiritual one, others even become physical separation. Many of these hard feelings seem to never get resolved for one reason or another. Yet as believers we should not let this condition go unattended. We are admonished to as far as it depends on us, to live in peace with all others.

Rom 12:9-19

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

NIV

We need to resolve any issues we have with others, especially within our own family. But this command is not limited to families, it encompasses everyone. Yet sometimes it seems easier to be nice to strangers, or co-workers and while still allowing so much disharmony in our own family. It would behoove us to settle our differences, at least if it is possible. We should be the ones to make the effort. If the others do not want any part of a reconciliation then that is on them. But we should not be the ones to exasperate the situation, but rather attempt to reconcile it. If those various separations exist in our family, perhaps there can be a happy reunion, an embrace filled with tears.