God’s Work Through Joseph

God’s Work Through Joseph

FIRST READING

Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34
3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he
was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with
sleeves. 4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than
all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
5Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated
him even more. 6He said to them, “Listen to this dream that I dreamed.
7There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose
and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed
down to my sheaf.” 8His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign
over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him
even more because of his dreams and his words.
[Some time later, Joseph sought after his brothers.]
17The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go
to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at
Dothan. 18They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to
them, they conspired to kill him. 19They said to one another, “Here
comes this dreamer. 20Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one
of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and
we shall see what will become of his dreams.” 21But when Reuben heard
it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”

22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in
the wilderness, but lay no hand on him” —that he might rescue him out
of their hand and restore him to his father.
26Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother
and conceal his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not
lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his
brothers agreed. 28When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew
Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for
twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. 29When Reuben
returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his
clothes. 30He returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy is gone; and I,
where can I turn?” 31Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat,
and dipped the robe in the blood. 32They had the long robe with sleeves
taken to their father, and they said, “This we have found; see now
whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33He recognized it, and said, “It is
my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt
torn to pieces.” 34Then Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his
loins, and mourned for his son many days.


Reader: Word of God. Word of life.
All: Thanks be to God.


SECOND READING


Genesis 50:15-21
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if
Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the
wrong that we did to him?” 16So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your
father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you,
forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming
you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God
of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers
also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.”
19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?
20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good,
in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have
no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way
he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Reader: Word of God. Word of life.
All: Thanks be to God.