Wk 10 Day 2
Genesis 37:22, 29
21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. 22 "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?"
As human beings, it is easy for us to just put a stereotype on people based on what we hear from others and where they belong as a whole. Joseph's brothers were known to be the "Bad Guys" who sold Joseph to the Midianite merchants. However, we mostly forget that one of them (or probably even more but not recorded), Reuben, had compassion on Joseph. Reuben went against the grain. As recorded, he showed that he cared. Yet of course, no one listened to him.
We must remember that we can't always stereotype people based on where they came from or what they've heard about their family or their race or group, etc. We have to understand that they are people too... there's always going to be those who are different from what we've stereotyped them for. Do not judge because we don't really know what is behind. Trust that there are those who stand out from what people have been stereotyping them for.
I may not know who the exception will be in a group that's been stereotyped, however, I must not quickly judge a person based on how the world would see them as a whole (group or family). I must remember that God has separated each one of us to be different, thus, I must not quickly resort to what others also have judged them. If people were to judge me based on where I belong (say my family or my race), I must not quickly react to it as well - whether to prove that I am or not what they are judging me. Rather, I will act normal and I know that they will see who I really am.
Lord, please help me to not quickly stereotype people for where they belong. Help me to see people the way you see them. Prepare my heart for what people have already stereotyped me for; whether is good or bad, help me to just be continually be faithful to what you have called me to be. I pray that my mind will be set and focused on your paths alone and not to cater to go against the stereotype others view me as. Thank You Lord because I can be free in who I need to be for being IN YOU! In Jesus' name, amen.
Other cool stuff from today's reading:
Genesis 39
2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
21 the LORD was with him;
23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
- Because of Joseph's faithfulness, he found favor from his master
- Every where Joseph was, whether in plenty or in empty, he made the most of where he was in every situation... he still prospered and succeeded.
- It is not the situation that makes a person... it's the person that makes the situation.
- Define your situation by what you do and how you live your life. No situation will be bad if our attitude remains good.
