A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (November 8, 2009)

<The Characteristics of Spiritual Leaders:

Check Up Your Inner Motivation and Intention Always> (46)

(The Greatest Statesman in Human History – Joseph in the Bible) (10)

Today we will end the study of the life of Joseph. But before completing his story, I still like to share with you what the most powerful words that Joseph said to his terrified brothers when they came and fell down before him. This was what Joseph said, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even 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…” (Gen. 50: 19)

In this conversation, the most impressed words to me were, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?” It means Joseph would never play as God to judge his brothers, because judgment is God’s work. Even though he had the authority and he was entitled to do any judgment over his brothers. Joseph’s saying was beautiful. And it was a right attitude and behavior of a Godly man. We need to learn from him.

Furthermore, another two sentences which were also beautiful. Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me – (which was bad); but God intended it for good – in order to preserve and save people.” Joseph used these two types of different intentions – good and bad to describe and check up this event that his brothers did. When human evil intention meets God’s good intention, the situation will be changed, because God has the power to transform it. God holds the ultimate authority to change everything according to His will.

“To intend” in Hebrew is “hashab,” this verb provides several theological meanings for us to learn:

1. If we are to be spiritual leaders or even to be people of God, we need to check up our inner heart and intention always. Proverbs says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (4:23.) When one’s heart contains evil, hatred, bitterness and bad ideas always, it will be easily controlled by the evil power. In other word, anyone controls the heart who is the master.

2. Our God is almighty. He is always with good intentions. He sees everything accurately and precisely. Only His judgment is fair and proper. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9) The vision of John the Apostle in the book of Revelation, he saw that Jesus Christ, the slaughtered lamb, having seven horns, seven eyes, and seven spirits (Rev. 5:6.) “Seven” means perfect; “horns” means authority; “eyes” means he sees everything clearly; “seven spirits” means the whole and perfect Holy Spirit is with Jesus Christ, so that He is fully powerful, knowing everything to strengthen those whose heart is true.

How beautiful they are! I am deeply convinced that because Joseph had such kind of deep spiritual discernment, his insight was different from any secular viewpoint. That was why he could forgive and forget his brothers’ past wrong evil works. Besides, he believed that God was all powerful that was enough to transform evil things to be good.

“Hashab” occurs in the Old Testament 121 times. And the most famous verse is from Genesis 15:6. It says, “And he (Abram) believed the Lord (that God would give him countless descendents); and the Lord reckoned (hashab) it to him as righteousness.” It means when God saw the intention of Abraham’s inner heart, God counted him to be righteous. It is amazing, Abraham actually did not take any physical action, but just believed in his heart, God hashab him as righteousness.

If we believe in our heart and confess by our mouths that Jesus Christ is the Lord who has been raised from the dead by the Lord, we will be saved. (Rm. 10: 9.)

Therefore, let us check up our inner heart: do we believe in God and His son Jesus Christ? Joseph spent his entire life keeping himself to have a great integrity that made him and others to be blessed always. Should we follow his good example too!