There is a saying that revenge is a dish best served cold. What does that mean? It means that often when someone hurts us we feel the need to pay them back immediately. Tit for tat – or as in the Old Testament – an eye for an eye. But usually they are expecting it so they are prepared. The saying suggests waiting till things have died down and they have forgotten all about it then strike when they least expect it. That’s what Joseph has the opportunity for today.
It’s been years since his brothers captured him, threw him into an empty well and then sold him as a slave to the Midianites who then sold him to Egypt. There, in Egypt, he was accused of trying to commit adultery with his master Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. In prison he was betrayed by the cupbearer who promised that he would put in a good word for him when he was released from prison – but he forgot. So, poor old Joseph has been betrayed and let down on many occasions and no doubt was looking for his day of justice. Eventually the cupbearer remembers Joseph and because of his ability to interpret Pharoah’s dream he is elevated to 2nd in charge of Egypt during 7 years of plenty to prepare for 7 years of famine. No doubt in the back of his mind Joseph is remembering all those who betrayed him. His brothers, Potiphar’s wife, the cupbearer. And now he has the opportunity to exact his revenge as he sees his brothers come cup in hand looking for some food for their starving family. But Joseph forgoes that opportunity for revenge because he sees that whatever has happened, no matter how it happened that God was directing everything.
If Joseph takes revenge then he acknowledges that God had no part in what happened to him and that life is simply unfair and you have to find your own justice. Here, Joseph leaves justice to God. Just listen how Joseph explains it to his brothers who were no doubt convinced he would take revenge against them. God sent me before you to preserve life. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. It was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Later on, in Chapter 50, Joseph will affirm what he had said about God: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
By having this understanding of how his life has gone Joseph is able to heal and know that God is going to act even if it takes years of hardship. And if there is revenge or justice to be dished up – then God is the one to do so. Paul says similar in Romans: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
And that’s exactly what Joseph has done – trusting in God to do the right thing. His brothers were hungry so he fed them. Anger doesn’t achieve anything. Just look how calm the woman in our gospel reading remains instead of getting angry. In our Gospel reading a Canaanite woman will show the same resilience and trust in God doing the right thing. Her daughter is seriously ill – tormented by a demon she says. Jesus ignored her. She doesn’t get angry. Jesus’ disciples demand he send her away. She doesn’t get angry. Jesus says – I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. She doesn’t get angry. She came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs. She doesn’t get angry.
At what point would you have given up? At what point would you have lost your patience and gotten angry? At what point, if you were Joseph, would you have lost your patience and taken revenge. This Canaanite woman, like Joseph, knew that God was in control and that God was a God of justice and, like Joseph, she keeps her faith and trust in God doing the right thing. And this is the same patience that is keeping Paul confident that even though his brother and sister Jews have rejected God’s Messiah, Jesus, that God has not rejected them. He says: Has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
So even though as we journey through life we face varying degrees of trouble, there is the overarching promise that God loves us and is with us always. We can get angry at the situation. But anger doesn’t achieve anything but could in fact cause harm. That’s why Paul, in Ephesians, says – In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
As we worry about the future of the church at times with declining numbers – declining finances – congregations closing – insufficient Pastors to fill vacancies – we remember the promise of Jesus: On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. God’s promise is irrevocable.
It’s easy to get frustrated when life doesn’t go your way and to take matters into our own hands – but we have the example of Joseph, the Canaanite woman and Paul who trusted that God was in control of the situation and allowed him to do his work in his time. They did not lose patience in God doing the right thing. Sometimes it is hard to explain why God allows things to happen in our lives that we don’t expect. But what we understand about God is something we call providence. Providence is the protection of God that we sometimes don’t see. Like a flat tyre when you are in a hurry to get somewhere – but what if that flat tyre prevented you encountering something worse ahead of you. We will never know.
But what we do know, as Joseph discovered, is that God is the one directing life. What his brothers intended for evil God was able to use for good. God overcame evil with good. So whatever is happening in your life – whatever has happened in your life – may you see the protective hand of God on you. And like the Canaanite woman, if life seems unfair – bring it before God in prayer and keep bringing it. But in all cases, like Joseph, like the Canaanite woman, like Paul – remember that God is a God of love who gave his own Son for you and will do much more as he has promised. And God’s promises to you are irrevocable.
