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Discipleship Focus: Character
- Character: Having the interior life that is necessary to support the work that God sets before a person. It is hearing from God and obeying. It is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.
We’ve focused a lot on character, especially since turning to
Jacob and then into Joseph. But I think
that it has been time well spent. Once
more I’d like to focus us in on the consideration as to whether we have the
internal life to accomplish what God has called us to do.
If we look at this list of blessings, we notice that for the most
part Reuben, Simeon, and Levi are chastised.
Reuben is chastised because he was the leader as the first-born and
should have known better. Simeon and
Levi are chastised because they likewise we placed into positions of leadership
in the family and they struggled to live up to their calling. In these three brothers, we see that they did
not have the character to live up to their calling. Their blessing demonstrates this dynamic.
Then we arrive at Judah.
Judah had a rough start and was clearly headed down the path of his
earlier brothers. However, when Judah
was caught in his sinfulness he managed to repent. That is what character is all about. Yes, good character should help us to not
make mistakes in the first place. But
being human, we will make mistakes. Good
character also means that when we are caught in those mistakes we can also
repent and recover. That’s good
character; that’s what we see in Judah.
That’s why Judah’s blessing is so pronounced in this chapter.
The other significant blessing within this chapter falls upon
Joseph. Here is the true stand-up
brother of the whole family. He is the
one who is faithful to God even when the world conspires against him. He is the one who is faithful even when sold
into bondage to another country. He is
the one who forgives when forgiveness was not expected or even asked. Joseph is the true model of character in this
story. We can see that in his blessing
as well.
What’s your character like?
If Jacob were pouring out a blessing upon your head, would it resemble
Joseph’s, Judah’s, or one of the other brother’s?
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