December 9

Genesis 37:2-4, 18-24, 28; 50:19-21

37   2 Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him…

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams." 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." 22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him"—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it… 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt….

(for a dramatic story of intrigue, betrayal, faithfulness,
patience, reversal of fortune, and a plague,
read the intervening chapters of Genesis 37 to 50)

50 19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Grant, Almighty God,
that as so many of the people who have been gathered
by Thee that they might be the body of Thine only
begotten Son have fallen away, and have by their
ingratitude alienated themselves from the hope of eternal salvation –
O grant that they may again at this day be united together
and hold with us the true unity of faith, so that
with one heart and one mouth we may profess Thee
as our God and Father, and so learn to swear
by Thy name, that we may acknowledge Thee
as our judge, and ascribe to Thee all power over us,
until we shall at length enjoy that eternal inheritance,
into the hope of which Thou hast called us and daily
invitest us, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.