In the club

I was walking near a classroom of children and found this note on the floor. It reads: “You are in my club. 100 A+”

I can only imagine what this note meant to the writer and to the recipient. Clearly, it was the handwriting and the wording of a child. A teen would have texted it. A young adult would have tweeted it. A lover would have whispered it. A business partner would have put it into a contract. And, an older adult would have written it into a note card in cursive letters.

Yes, the words and the method of delivery would be different when expressed by those of a different generation, but the message is the same throughout all groups:

⁃ one is invited into “the” club with a 100% and A+ rating or they are not

⁃ In or out

⁃ Accepted or rejected

John and I have been reading in the book of Genesis the story of Joseph. Joseph was the favorite son of their father and 10 of his brothers resented him for it. The animosity got so bad that, when given opportunity, the brothers sold Joseph to be a slave and let their father believe that Joseph was dead. (A family therapist would make a living solving the dysfunctions in that clan!)

Joseph’s tale of woe does not end there. Through no fault of his own, he is enslaved in a foreign land, wrongly accused of sexual assault, imprisoned, and forgotten before he is brought to the Pharaoh’s attention. Throughout his struggles, Joseph trusted God and learned leadership and managerial skills that can never be obtained in a classroom.

Eventually, Joseph’s family is in trouble and needs help from the foreign government that Joseph is now running for the Pharaoh. When he is in a position to rescue the brothers who had wronged him years before, Joseph forgives them and promises to do all that he can to help the family, including moving the clan to the land in which Joseph is now living.

Joseph, the one who had not gotten the “You are in my club. 100 A+” note, talked to his brothers about their decision to sell him into slavery: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20)

By being excluded from “the club” Joseph was able to change the future of millions of people. The rejection he experienced brought hope and life to others, including his brothers.

Denied that job? Been excluded from that group? Lost that relationship? Rest easy. Keep seeking. Don’t assume that the end of the story is what you see today.

Others may intend evil by their rejection of you, but God has a plan. Trust God! He is always working.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

P.s. After their reunion, Joseph sent his brothers back home to get their dad and the rest of the family so that everyone could enjoy the riches that Joseph’s hard work had brought about. As he sends them out, Joseph shouts out “Don’t quarrel on the way!” (Genesis 45:24) They were still brothers after all – no selling each other into slavery this time!

I’m betting that that was a family joke the rest of their lives!!