Joseph & Divination

On Sunday we looked at Joseph’s interactions with his brothers as he discerned whether or not they were repentant of their sin against him.  This part of the story includes two verses that cause some concern for some folks.

In Genesis 44:5 a servant of Joseph discovers the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and in doing so says this:

Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.

Then is Genesis 44:15 Joseph says this to his brothers:

What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?

Doesn’t the Bible tell us not to do that stuff?  Is Joseph admitting that he practices divination (sorcery and witchcraft)? 

The answer to the first question is an emphatic YES!  The Scriptures repeatedly condemn the use of sorcery, witchcraft, occult practices, magic, etc.  Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says it clearly:

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.

Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31, 1 Samuel 15:23, Micah 5:12, Galatians 5:19-21, and Revelation 21:8 all reaffirm this command.  Believers are to have nothing to do with any of it.

So…..what’s up with Joseph?

It seems like the most likely scenario is that Joseph is simply using the silver cup as part of the role that he was playing (Harsh Egyptian Overlord) to see if his brothers were repentant of their sin.  Egyptian nobility all had silver divination cups, so the brothers wouldn’t have been surprised at all by the claims.  They were already amazed that Joseph somehow knew their birth order, and they probably assumed that Joseph had some divination powers.

We should note that Joseph doesn’t actually claim to have used divination…he tells his brothers that “a man like me” uses divination.  In reality, Joseph had no need to practice any kind of divination.  God consistently revealed things to him directly. 

Here’s what’s happening:

1.  May 28 – Youth Group and Quilt Knotting at 6:30 pm.

2.  May 31 is “Graduation Sunday.”  We will be honoring our high school graduates during the worship service.  The youth group will have a celebration luncheon after the worship service.

3.  June 7 is “Quilt Dedication Sunday.”  We will be dedicating all of the quilts that have been knotted over the past school year.

4.  June 14 – Cruise for Christ Car Show.  We will not have Sunday School that morning.  Please plan to carpool, as parking will be somewhat limited.  Lunch is provided and we will have some activities for the kids.  Signup sheets for food donations and all the details are posted in the lobby.

6.  AMEC is sponsoring a young adult gathering at Bethany Grace Fellowship on June 4 at 7 pm.  The plan is to have a time of worship and then watch “The Porch” (a young adult service streamed live from Dallas, TX). Afterward will be refreshments and an optional discussion group.  For more information contact Pastor Isaac Martin at isaac@bethanygf.org

7.  A sign up sheet is in the lobby for VBS.  This is an “all hands on deck” ministry event.  Please consider volunteering.

On Sunday we will be studying Genesis 45 as Joseph reveals himself to the very brothers who betrayed him.  In our lives we will also have to deal with people who hurt and even betray us.  What does God expect from us in those moments, especially when the hurt is so fresh and so deep?  Why should we pursue reconciliation at all.  We’ll look to answer those questions on Sunday.

Enjoy the (most likely wet) holiday weekend!

Scott