I didn’t hear a cry of “Freedom!” when my grandsons pointed out two plastic cups in their father’s cubby, but when I saw them, I knew that’s what they’d say if they had voices.

Our son was invited by his friend to enjoy their family trip to Hilton Head Island every spring through high school. The placement of these empty beverage cups from HHI on the top 2×4 in his unfinished space felt like a stand, a stake, a place to remember the moment but not risk the exposure of the open bookshelf. I’m guessing they hadn’t held Coke-Colas.

We replaced carpet in our boys’ room above the garage last week, which meant everything in these small cubby-closets had to be emptied. Our sons haven’t lived in this room since high school, and the accumulation of karate trophies, old photos, little league ribbons, and Latin notebooks took me back. Their cubbies were time capsules, swathed in cobwebs, littered with crunchy, crawly things.

It could’ve been a set of keys, a lighter, a flask, a bong, a shot glass that I found last week. There are many ways to commemorate a person’s right of passage, while still living in his parents’ house. I’ve found all of these stashed in strategic places over the years as we’ve raised our five kids. There’s something about freedom that won’t be denied, even if the evidence must be hidden 20 years for their children to find.

Freedom is a heady thing. The passages today tell where to find it.

Genesis 48-50

They still don’t get it.  Now that their father, Israel, has died, Joseph’s brothers fear for their lives.  They’re afraid Joseph will seek revenge for their selling him as a slave to traders.  So they send him a message saying that before their father died, he commanded Joseph through them, “Forgive your brother’s sin,” Ge 50:16 MSG.

When Joseph gets the message, he weeps. I love this about Joseph, that he cries so easily. Rather than hardened with hatred and wanting revenge, God has softened him with grace and enabled him to forgive, Ge 50:17.

When he first meets up with his brothers after he rises to power, he has to fight back the tears more than once while he’s with them. Joseph’s easy tears are mentioned 7 more times in five chapters in fact, bearing testimony to how tender his heart is, Ge 42:23; 43:30; 45:1-2, 14-15; 46:29; 50:1, 10, 17.  

Weren’t his brothers paying attention? Clearly his love is genuine. Obviously, he’s forgiven them. He said that God turned their bad deed into great good for everyone. He had group hugs with them and wept so loudly, the entire palace staff heard him. And his lavish support was further proof of his sincerity–he brought them to Egypt, set them up in prime pastureland, and provided for them throughout all the hard years of famine, Ge 45 and 50:18-21.

When he gets their bogus message, he repeats the same words he’s already said–“Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives,” Ge 50:19-21 NIV.

How did Joseph keep from getting bitter and vengeful all those years enslaved in prison? By believing the words he’s telling them here–that God overturned their evil and brought about something good. Believing that God is in control and has the last word–not his brothers–enabled him to forgive and love them like this. And instead of Joseph getting angry for their failing to trust him after their father’s death, he “reassured them and spoke kindly to them,” all over again, Ge 50:21 NIV.

I’ve been sinned against. I’m sure you have, too. Evil is never good, but in God’s hands, it can be turned into greater good than we can imagine. Goodness will always win because God is good, and nothing is greater than he is.

This reassures me when I think about where I’m wounded. I don’t have to concern myself with making someone see or taking them to task or doing payback. I get to sit back and let God handle all that, trusting he’s got my back and will bring about what’s needed better than I can, Ro 12:17-21.

Trust like this keeps me from ruminating. It enables me to forgive and receive God’s healing. I can run free of resentment and revenge. I can even love the offender and maintain relationship with them. Freedom like this is a beautiful God-thing.

Because God is in control, I’m free to forgive.

Matthew 16:1-12

Religious leaders badger Jesus to prove himself by doing another miracle. Jesus asks isn’t it obvious by now who he is? Mt 16:1-4.

The problem is, they refuse to believe him. No amount of miracles will change hard-heartedness. Jesus tells his disciples to watch out for their teaching, because like yeast, it can work its way all through them, Mt 16:5-6, 12.

The yeast of the Pharisees is still a danger. Its hallmark is refusing to believe in Jesus as Savior. It’s a yeast that puffs up, that makes you proud, that says you can be good enough to be your own Jesus. It keeps faith in your head and refuses its place in your heart.

I have to fight it a lot.  I keep wanting to prove I don’t really need a Savior, not like everyone else does.  I’ll do more good deeds, read more Scripture, out-give everyone, and live in exhaustion.  The truth is, I make a pretty lousy Jesus.

It’s hard to believe I need forgiveness for being a Pharisee, because doing good looks good, if you know what I mean. But Jesus says it’s an invasive thing like yeast, and if you don’t check it, well, it’ll take over.

Be vigilant not to let your goody-goodness make you think you can be your own Jesus. This is the most seductive sin there is. But even this sin against Jesus can be forgiven.

Because God forgives me, I’m free to repent.

Psalm 20  

This is a psalm of the people’s support for the ruler of the land, that God would put him “out of harm’s reach” and “accomplish [his] plans,” because when the king flourishes, they do, too, Ps 20:1-4 MSG.

Trouble is brewing, and there’s reason to rely on chariots and horses, but they depend on God to come through instead. He’s the one who “make[s] the king a winner,” Ps 20:7-9 MSG.

Praying for our leaders feels kind of lame when so few are admirable.  But could the reason why our leaders aren’t respectable be because we aren’t praying?  It’s worth pondering.

Having a stable government benefits everybody: its well-being impacts each of us. Everyone can’t be involved in politics, but everyone can throw up a prayer for those who are. I’m not politically savvy, but even I’m hard-pressed to think of anything more beneficial to our day-to-day, here-and-now, walking-around-life than praying for our leaders.

Because God provides authorities, I’m free to enjoy peace.

Prayer

God, Thank you for the freedom I take for granted, for what it costs you and how you sustain it. Thank you for being the never ending Source of all the big and little freedoms I enjoy, from salvation to sleep.

In Jesus’ name.

Proverbs 4:20-27

Proverbs tells how to have a life “bursting with health.” Here are 5 Steps for Your Best-Life:

–Guard your heart.
–Speak honestly.
–Stay focused.
–Watch your step.
–Turn your back on evil.

Bottom line? Don’t be naive.
I have been, and the consequences linger.

Passages from Genesis, Matthew, Psalms, and Proverbs are selected for today in The Yearly Bible.