February 15, 2022 – “Stealing My Thunder” (Genesis 44:1-13)

“He instructed the servant who was over his household, “Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each manʼs money in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup – the silver cup – in the mouth of the youngest oneʼs sack, along with the money for his grain.” He did as Joseph instructed. When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off. They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, ʻWhy have you repaid good with evil? Doesnʼt my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!ʼ” When the man overtook them, he spoke these words to them. They answered him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your masterʼs house? If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lordʼs slaves!”

He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.” So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. Then the man searched. He began with the oldest and finished with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjaminʼs sack! They all tore their clothes! Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.” Genesis 44:1-13

“Stealing My Thunder”

We often are told it’s not polite to steal someone’s thunder, or to show someone up by stealing their attention or stealing their moment. The origin of this phrase seems to be quite literal. In the early 18th century, when playwright John Dennis had his play “Appius and Virginia” staged, it called for the sound effect of thunder. Have you ever wondered where they came of with the idea of creating the sound of thunder for the stage? Well, here it is. The playwright fashioned a sheet of tin into a “thunder machine.” But when he attended a performance of Macbeth he heard the same sound effect, causing him to claim: “they steal my thunder.”

The story of Joseph and his ascendancy to power in the court of Pharaoh is one of the great twists in an unusual and equally awful story. Of course, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, who were tired of his bragging. Joseph uses both his wits and his cunning to discover that G-d helps him in all situations — even when he is in Pharaoh’s dungeon. He uses his ability to interpret dreams to help out the king — who makes him second in command. Soon a famine hits the country, and his family, unbeknownst to Joseph, is looking for assistance. Joseph will go on to give his brothers the “business” by concealing his identity, and in the end, Joseph steals access to his family without them knowing who he is. In other words, while G-d is with Joseph throughout his trials and tribulations, there is no getting past the fact that Joseph is just a little better than a sneaky con man. And he will not let his brothers steal his thunder.

As Christians we are supposed to love our neighbors, serve them, look to do the best for them including praying for and attending to their reputations. Now, this is easy for the neighbors we like — it is really difficult for those who are lying, sneaky con men or women. But the end of the Joseph story is instructive – for in the end all is forgiven, and Joseph tells his brothers “What was intended for evil, God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Just like G-d brings the rain upon the evil and the good, so G-d can work through any situation to bring about G-d’s purposes. In other words, no one can “steal G-d’s thunder.”

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, it is hard to live humble lives of service and obedience. We often seek to steal someone else’s thunder when it comes to good works. Give us the strength to always look to doing good, not evil. Amen.

Pastor Dave