ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
March 26, 2022
In the story made famous by the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I always forget the character of Reuben. When the brothers’ jealousy turned to violence, they made a plan to kill Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. Reuben is the one who said, “Let’s not shed his blood. Just throw him in the pit.” Scripture then provides us some insight into Reuben’s plan. It says that he did this so “he might rescue Joseph and return him to his father.” Of course, that does not happen. Interesting side note, the Hebrew word we translate as “pit” can also be translated as well or cistern. I prefer to translate it as well, in part, because that was what I learned as a child. In the story, Reuben uses the well to save his brother’s life. We think of a well as a source of life-giving water, but scripture says this one was dry. At the same time, the well became a means of pausing the move toward violence. It provided a time for the brothers to rethink their plan, and though Reuben was not able to return Joseph to his father, Reuben helped to provide an alternative to death. Yes, it was slavery. The brothers sold Joseph to a caravan passing by, but he was alive… and started him on a grand journey that would end with him being the second most powerful person in all of Egypt. The well, though dry, was still life-giving. In the Muslim faith, this well (pit) is a holy place. I join them in thinking of it as holy. It provided time and space for murder to be averted, and for God’s dream to take shape. What dry well has been a source of life for you? What unexpected pit ended up being a gift?
God of New Beginnings and New Life, continue to be the One who guides me into your yet unseen promises. And even if I find myself tossed in a pit, help me to appreciate your Spirit at work. You are the One who continues to bring great things from the worst of circumstances. Amen.
