1. Long summer days spent with family and friends
holidays
Relaxation
Stimulation
Reflection… Or
Drought and sunburn
Boredom
Conflict
Family friction

2. Two people; two families
The Canaanite woman
Joseph and his family

3. Redemption and Restoration
Genesis 45:1-15;
Matthew 15:21-28

4. The Canaanite woman: Matthew 15:21-28
Of low status
A Canaanite (not Jewish)
A woman ( not a man)
Stigma – a tormented daughter
Yet…
She shouts ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David…’
She showed humility
She showed wit and humour
She demonstrated great faith

5. Joseph and his brothers: sons of Jacob
Background:
Spoilt; arrogant; dreamer
Sold
Betrayed and misrepresented
Imprisoned
Forgotten about
But then…
Remembered
Heard and believed
Rewarded
Formation

6. Joseph and his brothers: revelation; reconciliation; redemption
Joseph made himself known... And he wept
His brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they
“Do not be distressed or angry… for God sent me before you to preserve life”
“God sent me before you to preserve a remnant on earth, and to keep alive many survivors.
“So it was not you who sent me here, but God”
Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept…
Joseph made himself known to he brothers. And he wept
“I am Joseph…” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence
“Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life”
“God sent me before you to preserve a remnant of earth, and to keep alive many survivors.
“So it was not you who sent me here, but God”
Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept…his brothers talked with him

7. Redemption and restoration
God is a God who redeems
He calls us in the midst of pain and mess
He longs to see us flourish…
Sometimes that means ‘fire’
How?
Come to him
Ask: ‘Lord, help me’
Time…repentance…formation … growth…obedience