Darkness Is Only Part of the Picture
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24
We know the word judgment, but may have only a vague notion of what the word righteous means. Max Ballard, a Divine Science minister, teacher, and practitioner defined righteous as right mindedness, the invisible Omnipresence, all good.
The appearance may be that Joseph went from being the spoiled favorite of his father to being sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, far from his home. From there he was unfairly thrown into prison, which proved to be the way a Hebrew slave from a distant small tribe found himself in the presence of Pharaoh, the mighty king. It was Spirit that inspired Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s recurring dream.
All the dark appearances were stepping stones to put Joseph in a position of power to save that part of the world from starvation during the 7-year drought. When Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt for grain, they did not recognize Joseph, the second most powerful person under Pharaoh, but Joseph knew them. When he revealed his identity, his brothers were very afraid. In Genesis 50:20 ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
During those dark times, Joseph remembered the teaching from his father, Jacob/ Israel of one God, everywhere present. Let us take this teaching with us always, as well.
Provided by Rev. Mary Emma Dryden ~ September, 2020
