The first mythic reality seems to me to encompass all of the others. It is the great summation of all of history, including what occurred before there was a universe as well as what the final state is.
God is a God of restoration. God is about this grandest of undertakings. For a restoration to occur, there must be a series of smaller events. Namely, a creation, a falling away, a sacrifice, a redemption, and a restoration.
It is a mystery just how it is that God is more glorified in the act of restoration than in the act of creation. Possibly because it reveals some part of him that otherwise would never be displayed. Possibly the answer will be different for every person who considers it.
What did it take for the brothers and Joseph to be restored? A sacrifice. Judah laid his life on the line, knowing that a life of servanthood to an Egyptian ruler would be better than seeing his father die of sorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe moment Judah offered himself, Joseph broke down. It finally makes sense why Joseph didn't just tell them "Look! I'm Joseph!" the very first time they walked in. We would never have seen that act of sacrifice.