It Takes A Thief

Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?" "What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." (Genesis 44:14-17)

I’ll confess that I’m a reality television junkie. Ever since Cops hit the small screen, I’ve been captivated. I love game show reality (Survivor), business reality (The Apprentice), family reality (Small People Big World), feel-good reality (Extreme Home Makeover) and extreme job reality (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers).

Several months back my son hooked me on a Discovery channel show called “It Takes A Thief.” This riveting hour of heist and home security steals the attention. The premise is simple. Two reformed crooks case neighborhoods for a home begging to be robbed. The show’s producers then persuade the owners to let “John” pilfer the place while the cameras roll. In less than ten minutes, he can lift and loot jewelry, electronics, cash, cars, boats and motorcycles. The accomplice “Matt” then debriefs the raid and sets the family up with top-flight home security. The moral: it takes a thief to know a thief (and stop them).

Similarly, Joseph was quite familiar with thievery. His brothers stole his relationship with dad and pawned it for a pit into slavery. A desperate housewife robbed him of his role as Potiphar’s finest butler. As a prisoner, Joseph conversed with crooks and cheats and surely learned their larcenies. Joseph also bet his brothers were still stealing affections and purposely framed them in typical Hollywood fashion. Framed them like he was framed. Accused them (falsely) like he was accused (falsely). Benjamin was the pawn in the plot as Joseph envisioned a greater outcome. Dear old dad thinks he’s dead (and probably wouldn’t believe the brothers if Joseph was outed or risk his life for a lie). His siblings are clueless to his identity (which only has to hurt Joseph more). So the only way to manufacture a family reunion is to create an international crisis. Consequently, Ben is fingered with a theft. The brothers, especially Judah (who’s responsible for the boy), get the emotional hijack and learn Benny will be forced into slavery. In reality, Joseph hatches a heist to steal his dad back into his world. He can’t go to Jacob but he can bring Jacob to Egypt through his beloved Ben.

Like I said, it takes a thief to understand theft. I don’t know about you, but some days I sense the losses in my life. Relationships I never developed now stolen by time, distance or death. Roads not taken now robbed of opportunity. Choices not selected now victims of circumstance, pilfered of possibility. Sometimes I’ve been robbed blind by life, especially sinful habits of the heart and unchecked vices, failing to recognize the damage until years later. Sometimes I’ve been pick-pocketed by pain, crisis or disaster. If I’m not careful, I’ll resort to stealing time or looting friendships to my advantage. And God knows that even in my innocence, I can be falsely framed, accused and sentenced to situations I never saw coming.

Unlike Joseph, we many never have an opportunity to avenge the bandits in life. If you live for revenge, you’ll only rob yourself of peace, gratitude, love, joy and a good night’s sleep anyway. Some muggings will never make sense and when you allow the crime to crimp your life it only gives more power to the burglar. Let go of what you no longer own.

It may take a thief to thwart a theft, but Joseph learned a richer truth. Sometime that which is stolen might eventually become a gift. Our losses may be for our progress and gain. The pain caused by one of life’s larcenies might serve to strengthen the soul. Suffering wounds all heels.

We all know what it’s like to lose.

Thankfully, Joseph reveals how to steal back an occasional victory.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON LOSS AND SUFFERING:

"The real proof of spiritual poverty is to patiently endure the loss of worldly goods and without any regret when it pleases our heavenly Father that we should be despoiled of them." (John Calvin)

"If the first mark of a true and living church is love, the second is suffering. The one is naturally consequent on the other. A willingness to suffer proves the genuineness of love." (John Stott)

"The deep meaning of the cross of Christ is that there is no suffering on earth that is not borne by God." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Father, it takes a Dad to understand a son. It takes Jesus--who walked this planet as flesh and blood--to know my weaknesses, my faults and my pain. I am grateful that I serve a Living God who can feel my losses, sense my suffering, restore the joy stolen by life and equip my heart with a security system to keep the evil one--the ultimate thief--from breaking and entering my innermost soul. Amen.