Ho-ho-how do we ignore the commercialism associated with Christmas and focus on the ho-ho-holy God who invaded earth in a lowly manger? Perhaps it would help to remember that our struggle is neither new to our generation nor unique to our culture.
When Joseph was released from prison and elevated to the second-highest ruler in Egypt, he also faced unique challenging choices that wouldn’t have been an issue for a Hebrew slave. Suddenly thrust into the center of Egypt’s most wealthy royalty and noblemen, Joseph must have been forced to make difficult choices about their hundreds of gods, incomprehensible wealth, and more temptation than he’d faced with Potiphar’s Wife!
The Bible’s Example
One of the Bible’s main themes is the epic battle in the hearts of humankind to maintain their focus on the one true God. The Israelites seldom rejected Yahweh completely. Their sin was almost always adding other gods alongside Yahweh.
“You shall have no other gods before [footnote: besides] me.” Exodus 20:3
El-Kanna–the Consuming God, the Jealous God–loves His people as a groom loves his bride and will NOT share our hearts with other lovers.
“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:24
Eenie-Meenie Many Gods
Though I never rely solely on Wikipedia for accurate information, it’s a great place to get a quick look at overall information.
- Here’s Wiki’s list of Egypt’s Major and Minor gods. More than 1,500 Egyptian gods are known by name.
- Here’s Wiki’s list of Ancient Mesopotamian gods. The names of over 3,000 gods have been discovered on cuneiform tablets.
Why did I include the list of Mesopotamian gods? Because Joseph’s ima Rachel stole her father Laban’s household gods when they left Haran–which tells us there was at least some knowledge of Mesopotamian gods in Jacob’s household.
Furthermore, after Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, was raped in Shechem and his sons murdered all the men of that city, Jacob cried out to Elohim in desperation and then ordered his whole household to (finally) get rid of all their idols.
“So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem.” Genesis 35:4
Did Joseph worship other gods? Did Jacob? We don’t know, but Scripture seems to indicate that these two men remained faithful to Elohim. How did Joseph remain faithful to ONE GOD in Egypt when he had 4,500 other gods to choose from?
Joseph’s Challenge Like Today’s
Let’s look at some clues from Scripture about Joseph’s choices to note ways that we, too, might make wise choices when faced with false Christmas gods this season. In the picture above, you see four quadrants–each representing a modern Yuletide idol…
What are False Christmas gods:
- Make-Believe Santa – (for our children and ourselves) a mythical giver of free gifts with no thought of their cost to bank accounts or relationships.
- “Full” Christmas Tree – full of $20-$200 ornaments and littered beneath with more gift-wrapped packages than Amazon could deliver in a day.
- Forced Family Fun – how much heartache could be avoided if we set expectations a little lower and allowed family members to be who they are (including ourselves) instead of forcing each other into “should-shaped” cookies?
- Lighting Our World – instead of focusing on the true Light of the World, we use candles, twinkle-lights, and a ba-jillion other decorations to bring life to the dark days of winter solstice. Our hearts feel brighter–but only until the decorations come down. Is it any wonder we fail at New Year’s resolutions when the Light within is but a flickering flame?
Joseph’s Example:
#1 Patient Trust in God to Provide
After Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave, he was purchased by Pharaoh’s chief bodyguard, Potiphar. But he wasn’t placed in charge of all Potiphar owned immediately. It was a process of faithfulness on both God’s part and Joseph’s. Waiting on God’s provision isn’t easy, but it brings true prosperity–not false gifts from a make-believe giver to place under a too-crowded tree.
“When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” Genesis 39:3–4 (emphasis added)
#2 Standing Firm When Others Don’t
I really hope our heavenly bodies reflect at least some of how we looked on earth so I can see just how good-looking Joseph really was! Seriously! For Scripture to say he was “handsome in form and appearance,” must mean he was quite the hottie!
A slave with the “face and body of the gods” (as Zully, his master’s wife, described him in Potiphar’s Wife) would have encountered certain, ummm…expectations. A strapping, bronzed, young Hebrew; unmarried and kind-hearted. Who could resist? Certainly, not his master’s wife. Here’s a reminder of the reasons Joseph clearly stated for refusing her sexual advances:
“‘With me in charge . . . my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care . . . How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:8–9
Though Joseph was thrown in prison, suffering great injustice because he refused the expectations others placed on him, the LORD remained faithful through Joseph’s strong testimony.
“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” Genesis 39:20–22
#3 Remember Where Our Light Comes From
At God’s sovereign and perfect time, He spoke into a young pharaoh’s dreams and blocked the trickery of Egypt’s magicians and their false “gods.” Elohim jogged the memory of Pharaoh’s cupbearer who remembered having a dream in prison two years earlier (when Pharaoh was angry with him) and the Hebrew prisoner who interpreted it.
In Feast or Famine (Amazon aff link), my May 9, 2023 release, says Joseph spent approximately six years in prison. He then left his cell, went to a palace chamber to shave, bathe, and change into a clean robe. Then he appeared before Pharaoh.
Joseph would have known nothing was coincidence with His one true God. But can you imagine how he felt to stand in a huge palace throne room after six years in a cubicle cell? In the basement dungeon of an Egyptian villa or palace? Joseph would have needed to remember where his TRUE Light came from.
“Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but [Elohim] will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'” Genesis 41:15–16
Joseph called his Hebrew God by name: Elohim. He stood unashamed before the most powerful man in the world and declared the Light who would save them.
Many Symbols, One God
I hope you won’t misunderstand my post. I’m not down on candles, twinkle lights, Christmas trees, or gifts. I’m not even down on jolly ol’ St. Nick. I’ve read the true story of Saint Nicholas to my grandkids (a children’s book) and a FANTASTIC biblical novel for adults/YA by Roseanna White called, Giver of Wonders (Amazon aff link).
My point is: We can have many symbols to remind us of this special season as long as we don’t forget they’re only reminders.
God likes reminders; in fact, He commands us to remember and encourages us to use symbols to do it. So, enjoy your tree. Soak in the twinkle lights. But remember to worship ONLY the Creator who sent His Son to save us all!
Today’s Questions:
- Which of today’s “Christmas gods” likes to sneak into your heart and push God aside? What are some effective ways you’ve found to keep Christ at the center of your Christmas holiday?
