Lost and Found

Day 15:

Lost... there were a lot of "lost" passages today.  Joseph lost his brother's love and then his home.  Jacob lost his favorite son.  Judah lost his peace and moved away from his family.  Judah lost his two older sons. Judah lost his wife and then lost his belongings to a "prostitute".  Judah lost his pride also. Then in the passage in Luke, Jesus speaks of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. 

Then we can look at what was "found"... Joseph was found in a position serving the captain of the palace guard... and as we will see in later passages there will be rejoicing over "finding" Joseph again for the entire family as they heal and find their new family relationships. Judah found a new family arose in the ashes of his son's and wife's death. The sheep, the coin, and the son were found and rejoiced over.  When something/someone is lost it is painful.  Our response at "finding" should be full of joy!

In Luke's story of the son that was lost in chapter 15 verses 11-32 the joy of the Father at finding His child that was lost to Him is understandable.  Of course it is a parable for the joy that our Lord has in bringing the sinner to salvation.  He always searches for His loved ones and rejoices when a sinner repents and turns to Him. 

Let us not forget the reaction of the older brother.  If you read my blog a few days ago I explained about inheritance.  Usually the older son got an extra portion of the inheritance.  With two boys the inheritance would have been divided three ways and the older boy would have been given two portions, the younger only one portion.  The Father divided his inheritance before the younger son left with his portion.  All that the Father had belonged to the older son at that point.  The younger son left with his inheritance and was lost to the family. 

Apparently the root of jealousy started growing in the older son's heart before the younger son came home.  "All these years I've worked hard for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.  Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the finest calf we have." 

Even today in reading the passage my heart goes out to the older brother.  He worked so hard with no time for smiles and fun with the Father just to make the Father proud of him and then the younger brother come home.  Hmmm...

How many times do we see someone working for the Lord with no joy? Wanting acceptance from the Father by what they do.  Complaining that no one else is helping. Doing things they were never called to do.  Hoping for the day when the Father says "I am proud of you!  You are the hardest worker I've ever had... shame on the slackers!!!" 

The Father will say to them... "Look, dear son, you and I are very close, and everything I have is yours.  We had to celebrate this happy day.  For your brother was dead and has come back to life!! He was lost, but now he is found!"
Amen!

You know, I never know where this blog will take me when I start writing.  This was not where I was heading with "Lost and Found", but it was were God was going... I love that about God!  Don't you?

Blessings! d