new church life: september/october 2015
Joseph Feeding the World
Another story from the Old Testament in which we can see the Lord is the one
about Joseph and his brothers. There are obvious parallels between Joseph and
Jesus. They were both beloved sons. They were both sold for 20 or 30 pieces of
silver by Judah/Judas. Both were falsely accused of crime, and both became
rulers in their kingdoms.
Joseph was able to save countless people from starvation by providing food
for them during the seven years of famine. Jesus miraculously fed thousands
of hungry people with just a few loaves and fishes, not only because He had
compassion on them but also to show that He is the One who gives us love
and life.
Though we do not sense it, all our thoughts and feelings flow into us
through heaven from the Lord. He is the source of all the mental and emotional
energy that drives our actions. When we let His love and compassion come
into us so that we begin to love others as He loves us, it actually keeps us alive
spiritually, just as food does naturally.
So on a literal level the story of Joseph is about feeding many Egyptians,
but on a deeper level it is about our Lord Jesus Christ and the love that He
shares with all people. We can look at Joseph, yet see the Lord.
Moses Crossing the Sea
Another story in which we can see the Lord is Moses crossing the Red Sea.
His power over the wind and waves enabled him to bring the people safely
through the Red Sea. This may remind us of Jesus’ similar power over the wind
and waves, allowing Him to bring His disciples safely across the Sea of Galilee
during a storm. Yet on the inside this story is about the Lord’s power against
the hells.
In the Writings, the teachings for the New Church, we learn that “to those
who are above [in the spiritual world], the hells appear like seas, and the people
in them seem to be in the depths of the seas.” (Apocalypse Explained 537)
This is the kind of flood that David spoke of in a Psalm: “When the waves
of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The
sorrows of hell surrounded me.” (2 Samuel 22:5-6)
When the hells’ influence on us increases, we may feel overwhelmed –
flooded with anger, grief, hurt, lust and despair. If we are struggling against our
own hells and demons, we can have a small idea of what the Lord was going
through in fighting all the hells.
The Lord came into the world to gain power over the hells and to lead us
through hell and out of hell into heaven. The hells at the time were increasingly
raging out of control and threatening the destruction of the human race. Those
who followed Jesus duri ng His life on earth had no idea of the spiritual struggles
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