This week we will spend time with the second half of Genesis 37, where Joseph is betrayed by his brothers.
While the brothers plot against him, one of them, Reuben, quietly tries to do the right thing. But instead of speaking up boldly, he hesitates. He chooses to wait, hoping to fix things later and by the time he returns, it’s too late. Reuben’s good intentions couldn’t undo the harm that his delay allowed.
We will hold that story alongside Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke, where a man is left beaten and bleeding on the side of the road.
While others pass by, the Samaritan stops and responds with mercy. These two stories invite us to reflect on the moments in our own lives when we’ve seen someone hurting and weren’t sure how to respond.
What does it look like to be a neighbor in a world full of need and how might God be nudging us towardgreater compassion?
This Sunday, we’ll explore what it looks like to move from good intentions to courageous action. God’s grace invites us not just to feel compassion but to act with love and mercy, especially when it’s hard.