Active JWs—A Birthday Was Used to Preserve the Lineage of Jesus

by AuldSoul 17 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  AuldSoul

  Joseph was imprisoned because of false accusations made by Potiphar's wife. He had at least two cell mates, a cupbearer and a baker—we do not know the charges against either prisoner.

  Joseph's cell mates had dreams. By God's power, he interpreted the dreams, including which day the dream prophecies would be fulfilled. On Pharoah's birthday, two divinely inspired prophecies were fulfilled. The baker lost his life and the cupbearer was restored to his original position, perfectly fulfilling what God prophesied. Because of this dramatic display of divine interpretation the cupbearer remembered Joseph later.

  This fulfillment of prophecy led directly to Joseph later being used to preserve the lineage of Jesus.

  Is this birthday of Pharoah—and even the death of the cupbearer—supposed to be a negative event, even though God prophesied both the date and the events that would occur? If so, how?

  It seems to me that you might as well say God disapproves of valuables of any kind because Achan's whole family was killed when he hid treasure from a city devoted to destruction. Or that God disapproves of giving addresses in front of audiences on the evidence of Herod's last performance.

  Please explain why this account is contextually explained in such a positive light in My Book of Bible Stories and in such a negative light in specific reference to birthday celebrations.

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
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  nvrgnbk

  Never looked at it that way before.

  Interesting.
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  Clam

  Good post AS.

  It's a bizarre idea though that birthdays are bad because bad men were recorded celebrating them.

  If only there'd been a story about Noah, Solomon, Melchizedek or whoever celebrating theirs.

  There you have it I suppose: Society logic says that no righteous men were recorded in the Scriptures celebrating their birthday, unrighteous men were, so ipso facto birthdays are bad.

  Clam
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  sweetstuff

  Interesting point. I always noticed myself that they have no problem with celebrating wedding anniversaries, yet, there is no biblical proof that "early christians" did so. They love quoting that, there is no evidence that early christians celebrated birthdays, gag. So, it's idolatry to celebrate your life via your birthday yet to celebrate your marriage is not idolatry? Can we say h y p o c r i t e s???

  And King David celebrated a "name day", which could be interpreted to mean a birthday, or coronation celebration, which was fine, after all he was chosen by God to be the line thru which Jesus would come. I remember him coping crap for Bathsheba, but nothing about this name day celebration. Interesting, I guess God didn't really give two hoots about it, because we all know, he's pretty quick to get pissed!
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  eclipse

  Interesting!

  I find it curious that it preserved the lineage of Jesus' adoptive father, Joseph,

  and not the lineage of his biological mother, Mary.
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  shopaholic

  Interesting. You make a very valid point. I never understood why JWs didn't celebrate birthdays. I always found it difficult to explain to people. I remember there was a QFR several years ago about why its okay to celebrate wedding anniversaries and not birthdays. That didn't make sense to me either.

  Have you thought about sending this in to QFR?
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  Shepherd Book

  If they insist that the mention of birthday parties makes them bad (even thought the scrptures don't say that), the what about braiding hair?

  Hair braiding is specifically forbidden in the scriptures, yet JW ladies see no problem braiding their hair.
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  AuldSoul

  Clam,

  According to the narrative, this Pharaoh wasn't bad. He appointed Joseph as his co-regent in all but the throne of Ra itself. Joseph was in a very powerful position—a position above even the heir to the throne of Ra (possibly precipitating later developments). It was unheard of for an Egyptian ruler to elevate an outsider above even his own heir. Joseph was made the lawgiver in place of (or at least alongside) Pharaoh. (Genesis 41) This was a good Pharaoh.

  So Joseph married a pagan, the daughter of a priest of On, and lo! they enjoyed carnal knowledge of each other. We know this on-account'a Manasseh and Ephraim being born.

  A good Pharaoh celebrates a birthday where a man condemned to death for a crime (that he either actually committed or was at least imprisoned for) has his life spared, leading to the preservation of Jesus' family line and Jehovah's Witnesses still focus on that poor slob of a baker who was also on "death row," and was executed for his crimes.

  It seems to me that the story is filled with positive messages and they all pivot on the dream interpretations coming true at a certain time: on Pharaoh's birthday. The only slight pall that is cast is with regard to a man charged with unspecified crimes. He might have deserved death under the Mosaic Law, for all we know.

  Since disfellowshipping is supposedly a spiritual stoning to death, wouldn't that be an excellent reason to avoid attending the weekly Service Meeting, since executions occur at that time?

  Respectfully,
  AuldSoul
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  greendawn

  Interesting angle for looking at birthdays though in my view the only reason the WTS puts in place such silly restrictions is for creating a mental separation and isolation from the rest of human society.
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  watson

  Interesting angle on this subject. I figure it all comes down to money. If we spend time, money and assets on giving importance to individuals (birthday celebrations and gifts) it leaves us less to contribute to the worldwide legal fund.