Wade P. Huie, Jr. - "A Long Robe with Flowing Sleeves" (August 19, 1990)

Over the course of his life, Joseph experiences a change in the way he responds to and uses his gifts. Whereas in Caanan with his brothers and fathers he struts his gifts and uses them to puff himself up, by the time he reaches Egypt, he as learned to use his gifts to bless others. Whatever the historical causes for this change in character, what this story teaches us is that what humans have done out of evil, God can work to the good of all creation. (Abstract created by Duke Divinity School staff.)

Sermon start time: (Part 1) 15:02. Sermon end time: (Part 1) 41:39.

Key quotation: “Up in Canaan, Joseph was given a long robe with full sleeves, in which he could just strut around with his many gifts. Now, down in Egypt, he was given another special robe, but a robe this time that became a symbol for feeding or serving those in need, even prisoners and foreigners and enemies.”