Chapter Three

The week of February 5


All families have some dysfunction. Jacob's family was no exception. The oldest son slept with one of his wives. The brothers loathed the eleventh son, Joseph. They disdained him so much that they were going to kill him, then opted to sell him as a slave to a traveling tribe. 'But father, an animal must have eaten him,' they said showing the ripped and bloodstained coat of the favored son. They could no longer take Joseph's self-serving dreams and the special treatment he received. But by selling him into slavery they became slaves themselves of their own jealous natures.

 P 31 Joseph was sold into a plush situation and showed his prowess at administration, running the household and business for Potiphar. Why, do you think, was his wife's name not mentioned? I believe it is because Joseph (who related the story) saw her belonging to Potiphar and not belonging to him. And he resisted her temptation by acting that way. She was Potiphar’s wife. Joseph was not rewarded but punished for being honorable. Why does God allow that to happen to people?

 P 32 Joseph had already spent two years in prison. Pharaoh found no one who could interpret his own fantastic dreams. Finally someone remembered that a man in prison could interpret dreams. Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh and was rewarded by becoming the administrator of the nation as it went through a boom and then bust in food. He would be a savior of Egypt. After being rejected by his brothers, owner and the person he preserved, he finally was rewarded. Can you name a time when things went bad time after time before a good thing happened? What was your attitude during that time?

 P 34 In the second set of seven years things were bleak in the known world. The drought was killing everything. So Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for the only food around. Why did Joseph have things hidden in the saddlebags and imprison one of the brothers? Why did he not just reveal himself during their first trip?

 P 36 When the brothers wanted to return to Egypt for more food for the drought, Jacob balked at the plan, even though one of his son’s was imprisoned. (Would he have gone after Joseph if he had known he was enslaved?) Abraham earlier was willing to give his only son, but Jacob had already given up two of his sons and was not going to give up his favorite, Benjamin. What is something or someone important that you would not give up?

 P37 The brothers finally returned, this time with Benjamin. Joseph had them seated at the table in order of age and fed Benjamin five times as much as the others. He was a growing boy. Then, as they were leaving, another cup was found in a sack: Benjamin's! Can you imagine the horror on their faces. This was the horror they did not have when they sold Joseph into slavery.

 P 39 Listening to his brothers tell the story of their family history, and hearing of his father's trauma, Joseph could take no more. He revealed his true identity. Notice there was no projecting of guilt. There was no lording over. There was the grace of embrace and healing. When have you received or offered this form of outrageous grace?

 P 41 Jacob and the extended family are brought to Egypt. Joseph has saved them. They have bowed down to him (the dreams come true), but he never holds it over them. Joseph has learned humility. The rest have learned to swallow their pride. But when Jacob dies, they are certain Joseph will kill them, because Jacob no longer needs to be honored. The brothers have not learned. They had meant their deeds for evil; God had turned these into good. Joseph was the instigator of that lesson, and he would not forget it. Why do we persistently think people or God are out to get us? When have you had a 'you meant it for evil; God turned it into good' lesson of this magnitude? Why is that so hard to learn?