Joseph - Sold by His Bros, Sold to Big Boss, Wanted by Bosses' Wife, Framed, Skilled Dream Analysis, Promoted to Pharaoh
As the Nice Jewish Boy from Brooklyn Became a Star, So too Did Joseph, the Slave from the Desert
Spoiled Favored Son Gets "Railroaded" by his brothers, or would it be "Shanghaied"?
Jacob loved Joseph so much it was painful.
But the real pain was in Joe's brothers' hearts.
They say there is no way to stand against jealousy, and if you think about it, it's true.
If you are favored and blessed and someone decides to despise you because of that, you are cooked.
Historic Times Are Often Like TV and Movies, and Yes, the Couple Next Door!
Every time you think you have gone back far enough in biblical lore or Greek, Sumerian Tales, you keep encountering the admixture of thought, and astrological symbols and concepts. Actually though, it is much easier to tell the really dramatic tale of the early Children of Israel like an epic novel, an adventurous movie, or a night time serial TV show, or the "crazy couple next door".
For when you look at how Joseph saved the Day for the Children of Israel, it borders on a feeling of fantasy! So, have some fun as you feel the sand in your teeth and the knotting nature of hateful intrigue straining at your back. Picture yourself going through Joseph's life, and as you do, you will wonder why his life has not been immortalized in movie lore.
The Coat of Many Colors, Dreamer and Talked Too Much
You see there was this Coat of Many Colors. Sure it was stunning and lights out beautiful, but Jacob had had Joseph when he was old and he truly loved Rachel, his mother. Then lo and behold, Joseph has much to commend him. He as a Dreamer (read here Psychic, Prophet, Servant of God). Joseph kept on talking about how favored he was, and his jealous brothers fumed.
Beat Up the Well Dressed Dude and Sell Him
Some of the bigger bro's beat up the "pretty teenager" and they toss Joe into a cistern, left for dead. Then the brothers get frozen in fear, Judah, says: "Let's make a buck and sell him as a slave!" Who wrote this stuff? Some higher power of course. It was bad that he was hated, it was good that he was sold. But again - What a plot! Joseph is sold by the Midianites, apparently (probably relatives of those who would save Moses generations later).
Joseph gets sold to a powerful guy. That's good. Potiphar, a Captain of the Guards likes him. That's good. No. Pot's wife lusts after Joe. That's bad! Where is this story going?
Put it on Cable, "Well, Cucachoo, Mrs. Robinson! -- "Without Joseph and Potiphar's Wife's Lust You Don't Have Much.
Joe stays humble, does his job every day, and slowly gets promoted. As time goes on, his winsomeness, his bright and personable ways win him favor. And they also win him undue attention.
In prison, he starts interpreting dreams of officials. Now he is in the big time. The Pharoah is next.
Because he has his spiritual gifts, he adds significance and prediction to the dreams of his superiors. He gets quite a reputation sitting there in prison. During that time he must have asked himself a thousand times: "What did I do? I served my father. I loved my brothers. I get knocked on the head and thrown in a big potty. I get sold. I get molested. I get framed. I become a con. Where am I headed?"
He knows he is "Maximus Incorruptibilus." Predictor of Plague, Pandemic, Old Time "Covid"
So Pharaoh Joseph started using his prophetic prowess, foretelling years of famine and preparing for the famine through smart governmental savings. It all makes sense as a deep Monday Morning Quarterback. Of course, since he was a Seer, one of his original dreams was the Mini Series he was going to live.
"And Where is My Little Brother, Bemjamin?"
Besides being a Psychic, Stargazer, Wise One, Manager and oh by the way, he had spies looking for his "lost" Benjamin. He becomes "Pharaoh", establishes the Children of Israel and they bring Jacob's bones to Egypt. Good thing he was just trying to stay alive, live up to his dreams and have integrity. Good thing.
When It Comes to Divine Stories, Follow the Author(s), More Than The Stars
For how does Moses get born without Joe being their first? And how does the entire Old Testament and thus the New, without Joseph being pulled out of a dirty toilet and sold?
"If you're hot, you're hot, if you're not, you're not"; but it's the Will of God that matters. Watching the Divine Plot shows you that the Will of God. But our status, our disposition, our outlook and our moves are ALL IMPORTANT.
As You Go Through This Story, See The Patterns In Your Life
These classical stories can be played out in REVERSE. "Let's see - How do we get a Psychic, Wise and Talented Joseph in front of Pharaoh, even though he is a dusty Hebrew in the Desert?
How the Clay of Everyday Life Works its Ends.
Ask your own personal question. Am I over reacting to the bad news in my life? Am I missing a pattern? Am I losing my spirit in discouragement, when I could be rising each day with a new sense of My Plan unfolding? There it is. Do that with your own fortunate but improbable occurrences and see how the Divine works with the Clay of Everyday Life to work its Ends.
Cry Yourself To Sleep If You Will, But Arise with The Song of Birds With Faith and Enthusiasm
The Story of Joseph is too devoid of rich detail for these questions, but imagine the years and years he could have cried himself to sleep. He had to sit in pure wonder as the Egyptian guard brought them in. The years must have passed by like a fast movie. And then the positive relief poured over him.
A Possible Plausible Prayer
"There, now history can proceed, I might have cried myself a few times, but darn, I hung in there. Now I see the whole purpose to the Plan! I held on to my Dream!"
"Well, Coocachoo, Mrs. Robinson!" -- Without Joseph and Potiphar's Wife's Lust You Don't Have Much.
Potiphar's Wife, ("Mrs. Robinson") throwns herself at him.
She grabs his shorts, and he knows he has to run.
He is framed. Now that must have felt like "bad news".
It was. But it was part of the plan.
The plan had to get him into prison.
Joseph And His Star Machine
© 2010 Christofer French