A Good Story In The Good Book

Over the past week or so, the Old Testament readings in the Daily Prayer podcasts have told the story of Joseph that is found in chapters 37-45 of Genesis. You may know the story as “Joseph and the coat of many colors,” or the modern musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” As far as dramas go, this story has it all.

Dysfunctional Family Dynamics

• Jacob’s father makes no effort to hide that Joseph is his “favorite” son (out of 12) and even goes so far as to bestow on him a “coat of many colors.”
• Joseph’s brothers make no effort to hide their jealousy.
• Joseph doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, and shares these dreams with them:

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 
We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
* * * * *
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

Family Betrayal

• Joseph’s brothers can’t stand him any longer, and plot to kill him. His life is spared by their greed, when they decide to sell him into slavery instead.
• Joseph’s brothers cover up their misdeed by making it look like Joseph was killed by wild animals, going so far as to bring home torn, bloody pieces of his once-beautiful coat.

A Woman Scorned

• Joseph is put in the service of Potiphar, earns Potiphar’s trust, and is put in charge of Potiphar’s household. Potiphar trusts Joseph so much that

he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate

(Isn’t that a great line?! I can picture a portly Potiphar smacking his lips and licking his fingers as he gorges on the finest foods in all of Egypt.)

• “Joseph was well-built and handsome,” and caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife who said “Come to bed with me!”
• Joseph has no interest in betraying Potiphar, but his wife does not take kindly when he refuses her advances. She fabricates a story of attempted rape and gets Joseph thrown into prison.

Redemption

• After a few years, Joseph earned his way out of prison by interpreting the Pharoah’s dreams that predicted seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

The Side Story On Global Food Shortages

• During the years of plenty, Joseph ensure that grain is put into storage for the years of famine ahead. Then, Egypt became a source of food for “all the countries.”

When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

(In this day and age, I find myself wanting to know more about this part of the story. How did Pharoah decide to share Egypt’s grain with the rest of the world? Was a fare price charged? Did his advisors push for a more selfish—or self-preserving—response to the famine?)

Joseph Gets “Revenge” On His Brothers

• During the famine, Joseph’s brothers come to  Egypt to beg for grain. Joseph recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him.
• Joseph uses his secret identity to his advantage, and plays tricks on his brothers. He accuses them of being spies, holds one brother hostage, demands that the youngest brother be brought to him, plants a stolen silver cup in one of their bags and has them arrested and charged with stealing, and on and on.

The Happy Ending

• Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, and explains that the whole ordeal was part of God’s plan to save lives during the famine.
• Joseph’s brothers go home and convince their father that Joseph is alive and well and “ruler of all Egypt.” Joseph’s father gets the final line before the curtain drops:

“I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him
before I die.”

Do you have a favorite Bible story?