I did not post on Sunday's reading, nor on yesterday's. I'm catching up on the writing today. Hope you are keeping up. It is a lot, but it is such a blessing. I finally found a map that had all the locations on it so I could trace Jacob's travels and now Joseph's. By the way, my heart goes out to Joseph. When I get to heaven I'll be looking him up! :-)
Things I found interesting about Joseph's ordeal...
- Potiphar... An officer of Pharaoh: The ancient Hebrew word officer may be translated “eunuch.” It was a common practice in ancient times to make those highest in the royal courts eunuchs, to ensure they would be wholly devoted to their king. Because this practice was common, the term came to be used for all who served in important positions in a king’s court, whether they were eunuchs or not. So we really don’t know if Potiphar was a eunuch. Kind of makes the thought of the wife being attracted to Joseph a little more understandable... but only a little! :-)
- Potiphar had the chance to put Joseph to death for the crime of trying to rape his wife. He chose prison for Joseph. The prison was located in his basement as he was Captain of the Palace Guard. Note... it said that after hearing his wife's story Potiphar was furious... with whom I wonder?
- The "jailer" put Joseph in charge of the other prisoners. Whether it be Potiphar himself, or one of his underlings that got permission from Potiphar, Joseph was once again promoted because God was with him and blessed all he did.
- God opened Joseph's eyes with regards to dreams. He rightly told what the cup bearer and the baker's dreams meant. Joseph asked the cup bearer to remember him to Pharaoh. He promptly forgot about Joseph when he was released.
- Two years later... God's timing! Joseph was ready, the Pharaoh was ready, the land was ready,... God sees the big picture!
- I noticed when the cup bearer finally remember Joseph he referred to Joseph as "he was a servant of the captain of the guard". Captain of the Guard was Potiphar. Still makes me wonder whether Joseph was really "imprisoned" or whether his job position just changed to below the home of Potiphar.
- Note that Judah was back with his dad and brothers when the famine hit... He was one of the 10 brothers that went to Egypt to buy grain.
- Another thing I noticed... maturity on Joseph's part... as a youth he bragged about his dreams and his brothers bowing down to him. He just could not keep it to himself. Now, his brothers came and bowed down before him and he did not even tell them who he was.
- Interesting enough... when Joseph encountered his brothers and put them in prison for three days his brothers discussion among themselves did not go like this .. "It is because we sinned at Shechem and killed so many, we are looked on as spies here!" No... it was "This has all happened because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his terror and anguish and heard his pleadings, but we wouldn't listen. That's why this trouble has come upon us."
- Jacob still suffered over the loss of Joseph. He had lost Rachel too. His words to the brothers showed us how he felt about Benjamin too. He did not seem overly concerned with Simeon not coming home though. Yes, Jacob had his favorites. Jacob's entire family suffered for his favoritism.
- On a lighter note... Benjamin strikes me as a youngest child, much loved. He is oblivious to the brother's guilt. He takes things as they come. Five times more food for him... no problem! :-)
- Note the reaction of Jacob's sons over Benjamin's arrest. They tore their garments in despair and headed back to get their brother out of this mess and send him home to their father. Judah led the pack of brothers. He had personally sold one brother into slavery, this would not happen again! Judah's heartbreaking offer of taking Benjamin's place led me to remember the "Lion of Judah" who died in my place. Tears fill my eyes as I read that passage.
- I wasn't the only one who is trying to hold back the tears. Joseph breaks down and tells the brothers who he is. God has matured Joseph so much that he does not blame the brothers for his ordeal, but explains to them that God had a plan that was bigger than any of them!
- Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and knew that God had his hand on him and blessed all that he did. When he heard the news of Joseph's family he invited them to come to Egypt, gave them land, clothing, silver, etc... when Egyptians as a whole despised shepherds.
- So how would I feel if I had sold off my brother as a slave, told my father he was dead, watched my father suffer, been reunited with the brother I sold as a slave, and was told to go tell my father that that "dead" brother was alive and well and wanted to see him? I can only imagine!
- Jacob was stunned at the news. It finally sank in so Jacob set off for Egypt, but the first stop was to offer sacrifices to the God who saved his son. God spoke to him there and assured him that he was to go to Egypt. All of Jacob's descendants went with him.
- Next is the father/son reunion. That is private. I'll let you savor that scene for yourselves. Next is a list of all the relatives. And that is where we stopped in Genesis. Wow! I'm exhausted from emotions!
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