There was a Bible man named Joseph born to a faithful man who loved him very much. His brothers disliked him from the beginning but around the house could say nothing. Dad was listening and would not stand for any talk about Joseph. But one day Joseph went to visit them at the work location.
In Joseph's excitement he began to tell them of the fantastic things that God was going to do and they could all be a part of it. But they were already doing okay by the standards of the day and he was just a dreamer anyway. They took one look at the beautiful coat of many colors that his Daddy had bought him and jealousy took control.
The tongues wagged behind the poor boy's back and he knew nothing. But it was decided that he was not their speed. He could not run with them. He had nothing to offer. After all something must be wrong with him for his Daddy to love him so much.
So the plot was laid. They would silence his voice. See him no more. Have no awkward moments when he came into their presence. And the house would be the same again, like before he was born!
Springing on him like a cheetah on zebra, they stripped him of his beautiful earthly assets. They flung him in a pit. They killed a goat. Dipped his coat in the blood. That's it. We will call him dead.
Yes, Daddy would sorrow for awhile but after a while the killing by an animal story would stick. They would be through with him. No more dreams. No more Joseph. But what do we do with him?
Now they were not murderers of flesh. Just assassins of character, intelligence and good works. They had to get rid of him. Down the dusty road came their answer.
Slave traders. Sure, why did they not think of it before? Let's make some money off of him. Take him for what he's worth. No one will ever know.
Sunlight flooded into the pit where Joseph had been cast. Drug by ropes up the side until feet landed upon the ground. Bound hand and foot his fearful eyes took one last, longing look at those he loved and those he thought loved him and then it was over. He was gone. Gone to a place called Egypt to be a slave!
Money exchanged over and over for this intelligent, sharp favored son until he landed in the house of a ruler. He began to do well. He began to make friends. He began to find favor again. Wealth reappeared and he was making do.
I don't how often he thought of his brothers and their deeds but I am sure he thought of his dear old dad and how he must miss him! But can't go there too much. Got to keep thinking his way out and moving up where he was enslaved. And then it happened again.
The old gal who he worked for desired him. He had far too much integrity to fall for the soft words again and he fled. She lied. Her husband believed her. Joseph had tried to rape her and now he was headed to another prison to pay for someone else's ladder climbing, backstabbing, ungrateful ways.
Down in the jail house he started moving up again. Made some good friends. When they dreamed he told them what it meant. The favor was still on him and he was accurate so he was gaining ground when somebody told somebody who told somebody that he was good at what he did. That somebody happened to be the King or the Pharaoh as he was called.
Out of prison. Into the Palace. Moving on up. Now he's over the national warehouse and because of his way with dreams he knew the famine was coming and had stocked up so good that the Pharaoh could feed all of his people pretty good and then it happened.
Back at home Daddy could not supply food for his sons and daughters and their wives and children and so he made a decision. Calling them in, he told them to get their trucks and trailers and go to Egypt and buy some food. Off they went and when they got there they showed up at the Pharaoh's warehouse. And guess who was there?
Well, they did not remember him. It was so long ago. We have no more obligation. But Joseph remembered. Cried a bit. And sold them food. But he had to find out about Daddy and is this a brother he had never seen before?
What a heartache. What a sadness. But to see Daddy again he had to put up with the boys. What would Daddy want him to do?
I can identify with Joseph...