The Story of Joseph (3)

Joseph’s brothers talked loudly together and moved away from the pit wherein they had thrown Joseph because they did not want to hear his cries. Many thoughts went through their minds, and they thought to finally be rid of this tale bearer.

Reuben left his brothers for a while to go and check on the flocks. While he was gone, a caravan of traders with camels came by. One of Joseph’s brothers, whose name was Judah, said to his brothers, “Why don’t we sell Joseph to these Ishmaelites; then we will not be guilty of shedding his blood, for he is our flesh and our brother”? The other brothers agreed with him, pulled Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites tied Joseph to the camels and took him along with them. Soon he was out of the sight of his brothers. They were glad to be rid of him, for now he could not tell their father about them anymore.

When Reuben came back, he went to the pit with the idea that he would set Joseph free. When he came there, he saw that it was empty. He became very afraid and angry, but his fear and anger were more for himself than for his brother Joseph.

The brothers had to explain to their father Jacob why Joseph did not return to his home. They decided to do something bad. First, the brothers killed a goat, and then they spread the blood of the goat all over Joseph’s coat of many colors. Then they took the coat, went home, and showed it to Jacob. “Look what we found,” they said. “Is this not Joseph’s coat?”

Jacob looked at the coat and cried out, “It is Joseph’s coat; a wild beast must have killed him.” Jacob cried a long time when he thought of Joseph, and no one could make him happy.

Why was that so wicked of the brothers? They did not say that a wild beast had killed Joseph. That is true, but they made it look as though it had really happened, and that was just as bad, for all lies are sinful.

What happened to Joseph? What did those men do to him? The men were traders who traveled from one country to another to buy and sell goods. When they came to the country of Egypt, they sold Joseph. Joseph was bought by a man named Potiphar who worked for the king. He became a slave in his house, and he had to work very hard. What would now become of those dreams which Joseph had had?

Potiphar really liked Joseph, especially when he saw that his house was blessed because of him. He put Joseph in charge of everything in his house; that was how much he trusted him.

Potiphar was nice to Joseph, but his wife was not. One day she tried to make Joseph do something bad, but Joseph said “No! I won’t do that; it is a sin against God. My master Potiphar trusts me to do all things right. How can I do such a bad thing to him?”

Potiphar’s wife did not give up, and she kept asking him day after day. Finally, one day she grabbed him, but Joseph slipped out of his coat and ran away. Potiphar’s wife quickly told everyone lies about Joseph, for she said, “Did you hear what that man did? He tried to make me sin. I called for help, and then he quickly ran away. See, I have his coat here to prove it.”

When Potiphar came home, his wife told him the same lies. Potithar became very angry, and he had Joseph thrown into prison. God, however, was with Joseph. He soon made the keeper of the prison trust him, just like Potiphar had. The jailer placed Joseph in charge of everything in the prison. God was with Joseph in everything which he did.

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