Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: STIR (11/12/15)
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TITLE: Joseph and His Prophetic Vision | Previous Challenge Entry
By Grace Teoxon
11/19/15 -
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Jacob watched for a second, marveling at how Joseph got to look more like Rachel each day. He missed her but felt consoled around Joseph. He was tall for his 17 years; his stride exuded youthful confidence but his arms were lanky. He didn’t notice the raised eyebrows and ‘up-and-down’ look thrown by his brothers who looked stocky and rough in their shepherd’s tunic.
“Hey, Joseph, stop prancing around. You look like an idiot, ” a brother said.
He was taken aback by the tone and grim lines around their mouth. He tucked the coat around him and and trudged out- why did they dislike me so? Was it because father preferred me to go with him to town on business?
One day, Jacob emerged from the barn and felt the sharp sting of the sun on his arm. “Joseph,” he called out. “Go and look for your brothers. See if they brought the sheeps down to the meadow.”
In the sizzling haze, the sheeps were grazing up the hill. Shielding his eyes, he saw his brothers were not there. Where could they be?
He heard jumbled sounds; peered down and saw them lying under a tree- swatting insects with their head covers. There was an area with some trees for cover where the sheep could have grazed comfortably. He stepped on dry twigs and was startled by a loud crack which alerted them.
“Joseph, come here,” Judah shouted but scared, he scurried home.
Stomping his staff, Judah turned to his brothers. “He’s up to no good. He’ll stir trouble for us…surely he’ll tell Father and we'll be punished by carrying all those itchy bales of hay,” scratching his reddened arm.
Their father didn’t say anything when they reached home but they knew he was displeased-glowering and hhhuumpping all about the house. They glared at Joseph, shook their fists, when their father was not looking.
One time, Joseph came to them exultantly.
“Hey, hey, I dreamt last night. We were in the field bunching grain and you know what- your sheaves bowed down to mine.” His brothers snorted in disgust.
This didn’t stop Joseph. “Hey, that’s not all. I dreamt that the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.” The brothers gripped their staff and if not for the presence of their father, they would have struck him for his impertinence.
“You really is an arrogant liar. Who do you think you are-that you’re more important than us? That we will bow down to you? Shame on you-you must have water in your brains.”
Jacob came between them but scolded Joseph. “Such foolish talk Joseph. Do you mean that your mother and I shall also bow down to you?” He shook his head with impatience but his forehead was wreathed in puzzlement.
The brothers ignored Joseph, and snarled at him when Jacob was not around. They started scheming.
“You know what, he’s getting so full of himself. He needs to be taught a lesson.” So when he followed them to the field, they threw him into a dry pit. When they saw traders coming their way, they decided it was better to sell Joseph and got rid of him for good. They came home and told their father a lie-that Joseph was killed by wild animals, showing Jacob the mutilated robe caked with blood.
Jacob was grievously wounded-thumped his chest, struck his head in unbelief of Joseph’s fate- the son of his old age. He cried unrelieved for days. It had come full circle for Jacob-he, who also told a lie to his father Isaac to get the blessings destined for Esau.
How many times were people harmed due to tactless words and thoughtless actions? Was favor shown to one over another in the work place and at home stirred resentment? What more for being accused falsely like Joseph who was imprisoned due to the lie by Potiphar’s wife? Injustice alone could fuel strong emotions of anger, disgust and revenge.
The wheels of justice, indeed, turned; the prophetic vision came to pass. Joseph forgave his brothers, knew “… God meant it for good… .” Things happened according to God’s plan. Joseph reclaimed what he lost – respect, trust, love. Truly a blessed existence!
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References:
Genesis 37: 1-35 The story of Joseph
Genesis 50: 20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (NKJV)
http://www.gotquestions.org/life-Joseph.html
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If you wanted to keep the writing closer to Bible times you may have wanted to use terms other that "barn" and "bailed hay". These bring it too close to modern times.
Don't struggle to try to put all your thoughts into any one piece just because they come to your mind.
Why do they dislike me so? Is it because Father prefers me? Overall, though you did a great job. I can tell you are working on doing more showing and you're doing a great job. You were on topic, and it was a delightful read.