Yosef's Creed | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Yosef's Creed | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
01/13/21
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“Enough! My son Yosef is still alive! I must go see him before I die.” Ya’akov called out to his sons, just returning to Kena'an from Egypt where they bought ample supply of food for their respective households. Ya’akov, who believed Yosef was killed by a wild animal and was perhaps still mourning for him, had not seen him for more than twenty years.

Yosef had adequate of everything since birth. Being the favourite son by Ya’akov’s second wife and love of his life, Rachel, Yosef knew no lack. There was no doubt Yosef was his father’s beloved son. Ya’akov made no secret of it.

In the years prior to Yosef’s birth, Lavan, Rachel’s father, was dishonest about of their belief that the eldest daughter must marry before the youngest. Ya’akov was cheated by Rachel’s father, Lavan. Ya’akov, whom after asking for Rachel’s hand was given Leah’s instead on the day of the wedding. When confronted by Ya’akov, Lavan said, “… and we’ll give you the other one also in exchange for the work you will do for me during yet another seven years.” Ya’akov agreed. Yosef and Binjamin were born from that union. Even though Ya’akov was cheated, the God of Israel abundantly blessed him with many male children.

In his heart, Yosef was his firstborn; to Ya’akov Yosef was enough.

Yosef, unbeknownst to him, had a special blessing from God; first, he had to be humbled and taught. He did not know what was waiting for him; all planned by God. Yosef accepted his ordeal. When he was still in the household of his father, he was raised to fear God.

Fuelled by this intangible specialness in Yosef his brothers conspired to get rid of him, they had had enough of that! God spoke to Re’uven to spare the boy. He convinced his brothers not to kill Yosef. When opportunity presented itself, they sold him like a slave to a caravan of the Yishma’elim for half a pound of silver shekels. Yosef’s brothers considered it an adequate amount.

Through circumstances, Yosef, unknowingly and subtly relinquished his life of plentiful to always be adequately provided for, and to provide for his brothers and their families, thus, ‘to preserve life’ as orchestrated and instructed by God.

Even though Yosef was sold to the Yishma’elim as a slave, and had spent time in prison he was always well provided for. He always had sufficient food, adequate shelter and was clothed.

Potifar, who was from the House of Pharaoh, bought him. Yosef was well build and handsome, he prospered. Potifar noticed how ‘ADONAI was with Yosef, and he became wealthy while he was in the household of his master the Egyptian. His master saw how ADONAI was with him, that ADONAI prospered everything he did’. Yosef became steward of his household.

Asif that was not enough, he could interpret dreams. He quickly gained recognition for interpreting dreams, not his interpretation but God’s, relayed through him.

When Pharaoh heard of Yosef’s accurate dream interpretations, he was summoned to the House of Pharaoh to interpret his dreams.

Shortly after that, Yosef was put in ‘charge of Pharaoh’s household and was placed in charge of the whole of the land Egypt.’

Because of God’s blessing on Yosef, he planned well ahead for the seven years of famine that immediately followed the seven years of abundance. ‘Yosef stored grain in quantities…, so much that they stopped counting because it was beyond measure.’

Father and son were re-united. By Pharaoh’s invitation Yosef’s family moved and eventually settled in the land of Goshen. During the years of famine, the families were well provided for, thus prospered.

Yosef was not ashamed to say ‘for I fear God’ even to Pharaoh.

‘For I fear God’ also means Yosef recognised and was obedient to the God of Plentiful, God as Source, God the Provider, God is Sufficient.

Yosef’s creed ‘For I fear God.’

________________ .
Paraphrased from Genesis chapters 37, 39, 41, 42 & 45
All Scripture from Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) 1998

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