Part I The Story of Joseph

Based on Genesis 37; 39:1–20

 “There comes the dreamer”, one did shout, yes, it was Joseph without a doubt.
His coat of colors spawned immediate irritation, bursting into wrathful indignation
against their brother, Jacob’s darling whom they hated, because of dreams of which he stated,
that they one day would bow to him! O what nonsense of such fame!
They said: “Let’s kill him, cast him in some pit, this way of him and dreams be rid.”
But Reuben said: “Let us not do this bloody deed he is our brother,
in the wilderness there is a pit and cast him in that rather.”
For he had in mind to save his brother later and restore him to his father.
The boy with cheerful greetings did draw near, but what coldness greeted him,
hateful looks that made him fear, they snatched him and with cruel hands tore off his coat and took him roughly,
with triumphant pace, dragged Joseph to the sought for place,
There they threw their brother down the pit, without mercy or regret,
nor thought of guilt what they just did!
The cry, the voice for pity did leave cold those men,
but sat down to eat, and content, with savage ease upon them.

Suddenly a noise, a strange commotion was then heard, Judah looked,
they saw a camel’s herd, a company of Ishmaelites came with goods for Egypt.
And Judah said: “Let us sell Joseph and not have guilt of blood on our hands.”
They all agreed and handed over, their weeping, pleading younger brother…
Strangers bound the hands of tender Joseph, tied him so he could not flee,
in disbelief he turned with tearful eyes: “Please my brothers, rescue me….”
But they were gone, and some harsh voice ordered Joseph to move on,
never to return, this was the fate of Jacob’s all beloved son. …
Dazed, bewildered, shocked with horror what was done to him, the lad moved on as in
an evil dream, his tears ran down till none were left, his heart so broken as he was bereft
of his father’s loving care and gaze, for now he did not see a kind and friendly face.
He trembled what would come upon him from these strangers all around him.
With longing eyes he saw his native land pass farther, day by day,
heart-wrenching sorrow made him cry—but there was no comfort, pity, mercy nigh. …
Long the journey was of many strenuous weeks and days, from dawn to dusk
through woods and rough terrain, and desert heat with floods of rays the sun did beat
on weary man and beast.
Then when darkness enveloped the land, the cold of night was then at hand,
the merchants, camels, Joseph very tired then retired.

Sleep came fast so well deserved below the starry sky, all the while
observed by holy angels watching over one particular,
who bound, exhausted, homesick for his father there did lie, wrapped in woolen cover
on the earth with tears, till sleep took over. …
Entering the land of Egypt, Joseph greatly feared, a strange language fell upon his ears,
he felt so utterly forsaken, lonely to the core, “What will happen to me there?”
In his distress he looked up to heaven: “O, but God is there!”
Suddenly a calm took hold of him he never felt before. “I will trust God, my life is in His hands,
I will be faithful, He will be with me, in this so very strange and foreign land.”
The gloom and sorrow waned, light and peace filled his heart and soul and mind.
The caravan moved some more days to reach a certain city,
where merchants trade their goods on markets busy,
selling, buying, spices, balm and myrrh, gold and silver, precious stones and more.
Even cattle, goats and sheep changed hands, brought and sold from diverse lands.
People, buyers, sellers of various tongues, teem the markets, streets, from early dawn till all their bargaining is done.
Arriving there the Ishmaelites took Joseph to a certain spot, a place were slaves were sold.
There were men and women, children, youth, mostly robbed or stolen far away
and some were even sold for gold.
Since Joseph made the covenant with God, he was no more the weeping, childlike boy,
but underwent a transformation, with faith and courage now his notion,
despair and fear were gone, in a few days he had became a man.
He stood there at this dreadful place among the crying, frightened, doomed,
with calm expression on his face. There was dignity and beauty in his bearing,
no hate, rebellion, but a noble virtue wearing.
This caught the eye of one of rank, who saw his worth amidst the desperate gang,
in one quick deal Joseph was unbound and taken to the splendid ground
of the captain of the guard—Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s great officers.
All was strange, so new, exciting, also at first quite intimidating,
but Joseph eager did his best to learn the language, orders, lest bring dishonour to his God.
He with all his heart and strength and mind served his master who to him was very kind.
The youth in time advanced in skill and manner, diligence, never caused one slight offence,
for God was with him, blessed him and the house of Potiphar, who promoted him
to the charge of all his goods and house, so Joseph prospered in his cause.

…………………..

Years went by, the Hebrew boy matured into one handsome, gracious, fine young guy,
his noble looks, his stature high, caught his master’s wife vain eye.
Betimes she whispered quite close by: “Lie with me! Share my passion!”
Her voice infatuated with intense emotion, sought to beguile this pious, godly,
good young man, who shuddered at those words falling on his ears, Joseph fears,
and quickly darted out of sight, to avoid a wicked terrifying plight,
most displeasing in God’s sight!
Alas, one day the house was empty, Potiphar was far away,
Now this lusty woman saw a way, to catch her prey,
She grabbed the arm of Joseph, forced him to her chamber, “lie with me!” Joseph fought
to get him free, slipped off his coat to quickly flee this dreadful place; but the woman
with a hateful gaze, shouted loud to get attention from the slaves, to tell them a most heinous lie, and even managed lying tears to cry.
Then this wicked woman accused him to her spouse,
when returning to his house, to paint a scene most obscene to him
to shatter Joseph’s splendid reputation, so that in Potiphar arose fierce indignation*
and bitter disappointment about his trust for honesty
and must now without pity and delay, thrust Joseph into jail—
thus the woman’s vengeance did prevail…

(*Note: Potiphar may have not believed his wife’s tale, but had to keep face,
And act the way he did to keep his household from scandal before his other servants.
The very fact Joseph was cast into prison was that Potiphar had pity on Joseph, for if the story
would have been true, Joseph would have been instantly put to death.)

………………………………

Anxiously Jacob waited for his sons’ return,
at last one day he saw them in the distance,
as they were coming, he looked closely,
the one he longed for most—he did not see—
fear crept in his heart: My Joseph, where is he?
Then greeting him his sons drew near, they brought the coat of color, bloody, torn,
“We found this in the field. It this the coat of Joseph your son?”
they asked with feigned and mournful tone.
“A wild beast devoured him!” Jacob cried.
His heartbeat almost stopped from that dreadful, awful sight.
A roar of anguish, so full of agony and pain,
rose from the bottom of his soul, they tried to comfort him but was in vain.
The shock, the grief so great tore Jacob’s heart,
he rent his clothes, he wept and mourned for many days.
His precious darling—Joseph, was no more—who can understand God’s ways? …

End of Part I.
To be continued.

Edda Tedford, Canada