What drew my attention in the Bible reading today was the meeting between Jacob and Pharaoh. When they first meet Jacob blesses Pharaoh (Genesis 47:7), and when they separate Jacob blesses Pharaoh again (Genesis 47:10). Now in an indirect way Jacob has already blessed Pharaoh, because Jacob is Joseph's father, and Joseph has arranged Pharaoh's business to profit from the severe famine in that region. As events unfold we learn that by Joseph's stewardship the wealth of the land, the people of the land, and the land itself comes into Pharaoh's possession. Only one class of Egyptians escapes financial ruin and indebted servitude--the priests. Pharaoh is "sitting pretty" when he first meets the father of his number one adviser (Joseph). Yet the old man (Jacob) blesses him!
Joseph's wealth-taking, slave-making, and land grabbing on behalf of Pharaoh is breathtaking to contemplate! As a youth he had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He had experienced slavery's injustice through forced labor and by the lies of his owners, Potiphar and his wife. True, Pharaoh had rewarded Joseph for his ruthless management of Pharaoh's lands, but Joseph must have known his benefits could have been stripped at any moment. He is an enslaved man.
How could he even think of enslaving others? Yet he does (Genesis 47:21). He does to the whole nation of Egypt what his brothers had long ago done to him! Soon the whole nation of Israel (the descendants of Jacob) will be enslaved by Egypt, too. "What goes around comes around." But that story begins in the Bible's book of Exodus. And we aren't "there" yet.
Reflecting on Joseph's story: The need for care is indicated in my life, centering on the ways I have been ill-treated, for I may be tempted to mistreat others in the same or similar ways.
No comments:
Post a Comment