ISAAC, THE WELL DIGGER

I wish I could tell you something interesting about myself, but I can't. My name is Isaac and I’m a well digger.  That’s about all there is to say about me. There is really very little more than that.  My father, Abraham, was a great man, a good man, an influential man. I think he was also a very successful man. Do you know what it is like to be the son of a famous person? Do you know what it is like to have to live up to your father's greatness? Do you know what it is like to live in the shadow of a gifted man? I could never reach his expectations for me. I could not turn myself into someone else, because I felt like a nobody. It’s as simple as that - I didn't have the gifts my father had.

My father had ten talents. I have only one. My father traveled into many countries, I never traveled much at all. My father was the friend of princes and kings, but I did not know famous people. My father was recognized and treated as a pioneer, but not me. He was an extrovert, I was an introvert. I always felt inadequate in his presence.

My father walked with God. He was the friend of God. God spoke to him, but God did not speak to me. Well, not until I was much older, and then God only revealed himself to me a couple of times. Think about that. Even if I stretch it, maybe God was with me a few times in my life!

I understand why God is the God of Abraham. What I cannot understand is how God can be my God. It took me a long time to be convinced that God is my God, too. I know I was a disappointment to my father. I lack ambition. I do not have his gifts for business. I don't make friends easy. I am also shy by nature. I do not have a questioning mind. How can I possibly change myself? When I was in my late teens and my twenties I did not date girls. I did not go out with girls. And after my mother’s death I couldn’t seem to deal with my depression. Probably because I always felt closer to my mother than to my father.

I don’t like to admit this, but I was still single when I reached the age of forty. Mind you, my father took action. He couldn’t take my apathy any longer. So he went and found me a wife! I couldn't do it. I didn’t get married sooner because I never made any effort in that direction. Rebekah came from my uncle's family. She was a beautiful woman and she was kind to me. In our marriage I experienced the joys of married life, and that helped me to accept my mother’s death. I also realized that Rebekah was a very good wife for me. She was a kind person, a good cook, which I enjoyed very much, and she was has always been faithful and friendly. She became the mother of our children.

When my father died, I inherited everything. He was quite well to do. He had many servants, many flocks, many herds, many possessions. They all became mine, since my half brother, Ishmael, had long ago left the country. That was the way it was written in my father’s will. I was to receive everything and would have many servants working for me. Life was without adventure and easy for me, except that we had to pull up stakes and move often. That was because the tribes living in the land controlled it. Those pagan neighbors would fill up my wells with dirt and rocks, and then I would have to move again, and of course, find new water sources and dig another well.

Every time we moved it was important to secure a water supply! Of course I didn’t actually have to do the labor. That’s what my servants were for. So what did I do with my life? How did I spend my days? As I told you, I supervised the digging of wells. And that's about it. I suppose anyone can dig a well. It doesn't take much talent. All you need is a pick and a shovel, and you have to find where the water is. You can’t always know that. So you dig into the earth and go down. And you keep on digging until you discover water, and if you don‘t, you start over again somewhere else. I never owned a ranch. I lived in tents and pulled up stakes. That's about it. That's my tale. Not very interesting, heh?

As I mentioned, the God of Abraham revealed himself to me and confirmed the blessing he had given my father. He promised this land to me and my descendents, even though I could never call it my own. Not in my lifetime. I think I always felt unworthy of God’s blessing. I think that the only reason I received the promise of the Lord is because of my father, not because of me. I had not earned this. I had done nothing to deserve God’s promises. But after the validation of God’s covenant, I began to realize that it was important for me to live by faith in the Lord for the rest of my days!

And then something happened that changed my life. I lost my sight. I don’t know why or how, but that was a great trial. When you are able to see you don’t think about what a blessing that is, but becoming blind affects everything! I couldn't go for walks by myself any more. It was too dangerous. I couldn’t enjoy nature, look at the world around me, a sunrise or a bird in flight. I didn't exercise either. I lost my appetite for everything, except my desire for food. That desire increased since it was one of the few pleasures left for me.. But I began to put on weight, actually a lot of extra pounds - because I don’t exercise, and I’m not active. I don’t really want to make excuses for myself, but there are all these obstacles that keep me from really living!.

I was not always this heavy. I know I'm overweight, but have you ever thought about how everything would change if you became blind? What pleasures will be left you? Very few pleasures remain. Good food is one of them, and I like good food like venison - steaks, roasts, stews, barbecued ribs, everything. Do you think it is wrong to eat too much? I know that drunkenness is a sin. So I try to drink in moderation, but since when is overeating a sin? I don’t call this “gluttony.” No, no, no. It is one of my few remaining pleasures. There is nothing like anticipating a good meal, when you smell the aroma of a roast on the fire. Makes me feel better inside. I become less angry at life. I’m not bitter with my lot. That’s what good food does for me.

But this is not a very interesting story, now is it? Are you getting bored? I told you that my life is hardly as colorful as my father’s Why should you listen to the tale of a well digger who eats too much? Well, that about sums up who I am. That’s all there is to tell. But enough about me. Let me tell you about my boys.

Rebekah and I were married for twenty years before we had children. Yes, that was a long time to wait, even though she was twenty when we married and I was forty, as I told you. Rebekah worried more than I did, although I prayed about it, but she probably prayed more. After twenty years she did became pregnant and we were very grateful to God.

We actually had twins, twin boys. The first one was a big baby and red and he had hair already! The next one was smaller and pale. The first one weighed more than the second, but as he was coming out I noticed something strange. His hand was holding onto his brother's heel!

"So what do you want to call the boys?" Rebekah asked me in a weak voice.  "I don't know," I said.

"Well, think of something."  "I‘ll try." I didn't have a clue. We had talked about names as couples do, but I didn't remember what we decided, if anything. Worse than that, I didn't really care about names, but she expected me to come up with something. "Well," I said, "the first one has lots of hair. So, let's call him Harry."  "And the other one?" "He's so scrawny, but I saw how he came out holding Harry's heel. So, let's call him Heel Holder."  I told you I'm not very imaginative! So that's what we named the boys. If I were to translate this from our language to yours, they sound like this: Esau means the hairy one, and Jacob is the heel holder.

As the boys grew, I favored Esau. Rebekah spoiled Jacob. All this became obvious. You could see it at every meal when we ate together as family. She doted on Jacob. I joked with Esau. I saw in Esau everything I could never be. Maybe there was some of the adventurous spirit of his grandfather in him. He was athletic, muscular, strong, the outdoor type and an extrovert. He liked the mountains, the wild life and girls. Especially girls. Jacob on the other hand was a homebody. He hung around in the kitchen and preferred cooking and reading and music. He was a lot like his mother.

Now Esau was the firstborn, and Jacob really wanted to be first, but he could never be! Let me explain something. In our culture it is our custom that the firstborn inherits almost everything. More important, the firstborn receives the blessing from the father, and therefore the blessing from God. That's the way it is. The firstborn has all the privileges. The order cannot be reversed, and Jacob knew that. But he brooded about it, and he wanted to change his destiny. So he waited for his chance, and then one day it happened.

Jacob was in the kitchen, cooking a lentil stew. The smell filled the tent, and even I enjoyed the thought of a good dinner. Esau came home after a long day in the field. He was tired, sweaty, hungry. He was famished. The aroma of the stew drove him a little crazy. “Give me some of that stew!"

“I’ll be glad to," replied Jacob, stirring the pot. “Hold on for just a moment.”

“Why? Hurry up. I’m hungry.”  "I’ll give you some in a moment, but let me ask you something.”

“What?”  “Will you give me your birthright? If you will give me your birthright, I’ll dish up a bowl of stew for you right now."  "My birthright?  Why do you want that?  I don't care about that.  I'm very hungry!  I want something to eat, and I want it now!"  He muttered under his breath. “Birthright? What is that to me? Doesn't mean anything. You can have it. I want food right now.”

"Do you swear?"  "Yes, I swear. Hurry up. Give it to me!"  That's how Jacob put himself in a position to receive the blessing of God. He seized the moment and Esau lost it. He didn't care. Not then anyway. Later? Oh yes, when the birthright was gone, he had regrets. But it was over and done!

I admit that Esau was a disappointment to us. His mother and I warned him not to get involved with the girls who live here in Canaan. They are pagans. They worship idols. They are not believers in our God. But Esau paid no attention to us. He dated a Hittite and one night brought her into his tent. She was his downfall. Judy was a nice person, but she was an idolater. She did not belong to our people, and she kept Esau from worshipping the Lord God.

When it dawned on me that Esau had lost his birthright, I wanted to do something to reverse the situation. Some time later I asked him to come and talk to me. "I have a plan, son. Even though you have lost your birthright, I think I can give you the Lord's blessing. Go out hunting in the woods and bag me a deer. Kill it, bring it home, and barbeque some venison roast. You know, the way I like it. I will eat your offering, and after dinner I will bless you. That’s how we'll work it, so that you can be sure to receive the blessing of God. You are my firstborn son, and you must continue the covenant that God made with your grandfather!"

Esau went out to hunt, but I did not realize that Rebekah had overheard our conversation. Nor did I know what was going through her mind at that moment, but I will tell you what she did. Even though I did not know this at the time. She called Jacob and told him about my talk with Esau. She sent him out to kill one of our goats and bring some meat to her right away. She would roast it and season it to taste. She didn’t think I would suspect anything. To tell you the truth, I didn’t really when later Jacob brought dinner to me before Esau could return, That’s how she planned it so that Jacob would receive the blessing of God.

Jacob objected like crazy! I can almost hear him.  "Mother, it will never work! Father may not be able to see me, but I’m so different from my brother. I don’t have hair on my arms like he has. Father will touch me, and then he’ll know. I don't have Esau’s deep voice. I can’t really talk like he does. My clothes don't even smell like his. Father can smell and touch me, and I will be discovered!"

"He will believe you if you say you are your brother."  "No he won't.” “You’ve got to convince him, son.”  “What if he touches my arms? I don’t have so much hair.” “I’ll take care of that. Don’t worry so much, Jacob.” “Mother, I can’t. He will smell me. He knows I don't hunt in the mountains.” "You can wear your brother’s jacket.” “Mother, he won’t bless me. He will curse me!” “If he curses you, the curse be on me, son."

Rebekah told me about this conversation afterwards, when I pressed her to tell me what happened. That’s how I know. But Jacob didn't have the strength to object. He obeyed her, because deep inside the truth is that he would have done anything to steal that blessing for himself! Yes, she pushed him into it. She prepared the roast. She added the spices. She dressed Jacob in Esau's coat. She even put strips of goat hair on his arms and neck if I were to touch him, which I did. Clever woman. But when Jacob came into my tent, I didn't suspect this. Of course not.

There I sat in my favorite chair, fully expecting Esau. I had smelled that aroma even before Jacob entered with what I thought to be venison. And I was hungry. "Father, I've been out hunting. I’ve brought you your favorite roast."   His voice threw me at first. It didn’t sound like Esau. Was this really Esau?  "Who are you?" I blurted out. "I am Esau, your firstborn. I've returned from the hunt. Father, please give me your blessing.” I was not convinced. Was this really Esau? He said so!

"How could you find the deer so quickly, my son? You killed it, dressed it, roasted it already? You were gone a very short time."  He lied again right through his teeth: "The Lord your God gave it to me."   "The Lord, huh? Is this really venison?”  “Yes, father. The best.”  "Are you sure you are my son Esau?"   Jacob stuck to his story: "Yes Sir, yes, I am your son Esau."

"Come closer,"   I demanded. "Let me feel your skin. I want to touch you and see if you are really Esau.” I could not see, but I could feel. I felt his lower arm and neck and there was too much hair for him to be Jacob. That clever woman tricked me. I could not see, but I could smell. Even as I sniffed his clothing, I was convinced this was Esau‘s coat. That woman was so clever!"

The skin feels like Esau,"   I growled, "the smell is the smell of my firstborn. But your voice is the voice of Jacob. I don’t understand this. I know the difference between you two. Are you sure you are Esau?"  "Yes, father."  His voice lowered. He was trying hard to sound like his brother. "I am your son, Esau.” That’s how he lied, and then he lied again. And again, and again. I don’t know how many times. "Bless me father.”

I tell you I was not completely convinced, but I had to believe this was Esau, as he said. And because I was really hungry I ate the roast and didn't know the difference. It tasted like venison to me, and the spices she had put on the meat convinced me. I drank the wine. I asked my son to come near and kiss me on the cheek. He did so, and then I blessed him. What else could I do? I never in my life suspected that my wife and son would scheme together to deceive me!

"The smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed! Therefore God give you of the dew of heaven and the fatness of earth, plenty of corn and abundance of wine. Let people serve you and nations bow down to you. May you reign over your brother, and let your mother’s children show you respect. And may those who bless you be blessed.”

After dinner I dropped off to sleep. Not long after I was startled when Esau woke me up. He had returned from a successful hunt, prepared the venison, and I could smell dinner again. But obviously, I was not hungry. "Father, I have come in from the hunt. Here is what you asked me for. It’s a really good venison roast. Eat and enjoy. Then give me your blessing.”  "Who are you?” I blurted out.  "I am Esau, who else?"  he answered.

"But...?"  "But what? I am your son Esau. This is your firstborn, Esau."  This was the voice of Esau, and now I realized we had been betrayed. Jacob had stolen the blessing with his mother‘s help. This was Esau in my tent. "Esau, my son, my firstborn. Your brother, the heel holder, was here before you. He deceived me. He lied, he tricked me and stole your blessing. He insisted that he was you, and I didn’t know. That’ is why I blessed him."

"You, what?" "Listen, when I touched him he had hairy skin like you. His clothing smelled like yours. He felt like you, he even tried to sound like you. And he brought a delicious roast. I thought it was venison, but I don't know what it was. I only know he stole your blessing. And I thought he was you all the time!"  "Well, so what? You can bless me too, father.”  "I gave him dominion and power. I don't have another blessing for you.”  "Oh yes, you do. You have to. I want your blessing. I deserve it. I'm your firstborn!”  "Son, there is nothing I can do about this.”  "Here, eat some venison. Enjoy. You’ll like it. I’ve prepared it for you.”  I was so full I didn’t want to make myself sick. I managed a couple of bites. "Jacob’s got my birthright. Now he has stolen my blessing. That crook, that deceiver, that no good…! I swear, he's not long for this world. Father, bless me.”

"I've made him your master, son. I've placed your family under him. I thought I was doing it all for you. But your brother has betrayed you, and he has received the blessing of the Lord."

"Father, don’t you have even one blessing for me? Just one?”  He was actually crying, he was so hurt. I had to think of something. "Son, you will live without the dew of heaven and without the blessing of the earth. You will live by your sword and you will serve your brother. But the day will come when you will break his yoke from your neck.”  It was a blessing of sorts, I suppose. The best I could do.

But this was the beginning of the end of our family. Our tents turned into a battleground. Jacob had manipulated everything to his advantage, but by doing so he incurred his brother‘s wrath. Esau resented him, hated him, even vowed that he would kill him! Maybe he would wait for me to die, before he would carry out this threat, but my wife took matters into her hands again.

"Isaac, we cannot go on like this,” she started out. “Jacob and Esau cannot both remain in our home. Esau is furious, like a mad man. I think it’s best if Jacob leaves. Why don’t we send him to my brother in Haran?”

"But you may never see him again.”  "I know that, but we don't have a choice. If he stays here, his brother may kill him. Let’s get Jacob safely out of here. Perhaps, eventually Esau’s anger will blow over.”  I agreed. What else could we do? We talked it over with Jacob and told him our decision. I didn't see any point in discussing his deception and lies. We told him that we were sending him to family in Haran, and there he would find a wife. We insisted that that he make us one promise: He was not to take a wife from the Canaanites or any other foreigners. He promised us that. I blessed him again before his journey.

"God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful. May you and your descendents become a great nation. May you inherit the land which the Lord has promised us. And so may the blessing of Abraham be passed on to you and to your children.”

After Jacob had left Esau found out what had happened and this made him mad at everybody. He hated Jacob, avoided his mother and begrudged me my part in giving away the blessing. To defy us he took another wife from the pagans. And then another and yet another. Frankly, I lost count of the women he brought into our tents! But eventually he moved away from our home and also forsook the God of Abraham.

I thought I would never see my sons again, but not so. I lived another twenty years in spite of my poor health. Not that I did much in my old age. I just became older and put on more weight. After twenty years Jacob returned to the land with his wives and children. He had a very large family and the blessing of the Lord was on him. He had twelve sons! Twelve! Esau prospered as well, and it seemed that he had put his past behind him. He made up with Jacob and even seemed to have forgotten about the lost birthright and stolen blessing. So, there at my deathbed stood both of my sons together again! I sensed that Esau had put his hand on Jacob's shoulder. And with that memory I was at peace before I died..

So, I served God as best I could. I never had the gifts my father had, but in spite of that God accepted me. As I told you, God renewed the promises he made to Abraham, to me. That is why I built altars to God wherever I lived and offered sacrifices of worship. I don't remember how many times we moved or how many altars I built or how many wells I had to dig. But except for my family, that about sums up my lackluster life. Altars and wells.

I may be a simple, unimaginative man, and if I am remembered [if I am remembered at all] it will be for digging wells. But I have come to believe that the God of the talented is also the God of the simple and the humble. The God of the successful is the God of the ordinary as well. The God of my father Abraham is willing to be the God of Isaac, too!

We are all loved of God. We all have value. We are all redeemable, even with our sins and shortcomings. Our God is merciful and kind, forgiving and loving, because he is God! We, too, will make it into God's kingdom, the gifted as well as the ordinary, the talented as well as the unimaginative. The wise and the simple. The extroverts and the introverts. For God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That is how God wants to be known. Abraham was a great and famous man and my son Jacob was gifted also. As for me, who lived between my exceptional father and my blessed son, I am included as well. I may have been not anything more than a well digger, but the Lord God who makes a covenant with us is the God of Abraham, Jacob and Isaac!

Remember, you heard it from a well digger!

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JACOB HAVE I LOVED

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - that is so hard to believe for me!  I’m Jacob and God wants to be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? My grandfather Abraham, I understand. Abraham was an exceptional person, a pioneer, a man of faith and character. Isaac, my father, was a simple man and a good man. But me? How can God want to be associated with me? How can God say, "Jacob have I loved?”

I know that many people don’t like me, and I don’t blame them. They read about me and discover the terrible things I’ve done, and they wonder how God can care about me. God may be the God of Abraham and Isaac, yes, but not of Jacob. Surely not “Jacob have I loved!”

Let me tell you about my life, and then you decide. :Perhaps you’re wondering how the Almighty God can love someone like me!  My mother tells me that I was came into the world grabbing my brother's heel. Esau, my twin brother saw the light of day first, and then I followed, holding on to his heel. That's why they called me Jacob - the name means Heel Holder. It can also mean “Deceiver” in our language. And that's true also. That’s typical of me. I clutch and I grab and I will cheat and deceive to get what I want. I will even lie. It’s been like that in the early years of my life..

You see, Esau having been born just minutes before me is the first born. That means he has all the privileges. He is the only one to receive the blessing of God - that is, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau. As for me there will be nothing - zilch. Because I came in second. Esau was the chosen one. Our parents raised us to believe in God, and I do believe, but I learned early that you have to look out for yourself.. Nobody else will! Take what you can get. Seize the moment. "God helps those who help themselves,” that's my motto. That sums up my philosophy of life. You see, when you're number two, you try harder.

So, one day I seized the moment. I saw my chance to snatch the birthright from my brother. It happened like this. My brother enjoys hunting wild game, and this day he had been in the wild for a long time, He came home tired and ravenously hungry. He plopped down at the kitchen table, pounded his fist on the table and demanded something to eat. I had been cooking lentil soup, and you could smell the aroma the moment you entered the tent. Esau demanded some soup: “I’m starving!” Sensing that he would do anything at this moment I promised him a bowl. But first I asked him about his birthright. He cursed and gave me a dirty look, demanded soup.

I said, “Do you swear to give me the birthright?”

“I don’t care about any birthright. I’m dying of hunger. Give me that soup!“  That’s how I got the birthright! I know I took advantage of him, but it was a fair deal after all. I’m a heel-holder, that's me. I grab when I can, and as I told you, "God helps those who help themselves!” That’s the way life is.

Some years later came a day when our father, Isaac, wanted to give my brother God‘s blessing. He called Esau and asked him to go out and hunt for a deer, and then to prepare it and bring him a special dinner. My father likes venison, and he wanted to celebrate before giving Esau the blessing of God.

My mother overheard the conversation! She called me into the kitchen. We have to act right away, she said. There’s no time to loose. She ordered me to go outside and get one of our goats and kill it. She would prepare a roast and season it to taste like venison. I was to take this dinner to father and receive the blessing before Esau could return. I objected, of course. I realized that my father was blind, so he could not see me, but if he wanted to make sure I was Esau he might touch me and feel my smooth skin and my brother was hairy. He could also smell my clothes, and they didn't have the scent of the outdoors like Esau. Besides my voice wasn't as deep as my brother's. Mother tried to fix it all. She covered my arms and hands with goat skin that felt hairy, she told me to get one of Esau's jackets from the closet and suggested that I lower my voice to sound more like my brother.

I tell you I was scared to death as I walked from the kitchen into the tent where my father was. I was shaking so, that the dinner almost dropped to the floor. My hands trembled as I placed the dish in front of him. My father asked how I had returned so quickly, and I started my deception. God had helped me find the deer. The lies just popped out of my mouth. One falsehood after another. God provided this meal? But I couldn‘t quite manage to throw my voice to sound like my brother.

"You don't sound like Esau,’ he said, “Are you sure, you are Esau?”  "Yes, father, I am, I am Esau.” He must have asked me that six times, and I broke into a cold sweat as I deceived him again and again. He reached out and felt the goat skin on my arms, smelled my clothing, but even then he was not completely convinced. "You smell like my son Esau. You are hairy like Esau, but the voice? You sound like Jacob. I can’t be sure who you are.”

“I am Esau, father.”   I kept on lying and tried to sound convincing. “I am Esau! Bless me, father!”  I wanted him to hurry up, to eat and give me his blessing, because I was worried that Esau could return at any moment! Finally, he blessed me. That's how I, the heel holder, stole both the birthright and the blessing. That's who I am, Jacob the deceiver, liar, cheater, trickster. As I say, "God helps those who help themselves.” You've got to look out for number one. No one else will.

Esau was fit to be tied when he realized what had happened. But it was too late. He threatened me, and I knew that I was no match for him physically. He was bigger than I. When my parents heard him talk like that, they decided to send me away to our family in Haran. I was to seek out my mother’s brother, whose name was Laban, then find myself a wife [but not a heathen or a pagan wife]. I was not to return, not for many years..

I tell you on the first night away from home, I was scared. I had never been alone among hostile tribes or dangerous animals. But I was so tired that I dropped right off to sleep with my head on a stone for a pillow. That night I had a scary dream. I saw what looked like a ladder reaching up to heaven. Angels ascended and descended on it. There was a bright light high above me, and I heard a voice addressing me: "I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and I promise to be with you. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your children after you. You will be like the dust of the earth in number, and in you and your children will all the families of the earth be blessed! Behold, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will do all that I promise you.”

God said nothing about my lies, nothing about my cheating, nothing about my deception, nothing about my sins. God only made promises! The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac promised to be my God! I had cheated and lied to obtain the birthright and the blessing, and God offers me this gift of himself? I didn’t deserve it, and I don’t deserve it now, not with what I have done. And I know it. I tell you, when I awoke from my dream I was sweating, and I was scared. But I made a commitment to God - sort of a commitment, anyway..  "God, if you are really the God of Abraham and Isaac and you promise to go with me and protect me; if you will give me food to eat and clothes on my back, and bring me back to this land which you plan to give me, then, well then, you will be my God. And - if you fulfill your promises to me, then I will give you, eh, yes, I will give you 10% of all I have.”

I meant it. Kind of. I do believe in God. Especially now that God has revealed himself to me. I want to live by faith in God, but I am not about to give God anything, if my life would not work out well. What if God would fail me?  When I arrived in Haran, I found my uncle and told him that I was Rebekah's son. He welcomed me with open arms, kissed me on both cheeks and treated me like a long, lost son. I was invited to stay with him. I offered to work in his fields taking care of his many animals, but I soon realized that my uncle was all front. Laban was not to be trusted. Slick and glib and always those fake smiles. He reminded me of a smooth-talking Philistine rug salesman.

I had been there about a month working with his flocks and herds for board and room, when one evening at dinner he opened the subject of money. Laban thought I should get some wages. When he opened his mouth you need to imagine that you are listening to a slick manipulator with an oily voice. He not only sounds like a phony, but he is a phony!  "Well, Jacob, my boy, my boy. You've been with me about a month, a month, heh? You know, boy, you know something, I can’t let you work for nothing, now can I? No I can't. I can't do that. No, no, no, no, no. You ought to get some wages, heh? Right? Some pay? So, what do you want, boy? Tell me, what do you want, heh?”

"Uncle," I said. "I really don't want any pay for my work. I’m happy to live here. You see, I’ve fallen in love with your daughter, Rachel. She is so beautiful.” I looked over at Rachel. "And I want to marry Rachel, if she will have me. I'm willing to work for her, without any pay, just for room and board. That’s all. I'm willing to work for her hand in marriage - for seven years!”

"That's fine, boy, that's fine, that's just fine.”   Laban was delighted. He rubbed his hands together. This arrangement wouldn't cost him a penny! "I'm happy for you, hear? Happy. Sure, very happy. You and Rachel in seven years? Sure, you can work for her for seven years. Then marry my daughter. I agree to that, yes I agree. Yes, I do, boy.”

I worked those seven years for him and had nothing else to show for my labors. But I was going to marry Rachel and honestly, it didn't seem like such a long time. The years went by fast. I was in love, and the best part was that I was around Rachel almost every day and we talked and talked.

And then came the wedding day. Rachel looked so beautiful in her white dress coming down the aisle. After the ceremony there would be the usual week celebration, family festivities, banquets, dancing and good times. But on that first evening when it came time to retire, we excused ourselves. Rachel said she would prepare herself in our tent. I walked around a bit. It was a dark night and clouds obscured the stars. When she called me into the tent, she didn’t light a candle and wanted it to remain dark. I couldn't even see her face.

The next morning I awoke and turned to look at her for the first time. I had the shock of my life! It was not Rachel! It was Leah, her older sister in bed with me. Rachel was not there."Leah, did I sleep with you last night? Was that you all night?”  "Yes, it was,” she answered. "Where's Rachel?” "My father made me take her place. She’s in her own bed.” “Why? How could he do that?” I stormed out of the tent.

I found Laban eating breakfast. I was furious."Uncle, what did you do to me? You tricked me. You deceived me. You cheated. Seven years I served you for Rachel. Seven years I worked and all without pay. You promised me Rachel. And now what have you done? You have broken your promise. You did not give me the woman I love. You substituted her sister on my wedding night. How could you do such a thing? How could you? You know I love Rachel. Why did you deceive me like that?”  I was beside myself, I was so angry. It's one thing when I tricked my own brother as I admit I have done, but it's quite another when someone else tricks me! And what kind of trickery he pulled, this hypocrite of an uncle. This really hurts! This is unbelievable!

Laban gestured with his hand and tried to cool me down: "Jacob, my boy, my boy, don't get so upset. Don't get upset, huh? Look, boy, I only did what was right. That's all I did. You know the custom of our land. Yes, you do. You know that we marry the older daughter before the younger. Know what I'm saying? We can't marry the younger first, now can we? No, that’s not right. We can't do that. So, don't get upset, heh? Because I got an idea, see? Tell you what I'm going to do. Listen here, boy, listen, I’ll make it up to you. In a week when the folks leave and go home and the party is over, listen, I'm going to give you Rachel for your wife. You will have her. You will have them both! In a week Leah and Rachel will be your wives. Like that idea, boy?”

"Uncle, I…”  "I will do that Jacob, oh yes, I will do that for you. We've got a little deal going here, haven't we? Got a good little deal. You said you’d work seven years for a wife, and now you’ll be getting two wives! Bur you can’t have two wives for the price of one, now can you? Do the math. One wife seven years, two wives fourteen years.. Yes, boy, for her you will have to work another seven years!”  "Uncle, how can you…?”

"Listen Jacob, my boy, my boy. Seven years for one wife, that’s what you said. Now you get not one but two. Two times seven is fourteen. Fourteen years without any wages. Right? Right! That was our agreement. From the beginning. So that’s the way it is. Seven more years, you understand, don’t you? End of conversation!”  He got up and walked out. Seven more years for Rachel? Fourteen years without any remuneration? This low-down deceiver had tricked me but good. This was a bitter pill to swallow, even though I now had two wives. But I didn’t love Leah.

And that’s when the trouble started. Rachel was unable to have children. Leah didn’t have that problem. She had one son after another. All told she went on to have six sons! But Rachel didn’t have any children, but one day Rachel offered me her servant girl so that she could have a son by her. When Leah heard about that, she gave me her servant also. It went on like that. Rachel’s servant had two sons, and so did Leah‘s, After that Rachel was blessed with a son whom we named Joseph. I now had eleven sons and also daughters. I was ready to leave this foreign country and return to the promised land. But when I told my plans to Laban, he stopped me. He refused to let us leave..

So after fourteen years of free labor, Laban and I struck a new agreement. He asked me what I wanted and I decided to keep it modest. I suggested I would only take the spotted and streaked animals, even the sick ones. I would separate them out from his flocks by three days. Keep them apart. He liked that idea, since there were very few spotted and streaked among his hundreds. It didn‘t mean much to him because this was less than one percent of all his animals."That's a deal, boy. You've got a deal. Sure, boy, I like that arrangement. You take those spotted and streaked ones, and I'll keep the rest. You’ll still work with my herd. But that’s a deal. You’ve got yourself a deal, see?”

You need to remember that I'm a heel holder. I'll do anything to survive. I immediately separated my measly few, but I still had the responsibility of tending all his herd. Tell you what I did. I broke some branches from trees, took my knife and carved streaks and spots on them. I placed these sticks at the watering trough in front of his animals, so that they would see them when they came to drink. My hope was that they would produce spotted and streaked calves and lambs and goats and what have you, and it worked! Everywhere spotted and streaked animals were born, and my flocks and herds multiplied. That is when I began to believe the promise God made me long ago. God is with me after all!  Laban didn't appreciate this turn of events. He insisted on changing pay.

"OK,"  I told him, "How about from now on I take only the black sheep or any very dark ones. You can have everything else.”  He agreed immediately since there were so few black sheep. He had no problem with that, but now we saw more black sheep than ever before, and even dark cattle, donkeys, goats and camels!  Laban was furious. He changed my wages again, and then he did it again and again. No matter what he offered as our agreement, God blessed me so abundantly that I lost count of all that came my way! Six years later I probably owned 80%, as his share dwindled to 20%. This had to be the work of God!

By this time we separated from each other about three days journey to keep our herds apart. Then God showed me it was time to leave Haran and return to the promised land. Rachel and Leah agreed to support my decision. They were willing to move away from their father, too. They knew how he had treated us and how he had changed toward them. We started for the promised land, but it was slow traveling with the women and children and all the animals. One week later, Laban stormed into our camp with a number of his men. I've never seen him so angry.

Now it was my turn to be angry. This man did not pursue me because of his children or his grandchildren. He didn't care about them! All he cared about was his idols. That’s why he followed us. It was not about family. I was furious! “I‘ll tell you why I left, uncle.” [I never could call him father.] “I’ll tell you why. I am afraid of you. I don’t trust you. I never know what you will do. If I had informed you that I wanted to leave, you would have sent me away without anything, without my wives and children! I wouldn’t put it past you. You know why I can’t trust you, because of all you’ve done to me over the years. And now about these gods of yours, I don't have them. I don’t want them. I believe in the God of heaven and earth. I don’t know where your idols are. I don’t want anything to do with them. If anyone has stolen them, that person will not live!  But I don’t have your precious idols.”

I was unaware that my wife, my beloved Rachel, had taken the family gods. Had I known that, I would never have given him permission to search the camp. But now Laban was already in my tent and turned it upside down. He went through Leah's tent and found nothing. He proceeded to search the whole camp and then came to Rachel’s tent. She was sitting on her camel with the idols in her saddle bag. She refused to move. She excused herself, said that she was on her period and didn't feel well. He searched her tent but never found them.

I exploded. "What is my sin, uncle? What have I done wrong? You come storming in here, accusing me of stealing your gods, and what have you found? Nothing. Your precious little gods are not here. Twenty years I have been with you. Day and night I served in your fields. If any animal was wounded or killed, I bore the loss, not you. I never ate a ram from your flocks. Fourteen years I worked for my wives because you double-crossed me on my wedding night. You tricked me into fourteen years without pay and for the last six years you’ve changed my wages ten times. Ten times, uncle. And still God kept on blessing me. If God had not been with me, even now you would have taken my family, the animals and everything else away. But God has seen my suffering and last night God interfered with your plans. God has fulfilled his promises to me.”

It was the only time I ever saw Laban almost speechless: "Well, boy, you better not come back into my territory, you hear? You better not. I'm going to draw us a line, here in the sand. And we're gonna mark it with some stones here. And if you come across these stones into my territory, you're a dead man, you hear? You understand me? Don’t ever come over that line!”

“That's fine with me.”   I sounded angry with this liar, this corrupt deceiver. “This heap of stones will separate us. I will not leave my father's land again, and I will not cross over this line. God is our judge. The Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other.”  I would never see Laban again, and come to think of it - well, I regret that it had to end this way, especially for our children.

We resumed our trip to the land God promised us, and I sent messengers ahead to inform my brother, Esau. The messengers returned and reported that Esau was riding to meet me with 400 men! 400 men? Was he about to revenge the loss of his birthright and the stolen blessing? What was I to do? I had less than 100 workers. Twenty years had passed, but now I feared Esau’s revenge anew. I had to take precautions. I am the heel holder, after all, and I had to think of something, but quick. I needed to take care of my family.

I separated all of us into three groups. I placed the servants and animals in the first group. Then a distance behind them but not visible from the first group came the servant girls and their sons. In the last group way back I placed Leah, her children and my beloved Rachel and our son, Joseph. If my brother attacked the first group and even the second, at least the others would be saved. That was my rationale.

Then I called a few workers together and gave them these instructions: "Four of you will take 30 camels and their young, and also round up 20 donkeys and 10 foals. Drive them to Esau, and say to him, 'A present from your brother Jacob.’ You can get started right now on your project.

“About fifteen minutes later, four of you after rounding up 200 sheep and 20 rams, and also 200 she-goats and 20 goats, will take off. Make sure you have put time and space between you and the first group. When you see Esau, say to him, ’A present from your brother Jacob.’

“Last of all, I want four of you to separate 10 bulls and 40 cows from the herd, wait at least fifteen minutes more before you depart and say to Esau, 'a present from your brother.' My brother will be surprised by all these gifts. Let's hope he won’t do us any harm.”   Come to think of it, this was still my “God helps those who help themselves” philosophy. But I had to do something if Esau were to attack me and get even for the past!

That night before settling down, I went for a little walk. It was dark. One of those nights when you can’t see the stars and very little of the path you’re walking. I needed to be alone to pray. I was scared, not only for myself, but for the family, for all of us. So I prayed to the God who promised to be with me. "Oh God of Abraham my grandfather, and God of my father Isaac. You have fulfilled your promises to me. You have fed me and clothed me, and you have blessed me abundantly. Thank you for my family and many gifts, all you have provided. You have protected me from deception and treachery and lies. You are guiding me back to the promised land. I am not worthy of the least of your mercies. Now, O God, I ask you to deliver me from the hand of my brother, Esau, and save the mothers and the children. I am afraid of him, but I am learning to put my trust in You. Help me, O God, for I cannot face him alone. I confess that I need You in my life, O God. I put my trust in You! Amen.”

It was getting late. It had to be past midnight, and yet I could not leave that spot yet. Suddenly I was startled by a noise in the bushes on my right. I turned to see, but I couldn't make out anything. Was it an animal? A man? I moved in the direction of the rustling. Was it Esau? Someone stalking me? Who? Why?  Suddenly someone jumped out of the dark at me. Immediately I fought back, protecting myself. I wrestled him down and we fell to the ground. I tried to pin him down, but he escaped my grip. Who was this fighting me? Esau? No, he didn't feel hairy like Esau. A stranger? But why would he attack me? I could not gain the advantage over him.

I felt myself tiring fast as the first glimmer appeared on the horizon. Not much longer till morning. But then unexpectedly he pinned me to the ground, and stabbed me with two fingers. In the back on my right hip. It affected my sciatic nerve and immediately the pain shot down my leg. But in that moment it dawned on me - I was wrestling with the angel of the Lord! And in that moment, ever the heel holder, I grabbed his ankle and held on for dear life. "I will not let you go until you bless me.”

“What is your name?” he asked. "You know my name.”  He repeated the question: "What is your name?”  What did he want from me? Doesn't he know that I am Jacob, the liar, the deceiver, the cheater, the trickster? God knows everything! What does God want? A confession? An admission of guilt? My words came out slowly. "My name….heel holder…..Jacob….liar….cheater….deceiver. My name is Jacob.”

There was a pause. And then I heard something that amazed me. Threw me completely. I will never forget it! "No more Jacob - no more heel holder. No more liar. No more cheater. No more deceiver. Your name will be ‘Israel.’ You are a prince with God! You have power with God and with people. No more Jacob. Your name is Israel!”

Then I asked: “and what is your name?”   "You know my name,” he answered.  And now I realized it was true - the angel of the Lord had wrested with me! I bowed myself to the earth and when I looked up again, he was gone. I had done nothing to deserve this moment. Nothing. I had not earned grace or forgiveness. I was accepted as I was. I was blessed by God and changed! The heel holder is no more, the deceiver, the liar, the cheater is no more. God forgives all my treachery and sin. Jacob has become Israel - a prince with God! Is that possible? Yes, it is. That night changed my life!

From this experience I affirm that God is love, for God loves someone like me. I picked up a branch from a tree and hobbled back into camp. The pain was still piercing down my leg. It was to lessen in time, but I always walk with this stick, to remind me of that night. I can never forget what happened to this deceiver - now to be called Israel, a prince with God! You see, I now know that God does not help those who help themselves. God helps those who are broken as I was broken. I was helpless.

The next day Esau rode into my camp with 400 men, but I was no longer afraid. My trust is in the Lord who makes promises and then changes my name! Nevertheless, I humbled myself on the ground before my brother. I bowed down not once or twice but seven times! He pulled me to my feet, kissed me on both cheeks and smiled. "I'm so glad to see you, brother,” he said. He had not come to revenge himself! He had already forgiven me! I was able to introduce my wives and children to him.

After that Esau asked, "What is with all these presents you sent me? What with all the camels and donkeys and cattle, and all that?”  "A present from me to you, brother.”

"I don't need those animals, I have enough of my own." "I want you to have them.”"But, brother, I don't need them. I’m a prosperous man.”

"Take them brother.”  "I don't want to take them.”

"I want you to have them.” "I don’t need them.”  “Take them.” So he took them.

Esau never mentioned the lost birthright or the stolen blessing. Perhaps he had forgotten. Perhaps they didn’t to matter to him after all. He was a prosperous rancher. He had wives and children and grandchildren, a large family. He lived freely, the way he wanted to live. And when we talked about it, I realized that he lived without faith in God!  Then he told me that our father was still alive, but he was not well.  We rode together to see Isaac. It had been twenty years. Father was glad that his sons came to see him before he died. We buried him. Then Esau returned south.

As I was about to enter the promised land, God revealed to me that I had to do something about any idols and images we were bringing into the promised land. I took action. We dug a hole near a large oak, and I instructed everyone to bring foreign idols and objects like heathen jewelry and drop everything in that hole. We would bury them and start a new life in the promised land. When the people had come forward, I waited by the oak for anyone else. Then the flap of Rachel’s tent opened. She stepped out and came toward me with her eyes downcast. In her hands I noticed the images she had taken from her father! That’s when I knew she was the one who had taken them. At the oak she dropped the idols, then turned around and walked back to her tent without ever looking at me. I realized she was now willing and free to believe in God!

Not long after that Rachel gave birth to her second son, Benjamin. But she died in the process. I grieved for her and buried her near the village of Bethlehem. This is not the end of my story, because my life continued when our son, Joseph, became prime minister of Egypt and we went down there because of hard times in the promised land. But that is another story.

Let me ask you something: Do you think it is possible that Jacob is no more? Do you believe a deceiver and liar can become a prince with God? Can a heel holder become the father of the twelve tribes, a nation called “Israel?” Can the Messiah come from the family of Israel, who was once Jacob? 

And what about God’s words: “Jacob have I loved?” How can God love a trickster like me? I don’t know how. I only know that the eternal God is love and merciful. He makes promises that will never be broken. I don’t understand that, but I believe the God of grace and mercy. I did not earn my salvation. I do not deserve salvation. I even wrestled with God, the God who makes promises. But if I can believe, so can you! If God can love someone like me, God can love and change someone like you. You cannot earn the love of God, but you can receive his forgiveness.  God will accept you, when you trust the promises of love and mercy.  This God even affirms: “Jacob have I loved!”

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JOSEPH: FROM PRISON TO PRIME MINISTER

I am not an Egyptian.  I may dress like one and look like one, but I am a Hebrew.  My name is Joseph, son of Jacob.  My great grandfather was the remarkable Abraham. My grandfather - Isaac. My father is Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. I was born in Haran since my father had to move out of the promised land. But we moved back to the promised land where I lived as a teenager. But most of my life I lived in Egypt and died there. My last request was that my body was to be buried in the promised land.

How did I come to live in Egypt? I will begin my story with my father’s marriage to the love of his life, Rachel. On his wedding night Rachel’s father tricked him when he substituted the older sister in her place. But when the wedding festivities were over, Rachel also became his wife. That is how my father ended up with both sisters as wives. Now my mother was unable to have children for many years, while the older sister had sons.. By the time I was born, I had ten older brothers, not counting my sisters! And when I was three years old, my mother died giving birth to my brother, Benjamin.

I have always been my father’s favorite. I don’t know why, but it’s probably because he cared for my mother so much, and I was their first son. My father used to do special things to demonstrate his love. I remember once when he gave me a coat of many colors. It was magnificent. You may have heard about it, but I can’t show it to you, because something happened to it. But I’ll tell you this much, it is no great favor to be the favorite. It only makes everyone else jealous.  I probably didn't help matters when I dreamed bout my family.  The next morning I was eager to tell everyone about my dreams at the breakfast table.  As I look back on it now, I was somewhat arrogant and thoughtless.  But I was so excited!  “Father, mother, brothers, I dreamed last night that we were all in a field and we were binding the wheat into sheaves. Then my sheaf stood up, and guess what? Your sheaves all bowed down before mine. Yes, all of them stooped before me.”

That didn’t go over well. One of my brothers went, “Phhht!” Another gave me thumbs down. I didn’t really understand how jealous they were of me. Then, two weeks later I again rushed down to breakfast to spill a similar story about my dream: “Listen up everyone. I had another dream last night.” My brothers groaned, but I didn’t stop. “I saw the sun and the moon and the stars in heaven all bow down to my star.”

“What kind of dreams are these, Joseph?”  my father asked. “Our whole family will bow before you and obey you? Are you sure you dreamed that and want to tell us about dreams like that?”  I didn't get the picture. But now my father kept me more with him at home, while my brothers went into the fields to tend our flocks. A month or so later when they had been gone for some days, my father sent me to look for them and urge them to return home. I found them somewhere in the hills. As I came nearer, I could hear them talking.

“This dreamer is coming,” Asher said. “This master of dreams?” chimed in Levi. “Wonder what he’s been dreaming now? Do you think we ought to fall on our faces before him?” They bunched themselves in a tight group and as I approached, they surrounded me in a tight circle. That’s when I became a little uneasy. I had reason to be. “We’re going to put an end to your dreams,” Asher stated.“ Our father was concerned about the sheep,” I answered.

“Don’t worry. You’ll never see him again,” sneered Dan. What was that about? He sounded scary. “Now we’ll see what will become of those stupid dreams of yours!”There in their circle surrounding me two of them held knives in their hands, some had picked up sticks, and a couple held their staffs in a threatening They were tightening the circle I didn’t have a chance, I couldn’t get away, but my brother Reuben stopped them.

“Let’s not bring blood on our heads, brothers. No point killing him. Why don’t we drop him into that abandoned well over there. He will never get out of that alive.”   They  ripped off my coat of many colors, tied a rope around my waist and lowered me into the dried up shaft, forty, maybe fifty feet down. When I touched bottom, they told me to untie the rope and release it. It was dark. Something crawled up my leg. I don’t know what. It was dark down there. I shook it off. There was nothing in the well to grab a hold of. No way to climb out of the abyss. I told myself, at least I am not claustrophobic, or I might have passed out.

They gave me no food, no water, nothing. No one would hear me if I called or screamed. But my brothers had just disappeared. I was alone underground, unable to get out, abandoned by my own flesh and blood! Left there to die. I began to think about God. What about God? Where is God now? What will happen to those dreams I had been given? What will happen to me if I’m left alone here?

I struggled with my thoughts, and started to pray. I tried to keep up my spirit. “God, you are even now with me.  I know you are here - in this pit. I am still alive. Since those dreams came from you, they will come true. I don’t know how, but I will not give up hope. I do trust and believe in You.”  ISuddenly I heard voices. They had not left after all! My brother Judah was talking: “Why should we leave him in that pit? What good will that do? We could make some money on him. Look at those foreigners coming down that road. We can sell Joseph to them as a slave.”

I heard Simeon agree with him. “Great idea,” he said. The next thing a rope comes dangling down. They call down for me to grab a hold of the rope, tie it around my waist, and tell them when I’m ready. They pull me out. I stand on firm ground once again. I take a deep breath of fresh air. They tie my hands behind my back, but I don’t care. I’m out of the hole, that certain death, thanks be to God! But my own brothers are selling me as a slave to a passing caravan. They turn out to be descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. They sell me for twenty shekels of silver. Not a bad price. Counting that in your money each brother made about $100 on the deal.

But what will they tell father? I overheard their plan. They plan to kill an animal, smear blood all over my coat, and report this as my death. How can they do this? These are my brothers! They sell me to foreigners and then drum up such horrible lies to our father?

I wasn’t long with the Ishmaelites. When they came into Egypt, they sold me and made a handy profit. A man named Potiphar who worked for the government, bought me as his slave. But coming to Egypt was more civilized than how we had been living in tents in what was mostly country. I was now in a a thriving metropolis, a city you call Cairo. Besides Potiphar lived in a large house with a nice garden and a property that had some horses out back. I was assigned to work in the house with other slaves.

We called him “Potty” because of his pot belly, but never to his face, of course. He took notice of my work, and it was not long before he put me in charge of all his slaves. He made me his business manager because he trusted me.

There was only one problem. His wife, Raquel. She was something else. She was probably a little older than I was, in her mid twenties and I was twenty-one. She wore nice clothes, put on a lot of make up and always a fragrant perfume. She liked to go out shopping and to her hairdresser, because she seemed to be bored at home. She also made a habit of coming to wherever I was working, in my office, in the garden, out with the horses. One day she walked right into my room as I was changing my clothes.

“Excuse me,” I said.

“That’s all right, Joseph,” she said. “Go ahead and change. I’ll just watch.”  Then she hugged me. It was nothing casual, it was more like a body hug. I tried avoiding her, but that was not easy. I will admit that I was flattered by her attention and I don’t mean to exaggerate this, but every day she would hound me and make advances. She wanted to tempt me. She was without shame. She knew I had no one in this country, that I was away from my family. What could I do? I had no one I could talk to about this. Certainly not her husband.

One day she managed to dismiss the other servants, and we were alone in the house. She was lying on a couch. She had pulled up her skirt and was showing off her legs. She smiled at me and motioned for me to come to her. I turned away, but quick as a flash she was after me and threw her arms around me. “Please, Joseph, I want you. Now. Come lie down on the couch with me.“

“No, no, no. I cannot.“  “Why not? There is no one here. No one will know.”“I can’t do this. Your husband trusts me.”  “He will never know. Promise. I’ll never tell him. I want you. I love you!”  “I cannot do this wickedness and sin against God.”  “Your God will never know either. There is nothing wrong with love. People love each other all the time.”  I pushed her away. She grabbed my shirt and it tore. I left some of my shirt in her hands and ran out of the house. It took every bit of my resolve to resist her, but I believe I had the help of God!

When Potiphar returned home, she was furious. The servants were back again and all in the house could hear her screaming and yelling from the bedroom. “That Hebrew came in here to rape me! When I screamed, he ran. Yes, he tried to rape me. Look, here is his shirt.”  Immediately Potiphar came down and called me into his office. He was shaking. He showed me a piece of my torn shirt. “Is this yours?” I couldn’t answer him. Nor could I tell him the truth. “And I trusted you,” he said roughly. The police arrived, hand-cuffed me and took me to prison. There would be no hearing, no trial, no judge, no jury, no lawyer, nothing. No one cared that I was in jail. Nobody paid any attention. I felt completely abandoned in a strange land and I was alone.

Prison life is hard. You get pushed into a small cell. There’s nothing to do. You can’t see the beauty of nature, the sun, the moon or the stars, only stone walls and bars. Prison food is not home cooking, let me tell you. You get lukewarm water with a few grains of something after a bone has been passed through it, and they call that “soup.” A piece of bread is so hard, it bounces off the floor if you drop it. Time passes slowly. Weeks, months, no years later - and then the warden made me a trustee there in prison. I was put in charge of the other prisoners.

Now it happened that two inmates who had once served the Pharaoh himself approached me. They heard that I could interpret dreams and they had dreams which they couldn’t understand. They wanted someone to tell them what their dreams meant.. “Dreams and their interpretations belong to God,” I told them, “but perhaps I can help you.”

One of those prisoners was Pharaoh’s butler. He explained that in his dream he saw a vine with three branches. He was holding Pharaoh’s cup, he squeezed some of the grapes from the vine into the cup and gave Pharaoh a drink. “Mr. Butler,“ I said, “Your dream means that you will soon be serving the Pharaoh again. In three days you will be released from jail and you will be back in the palace!”

“Do you really think so?” asked the butler.  “Yes, I do,” I answered. “Now listen, Mr. Butler, I want you to do me a favor. When you’re with Pharaoh again, tell him about me. You know my story. Plead my case. I am not guilty. I am here unjustly. Ask him to release me, or pardon me, anything to get me out of here. Please, I‘m asking for your help.” 

The baker had also been listening and with great interest. So he told me his dream: “I also dreamed last night that I had these three white baskets of baked goodies I was taking to the Pharaoh. But as I was on my way the birds came and ate all the bread before I could give anything to him.”

“Mr. Baker, your dream means that in three days you will also be released from prison, but you will not serve Pharaoh. Those birds eating your bread mean that your life will be taken from you.”  Obviously, he didn’t like that at all. “Why?” he asked. What could I answer him? The interpretation of dreams is not my own. The interpretation comes from God. Well, that is exactly what happened. Three days later both men were released. The butler served Pharaoh. The baker was taken out to be hanged.

But the butler never kept his promise. I waited in prison but nothing happened. I waited and waited and waited. I don’t know why that butler forgot all about me. Two years went by and I didn’t think about it any more. I was still abandoned and forsaken in Egypt! No one knew and no one cared.

During those seven years locked out from the world I hit bottom. Every evening the prison door clanged shut behind me. Every evening I stared at the stone walls and wrestled with my thoughts. What if I had never told my dreams to my family? What if I had not made my brothers jealous? It was too late for regrets now. And what if I had not resisted Raquel’s temptations? What would my life be like then? I wouldn’t be in this jail! And nobody would have known the difference. Nobody - except God.

But - God? What about God? Where is God? Does God care? Does God know I exist? And if God knows, why does God allow me to rot in prison so many years? Everything has gone wrong in my life. Sold by my brothers. Sold by the Ishmaelites. Accused by the boss’s wife. Mistrusted by my employer. Denied justice. Forgotten by Pharaoh’s butler. And by God too? Friendless and alone, rejected and abandoned in a guarded facility?.

What does God want of me? What is the purpose of my life? Do I have my dreams to fall back on? Will they come true? Or were those just grandiose, adolescent projections and fancies?  In spite of my questions, I realized that something important was happening to me in prison. I learned that I can still live by faith. When everything crashes down and you have nothing left, whether it’s fair or unfair, God is still God! And no one promised me that life would be fair! I may not see any evidence, I may not be even be rescued, but I can still live by faith. I don’t need to give up hope, even if there is no sign, no help, nothing!

Then it happened. I was summoned to appear before Pharaoh! The summons came from out of nowhere. I learned that the butler had finally gained the courage to talk about me to Pharaoh, because Pharaoh had troubling dreams which neither he nor his wise men or astrologers could make heads or tails of. That was all it took. That‘s when Pharaoh sent for me.

I had no forewarning of this, but I quickly changed my clothes, and went at once to the mighty ruler. I had never seen anything like his palace. It was a tremendous change from the stark, bleak prison - the riches of Egypt - gold, silver, ivory, sculptures, images, luxury everywhere. I was overwhelmed by the power and wealth and magnificence on display, but I know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is with me. God was with me in prison, and will be here in the palace. I was not afraid.

“I have dreamed strange dreams,” Pharaoh began, “but there is no one to interpret them for me. I hear you can do that.”  "Not I, Sir, but God will give Pharaoh an answer.”  He explained his first dream. Seven fat cows emerged from the river Nile followed by seven lean ones. Then the skinny ones swallowed the fat, but they were still as ugly and scrawny as before. In the second dream seven lean ears of corn ate seven fat. Pharaoh was perplexed. What do these dreams mean?

“God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do, since both dreams are the same.” He searched my face. “These dreams, O Pharaoh, are a prophecy of things to come. Seven fat years in Egypt will be followed by seven lean. The nation will go from plenty and abundance to seven years of famine and hunger. This is established by God. It will come to pass.”  "If that is true, then what are we to do?” he asked.  "Sir, I suggest you appoint someone who is wise, and give him the responsibility of preparing for the coming famine. The nation will need to take twenty percent of all crops during the good years and store them every year, for the future.” 

Then he surprised me. “Since God has shown you all this, there is none as wise as you. Therefore you will be in charge of my country. Everyone will submit to your authority. I will make you second in command and only in the throne will I be greater than you.”   He stood up, took off his signet ring and put it on my finger. He called for a magnificent robe to cover me and a golden neck piece. The next day I rode in the chariot with him through the cheering crowds on the streets of Cairo. From prison to prime minister. Second in command in Egypt! I had just turned thirty years of age..

Pharaoh gave me an Egyptian name - Zaphenath Paneah - which means “a revealer of secrets.” I don’t use it much though. I still prefer Joseph. It’s easier to remember. And then I married a lovely Egyptian girl, Asenath, the daughter of a priest. I called her Ann. She was a good wife to me, and we had two sons. I named the first Manasseh, which means “Making me forget.” The younger one is to be Ephraim, which means “Fruitful.” God has helped me to forget my troubles and made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.

Seven years later the times of abundance came to an end. A dark and terrible famine engulfed the Middle East. Quickly the news reached far and wide that Egypt had sufficient resources, and travelers came to us from other countries. All of them were begging us for provisions and help.

You can imagine my surprise when two years later, as I was attending to business, another group of foreigners was announced. As they entered the room, I recognized my brothers! All ten of them. They could not identify me, because they thought I was dead. I was eighteen when they sold me and now I was thirty nine. Besides I wore Egyptian clothes, a headband over my forehead and hair, some eye make up and I was sporting a short, black beard. They did not have a clue because I looked completely Egyptian.. But as they bowed before me my youthful dreams flashed into my mind.

“Where are you from?” I spoke in Egyptian through an interpreter.  “From Canaan, Sir. We have come to buy food.” I did not let on that I understood their language.  "Really? I think you are lying. You are probably spies! You have come to see our land and our situation.”  “No, no, Sir. We are honest men. We need food. That is all. We are brothers.”  "You don’t say. You appear to be spies to me.” I understood them, but did not let on. I talked only in Egyptian.

“Sir, please believe us,” they pleaded, “we are not spies. We are twelve brothers. Truly. One is dead, and the youngest is at home with our father. Ten of us are here. We are honest men.”  "I still don’t believe you. I will put you in prison and investigate you further. I have nothing else to say to you now.” I ordered them to remain in prison for three days. I wanted them to experience a little bit of prison life and prison food. After all I had spent over seven years in confinement because of them.

When they were released, I talked with them again. “I have decided to send you back to your country with grain for your family. But to prove to me that you are honest, you will need to return to Egypt with your younger brother. In the meantime I will keep one of you in prison as a hostage. When you come back here your brother will be released. If you don’t bring your younger brother, the hostage will die." 

They were very upset. I overheard their conversation. "You know why this is happening, don’t you? It’s because of Joseph. God is punishing us. We sold Joseph as a slave. We told our father a terrible lie that Joseph is dead. That is why we are having all this trouble now.”  “I told you not to harm Joseph, but you wouldn’t listen to me,” said Reuben. “Now we have to pay for his blood.”   That was too much for me. I excused myself to another room to regain my composure. When I returned I ordered Simeon to be taken to prison.

Some weeks later they came back with my younger brother, Benjamin. They must have had trouble persuading father to release Benjamin, but there they were. And I noticed that they returned because they could not abandon Simeon as they had abandoned me. They came pleading with me, begging me. “Please Sir, here is our youngest brother. We have brought him. But Sir, when we arrived home, we found not only the food you gave us, but all the money we paid you for our supplies. It was all returned to us. Here is that money, Sir, and there is more for other provisions. Sir, we desperately need more food.” 

I wanted them to be scared. That’s why I sent the money back with them in the first place. “And how is your father? Is he still alive?”  “Yes, Sir, he is well.”  “And this is your younger brother?” They nodded. “God be gracious to you, my son,” is all I could say. Again I dismissed myself to control my emotions. Seeing Benjamin after all these years was too much for me.  We served lunch to them, and I saw to it that Benjamin received some special dishes. Mushrooms filled with crabmeat. Smoked salmon. I watched for a reaction from the brothers since I deliberately favored Benjamin. But there was none.

By the way I need to tell you that I could not eat with them because Egyptians are forbidden to eat with foreigners. So I acted as I should, like an Egyptian, and did not join them for dinner. This is funny because, technically I could never eat with the Egyptians because I am a Jew. Even my Egyptian wife and I were not allowed to eat together in public! We did at home, of course. According to Egyptian law we could sleep together, but we could not eat together!

My plan was to test my brothers one more time. When they left Cairo with backpacks filled with food, I had told one of my servants to hide my silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. One hour later I sent my servant to bring them back to Cairo. He informed my brothers that the reason was because the prime minister’s silver cup was missing. They were the only ones who could have stolen it.
I waited for them with some anxiety. They came streaming into the room. Judah was their spokesman. Judah, who had conceived the idea of selling me into slavery. He groveled on the ground before me: “What can we say to you, Sir, about this cup of yours? How can we clear ourselves? God has found out our sin, and we are your servants, all of us.”

“No, no, no,”  I said, “All of you are not to blame. Only the one who stole my cup. He will become my servant. The rest of you may return to your father.”  One after another they unloaded their backpacks. The search started with the oldest, but then all eyes were on the last pack to be revealed - Benjamin’s. There was the cup! Now what would my brothers do?  I motioned for the police to arrest Benjamin. “He stays,” I pointed to him. “The rest of you can go home. And don’t any of you ever return here to Egypt again.” 

They looked at one another and started whispering. What would they do? Abandon Benjamin as years ago they had abandoned me? It was Judah, who knelt down before me to speak:  “Please, Sir, do not be angry with me. You are a powerful man, Sir. Let me explain something. When we were here before, you asked about our father. We told him everything you said to us, and we insisted that we take Benjamin to Egypt as you had ordered us. He would not hear of it. He has never let Benjamin out of his sight, not anywhere, not since his brother died. Benjamin is the only living son of his beloved wife, Rachel. It was really impossible for us, to persuade our father. But finally he agreed, only because I made him a promise that I would protect Benjamin with my life. Should anything happen to him, I would offer myself in his place. Sir, our father would die if he lost Benjamin also. We all know that. I beg you to release my brother and take me hostage instead. Please, Sir. This is the only way. Have mercy on us, I beg of you, Sir.” 

I’m standing there, listening to Judah pleading his case, the same brother who had originally insisted on selling me into slavery! Now he is willing to accept punishment for Benjamin’s sake? I ordered all the Egyptians to leave the room. When I was alone with my brothers, I spoke to them in Hebrew!    “My brothers, look, it is I, Joseph. Yes, I am alive.” They were shocked. I took off my headband. “Do you recognize me now? Look at me. You last saw me over twenty years ago. My hair is graying a little, but I can still speak our language. After you sold me to the Ishmaelites, they sold me as a slave in this country. I’ve had a long, hard road. I even went to prison even though I was innocent. Seven years in prison, but now God has given me favor with Pharaoh, and as you can see I am his prime minister. Look, brothers, it was not you who sent me here, but God. God placed me on the throne of Egypt. God has given me power and authority. It was not you who sent me here, but God!”

I walked over to them and hugged them. All my brothers, one by one. “Go tell our father that I am alive. Bring father down to Egypt and come live here. Bring all our family, our possessions, herds, flocks. I will give you land and houses and provide for you until this famine is over. There are five more years of hardship to come.” 

And now my dreams are about to be fulfilled! This is the plan of God! I cannot describe the look of surprise and joy in my father’s eyes when he arrived here in Egypt and actually saw that I was alive. Pharaoh wanted to meet him and when I introduced them, it was my father who blessed Pharaoh! “Few and difficult have been the days of my life, but now I bless you in the name of the God of Abraham and Isaac and in the name of my God,” he said.

I allowed my family to settle on the fertile land near the Nile river. Believe it or not, my father survived another seventeen years, and before his death I brought my sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, for him to give a blessing from God. Then we took his embalmed body to the promised land and laid it in the same cave where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and also his wife Rachel are buried.

It was on my return to Egypt that I was handed a letter from my brothers:  “Now that our father has died, be it known to you, Joseph, that our father left strict instructions that you forgive us for the wrong we did to you. Brother Joseph, forgive your brothers now, for we are servants of the God of your father.” 

I was shocked, and I wept. I could not believe it! Had I not forgiven them? How could they still feel guilty? I sent for them, and they immediately fell down before me and cried out, “Forgive us, Sir, for all our sins.”  “I have already forgiven you! I have forgiven you everything you ever did. Seventeen years ago when you returned to Egypt with Benjamin, I forgave you from my heart. Believe me, I hold nothing against you. I am not your judge. I told you then and I will tell you again that it was not you who sent me here, but God. God has taken what you meant for evil and turned it into good. That is the God I believe in. Brothers, all is forgiven you.”  

I hugged them, reassured them. I hope they believe me now. I hope they trust in the mercy of the Lord! After all, God’s forgiveness is what really matters in life, and I believe and want them to believe in the mercy of the Lord. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the One whose mercy endures forever!  “Now I ask one last thing of you, brothers. When I die take my bones to the promised land. Bury me with father and the family. I am not an Egyptian but a Hebrew. I belong with you to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 

My life has been like a river winding its way to its final destination. I realize now that in times of temptation and trouble, times of suffering and silence, times of hardship and imprisonment, my walk with God has become more sure and certain. I have learned to trust God even when I cannot see my way. I am convinced that our trials in life are not worth comparing to the glory that is waiting for us when we will be in the presence of God.

Anyone who believes in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, can have the hope of eternal life. And It is also possible to believe, as I said to my brothers: It was not you who sent me here, but God. After a long and difficult road, God placed me on the throne of Egypt. I went from prison to Prime Minister!  All glory, praise and honor be to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob forever. Amen.

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