JOSEPH, THE SON AND THE SLAVE If the Holy Bible introduced the life of Abraham, the Patriarch, as the one who got the promise: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 22:18); and as from whose seed, came the Lord Christ, the Savior of the world, and the desire of nations; and the same applies to Isaac and to Jacob; some could probably expect the Holy Bible to introduce the life of Judas, from whose seed, the Lord will come. Yet, we find him dealing with Joseph in some kind of detail, as his life carried a living symbolic portrait of the person of the Messiah, His features, redeeming work, and glories; that he was worthy of enjoying a double portion, becoming two tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph’s life is considered the connecting link between the era of the fathers and the existence of the Jews as people and nation, having opened the way before his father and brothers, to live in the land of Egypt. In the present chapter, we find Joseph, type of Christ the Lord, being the beloved Son, and the Slave who loves his brothers, and delivers his life a ransom for them. 1- Joseph in his father’s house 1-3. 2- Joseph, the dreamer 4-11. 3- A mission of love 12-17. 4- Joseph, the victimized 18-30. 5- Dipping Joseph’s tunic in blood 31-35. 6- Joseph, the slave 36. 1- JOSEPH IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE “Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the genealogy of Jacob; Joseph, being seventeen years old was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age” (Gen. 37:1-3). Jacob dwelt in the land of Canaan as a stranger, like his father Isaac, until the time comes, and his grandchildren would receive it, as a land of promise, where they dwell, not as strangers in tents, but as citizens who build cities and houses. As though Jacob represents the soul, that wrestles spiritually on account of the kingdom, dwelling by faith in the heavenly Canaan, until it inherits it later on, to dwell there eternally. The divine inspiration, did not find, as far as the genealogy of Jacob is concerned, greater than to talk about Joseph, as a 17 years lad, who, although was helping the sons of the two concubines: Bilhah and Zilpah, yet he was great in the eyes of God, and beloved by his father! The true greatness does not relate to the kind of work one does, nor to his position, but to his inner life and his spiritual behavior. Joseph could captivate his father’s heart more than all his brothers, to count him as the son of his old age, although there has been somebody who was younger than him. We said that Joseph was a type of Christ the Lord, having been the one beloved to his father; and as said by Fr. Caesarius of Arles: [Jacob loved his son, as the Father loves His Only-Begotten Son, saying: “This is My beloved Son” (Matthew 5 3: 17)1.] If Joseph becomes a slave and a prisoner in the land of Egypt, because of his brothers, to get into the kings court to have the chance to fulfill the needs of his brothers; the Bible proclaimed that he was his father’s beloved son. I say that he is a living portrait of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, although He, the Onlybegotten Son, came to our Egypt as a slave, and entered for our sake under judgment, in order to lift us up to His heavenly palace. What I say of the Lord Christ, I say of every true believer, as it is fit for him, first to enter into a true sonship to God, to be the subject of His love, through abiding in Jesus Christ. By this sonship, we accept, through love, to become slaves, and enter under judgment for the sake of our brothers, in order to lift them up, together with us, by Jesus Christ, to taste the fellowship of His glory, and to be fulfilled by the heavenly bread. That was expressed by the apostle Paul, saying, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more” (1 Corinthians 9:19). In the water of Baptism, he enjoyed freedom in Jesus Christ; that freedom full of love, has motivated him to become a servant to all, that he might win the more, in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jacob having loved Joseph more than all his brothers, Jacob “He made him a tunic of many colors” (Gen. 37:3). What is that colored tunic, but the Church, of many nations, received by the Lord Christ, from His Father’s hands, as a price for His love of humanity, and His entering into servitude for her sake?! This was confirmed by St. Augustine and Origen; the colored tunic is the Church, attached to the Lord Christ, as His tunic. In His transfiguration, “His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2), as a reference to the Church, acquired by the Lord for Himself, and where He dwelt, being the Sun of Righteousness who illuminate it. That tunic was refereed to by the apostle Paul, saying of himself, “Then last of all, he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:7). That border of garment was touched by the bleeding woman (namely, the nations defiled by pagan worship), to get healed of her ailment. As to being colored, the apostle says: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5). It is the one tunic, of many colors; if one of them is removed, it would lose its beauty, as well as its durability. Thus, the Church proclaims its need for everyone of its members, whatever his color, position, work, or capacities, would be. In a comparison to Christ the Lord, Fr. Asterius of Amasea (in Asia Minor c. 400) says: [Joseph’s father made him a colored tunic; and it is said of Christ: “My soul shall be joyful in my God. For He has clothed me with the garment of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness; as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments” (Isaiah 61:10)2.] 2- JOSEPH, THE DREAMER Joseph’s brothers could not stand their father’s love for Joseph; they envied and hated him, so that “they could not speak peaceably to him” (Gen. 37:4). This bitter attitude that surrounded Joseph in his father’s house could not change his heart toward his brothers, hurt his feelings, nor let him lose his peace. That is why heaven opened up before him to confirm through two consecutive dreams, that carried the same meaning, that was his entrance into glory, and submission of all to him; as 1 Ser. 98:1. 2 On Ps. hom 19. 6 though he is representing the Lord Christ, who opens His heart to humanity, that harbored animosity toward Him for no cause, delivering His life as a ransom even for His crucifiers! Joseph dreamt that sheaves in the field, stood all around and bowed down to his sheaf; and also dreamt that the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bow down to him. His brothers got the message that he was destined to reign over them, and that they are to submit to him. Instead of heading to the voice of heaven, and opening their hearts to him, “they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words” (Gen. 37:8), and “envied him” (Gen. 37:11); as though they are like the wicked vinedressers, who, “when they saw the son,, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir, Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance” (Matthew 21:38). The heaven proclaimed his glory, for the wicked to grow more so. Yet the good Lord turned evil into goodness, and transformed their wicked deeds into a way to consummate His divine plan. “His brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind” (Gen. 37:11). Jacob comprehended that he is to submit to his son in his glory. Probably, the matter then, represented to him, an incomprehensible secret; so he kept it in mind, meditating quietly in God’s works and promises. So, men of God keep in mind and heart God’s proclamations, and contemplate on His dealings, like what was said of the Virgin St. Mary, “But His mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). 3- A MISSION OF LOVE Joseph’s brothers went to feed their father’s flocks in Shechem; that most probably included flocks that they confiscated after killing their owners, in their revenge for what happened to their sister Dinah (Gen. 34). That is why Jacob sent Joseph to see if it is well with his brothers and well with the flocks; fearing that some tribes could have attacked them in revenge for the people of Shechem. Joseph set forth in obedience to his father’s love for his sons, despite their wicked ways (Gen. 37:2), and despite their hatred and envy for his beloved and loving person; yet, it was not the obedience of fear like a slave, or of a servant anticipating his wages, but it was the obedience of a son, who loves his father and his envious brothers. He set forth from the Valley of Hebron to Shechem; and not finding them there, he sought them, and went after them to Dothan. Joseph’s mission represents that of the Only-begotten Son; and as said by Fr. Caesarius of Arles: [Jacob sent his son to proclaim his worry for their safety; and God the Father sent His Only-begotten Son, to visit mankind, who were weak with sin, a lost flock. As Joseph sought his brothers, he wandered in the wilderness; and the Lord Christ, as He sought mankind, He wandered in the world... Joseph sought his brothers in Shechem, that means ‘shoulder;’ as the sinners gave their backs to the Righteous, and put their shoulders backwards1.] 4- JOSEPH, THE VICTIMIZED “Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, Let us kill him and cast him in some pit, and we shall say, ‘some wild beast has devoured him,’ We shall see what will become of his dreams” (Gen. 37:18-20). Reuben delivered him out of their hands, so they did not kill him, but stripped him of his colored tunic and cast him into a pit that was empty of water. As they sat 1 Ser. 89.1. 7 down to eat a meal, they saw a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judas counseled his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave to the Ishmaelites; they listened to his counsel, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. When Reuben returned, and did not find Joseph in the pit, he tore his clothes, and did not know what to do. They could not bear to see him, even afar off. Although he came to them with a mission of love, they grew more envious, because of God’s work with him, and His proclamations to him. And as said by Abbot Piamon: [Joseph, their brother, was incapable of decreasing sharpness of envy of his brothers, who sought his death, although he did them no harm. It is obvious that envy is one of the worst of sins, and most difficult to cure; it flares up by the same medications that can combat other sins... What can you do to somebody who increases in transgression, the more your mercy and humility get. He gets envious, not out of greed for some bribe he could have, or some favor he could gain, but because of the success and happiness of others1.] What Joseph’s brothers did here, carried a symbol of what the Jews did to Christ the Lord, in several respects: a- Fr. Asterius of Amasea says: [Joseph’s brothers accumulated a heap of bitter rebuke for their brother; as the Jews did to the Lord, saying, “We are not born of fornication” (John 8:41)... Joseph was sent to his brothers, as a physician to visit them; yet, in their eyes, he was like a conspiring enemy... Christ was sent to the world as a compassionate Shepherd, only to be looked upon as a crucified robber2.]. Fr. Caesarius says: [As Joseph’s brothers harbored envy, giving to the brotherly love, their backs and not their faces; the Jews preferred envy over love, toward Him who offered them salvation. Of people like these, the Psalms say: “Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually” (Psalm 69:23)3.] b- The matter did not stop at inner envy, but was translated into rebellion, conspiracy, and treason. Fr. Caesarius says: {Joseph found his brothers in Dothan, meaning ‘rebellion,’ as those who wished to kill their brother, were truly in a great rebellion. When they saw Joseph, they discussed his death; like what the Jews did to the true Joseph, Christ the Lord, as they all had one decision: to crucify Him... Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his colored tunic; and the Jews stripped Jesus of his clothes before crucifying Him. Joseph, stripped of his tunic, was cast into a pit; and Christ, whose body was mutilated, descended into Hades... Joseph was pulled up and lifted out of the pit, and sold to the Ishmaelites (namely to the Gentiles); and Christ, coming back from Hades, was bought by the Gentiles for the price of faith4.] So Joseph was a symbol of the Lord Christ: conspired against, cast into a pit, stripped of his tunic, and sold to the Gentiles. c- As Judah counseled his brothers to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, Judah, likewise, sold the Lord Christ; the former was sold for twenty pieces of silver (according to the Septuagint version, for twenty pieces of gold); while his Master was sold for thirty pieces of silver. Fr. Caesarius comments on that, saying: [The servant 1 Cassian: 18:16. 2 On Ps. hom 19. 3 Ser. 89:1. 4 Ser. 89:1. 8 was sold for a price higher than that given for his Master. But, human calculations, have surely deceived man in the Lord’s case; He who could never be evaluated1.] d- Having cast their brother into the empty pit, “they sat down to eat a meal” (Gen. 37:25); In the same way, having plotted to crucify Christ the Lord, the Jews sat to eat the old Passover, as food to fulfill their bodies, and not their souls. e- The camels of the Ishmaelites who bought Joseph, were bearing spices, a kind of gum, extracted from trees of Astraaglus, used in medicine and for sticking things; ‘balm,’ a kind of fragrant oil, extracted by cutting the stem of a balm tree, and used in medicine and embalming; and ‘Myrrh,’ a kind of gum, extracted from a tree by the name of ‘Cistus Creticus,’ used in medicine. These goodies, carried by the camels of the Ishmaelites, refer to the talents and capabilities of the Gentiles that they presented as they believed in the true Joseph, to get sanctified and used on account of His kingdom. 5- DIPPING HIS TUNIC IN BLOOD Joseph’s brothers tried to deceive their father, by dipping Joseph’s tunic in the blood of a goat, and brought it to their father, to know whether it was his son’s tunic or not; claiming that a wild beast has devoured him. Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned on his son many days. Jacob deceived his father Isaac, and supplanted his blessing. Yet, for the purity of his heart, and his strife, he earned the blessing, as the Lord Christ came from his seed. However, he was disciplined for deceiving his father, through his sons, who let him live many days mourning with no comfort, until he encountered his long lost son in the land of Egypt. Jacob could not look at his son’s colored tunic, covered with blood; although the tunic, referring to the Church, would never have its beauty and value, unless it is dipped in the blood of the Sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ, who delivered Himself to death by His own will, to have His pure blood poured on His believers, granting them the power of His resurrection. Assuming that his son died, he bitterly said: “I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning” (Gen. 37:35). St. Jerome says: [He said he will go down into the grave (Hades), as Paradise was not yet opened for the thief2.] Everyone used to fear death, as it was a crossing over to Hades, waiting for the coming of the Lord Christ, to carry His own to His Paradise, preceded by the robber, who believed in the crucified Lord. 6- JOSEPH, THE SLAVE “The Medianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharoh and captain of the guard” (Gen. 37:36). The beloved son was sold as a slave in Egypt. He harbored a free heart and noble soul that no outer servitude could invade his inner depths. By his inner freedom he lifted up the status of slaves, and dignified the free humanity, whatever its social status might be. St. Jerome says: [We read about Joseph, who, whether he was in need, or was rich, presented a proof of his integrity; who confirmed the freedom of soul, as a slave, as well as a master3.] Joseph, the son, became a slave, he was a type of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 1 Ser. 93:4. 2 On Ps. hom 34. 3 Ep. 79.2. 9 Only-Begotten Son, who became a servant for our sake (Philippians 2:7). Fr. Caesarius says: [Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Christ came down to the world!... Joseph saved Egypt from famine, and Christ freed the world from the famine to the word of God! If Joseph was not sold by his brothers, Egypt would not have been saved, and indeed, if the Jews have not crucified Christ, the world would have perished.] He was sold to Potiphar, whose name means ‘referred to Ra the god of the sun;’ He was the captain of the guard for Pharaoh, who had the authority to condemn criminals, and to supervise the prisons (Gen. 37:36; 39:1, 20).
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