אֶפְרָיִם (Ephraim)

Warning: this post is my longest to date.

So I recently started reading the Bible. Chronologically. And this time, I won't stop at Exodus chapter 2 (that's where I fell off last time). This time, I'm going to finish it. I've been reading 10 pages a day for about a week now; I read through about 2/3 of Joseph's story today. And suddenly, I found the inspiration that has been missing for quite some time now. I haven't posted in days.

My inspiration comes from Genesis 37:5-11. If you don't recognize the reference right off the bat, it's not too far into the story of Joseph.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 

(Genesis 37:5)

What's interesting about this verse is that it mentions that he was loathed "even more", which suggests that his siblings had hated him previously as well. It's concluded that their hatred stemmed from the fact that he was clothed in a beautifully colored robe, symbolizing that he was favorited by their father. Thus if we are clothed in righteousness, placed in the garments of truth by our heavenly Father, our brothers will hate us. (See this also.) But the thing is, our brothers won't despise us if we simply blend in and live as the world does. They will hate us if we tell them of our God-given dreams. If we step out in faith, and show them that we believe in God, they will mock us. This then leads us to the beatitudes. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and 

thirst for righteousness, 

for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, 

for great is your reward in Heaven,

 for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

-- Matthew 5:3-12

This list is ample. It doesn't mince words. Was Joseph, for revealing that God has spoken to him, persecuted? I would say so. Are we, if we make bold statements in Christ, also persecuted? The truth is, quite often, we are. Those who believe in God are often derogatorily referred to as "Bible thumpers" and even worse, slandered as idiots and lunatics. But blessed are we. 

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing... in all our troubles, my joy knows no bounds. 

-- 2 Corinthians 6:10, 7:4 (NKJV)

And yet another Bible snippet following in this spirit:

[Be] rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. ...Bless those who persecute you. ... Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. 

-- Romans 12:12, 14, 20 (NKJV)

Doesn't this completely go against the grain? We're inadvertently taught, in American society at least, so be self-serving and self-righteous. We learn to love primarily ourselves, and only to love others if they are of use to us. If it doesn't go our way, we get to throw a tantrum. If it goes our way, we can bask in our glory however we wish to. One of the most common myths in America: "Just do what you can to be happy. Happiness is the goal." But you'll notice that in 2 Corinthians, it wasn't written that "in all our troubles, my happiness knows no bounds"--it was written that the joy is limitless. 

By continuing on our mission, staying the course (I just had to link to this, haha), and following our God-breathed dreams, we are accumulating treasures in Heaven. We are doing things of eternal value, not of mortal worth. To follow God is to follow Love and Perfection and Beauty and Truth and Joy. To follow Him, to spread His attributes, to tell others of what He has done for us, is to build one's treasure in Heaven. To do good as you have opportunities to do so (Galatians 6:10) is to serve God. (And there are many other ways as well.) So back to Joseph.

This guy didn't have it easy. He tells his family of his special revelation from God, and what do they do? They shun him. His brothers build up animosity towards Joseph, who was merely following God. And so begins the plot to kill him.

God, however, intervenes. Instead of murdering Joseph, his brothers wind up selling him to a band of Ishmaelites. Joseph survives. However, his survival is less of smooth sailing and more of a roller coaster.

Quickly Joseph is recognized as a great man, and he is promoted from lowly slave to important servant. He's got a great position in a prominent household; that of Potiphar. Things are looking up for him, and I imagine he must be somewhat satisfied with where he is. That is, until Potiphar's wife makes her move. I think most of us are acquainted with this story. When refused, this seductive wife accuses Joseph of trying to rape her, basically. ...Uh, yeah, not so great.

Suffice it to say, Joseph gets thrown in prison. And prison isn't such a fantastic place to be.

Joseph was there for a couple of years before Pharaoh had a dream that puzzled him. Enter: an opportunity. The chief butler, who had temporarily shared the prison with Joseph, finally remembered the Hebrew who had interpreted one of his dreams. I can almost imagine the memories that flooded over him when he remembered Joseph. And it is because of this butler that Joseph is released from his cell.

But see, the funny thing is, Joseph had to be in prison initially in order for him to meet this butler. Then, the butler had to have a dream, and Joseph consequently had to interpret it. When the butler was liberated, Joseph entreated that mention of him be made to Pharaoh, so that he, too, might be freed. But the butler forgot. There went that sliver of hope. ...For two years, that is.

Pharaoh heeded his butler's eventual voice and called Joseph to interpret. And interpret he did. Or, should I say, God interpreted through Joseph and Pharaoh recognized something extra shining through in Joseph.

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

-- Genesis 41:38 (NKJV)

Shortly after, when the Pharaoh saw that there was truth to Joseph's words, Joseph was made prominent once more:

Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

-- Genesis 41:44 (NKJV)

Now, I have two thoughts that come from this one verse. One thought is yet another verse:

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

-- 1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV)

"After you have suffered." After. Not before. You don't get to live an abundant life and then do a few years of community service. Life doesn't work that way. You have to work. You have to earn your rewards. If you're given a gift, don't forget that someone else had to labor first in order to reward you with it. Have you ever heard the saying "Things get worse before they get better"? I think it's safe to call that adage a true one. In order to go downhill, we must first trudge uphill. Other than that, I think that verse speaks for itself.

And thought #2 from Genesis 41:44: Joseph was given dominion over Egypt by the Pharaoh. Seriously, the only person higher in rank than Joseph was Pharaoh himself! Pharaoh bestowed so much power to Joseph. In all practicality, Joseph was lord of Egypt! He could do whatever he pleased--and get this--in the Pharaoh's name. It's like when we're little kids, and we're caught by a sibling doing something. "But Dad said it was okay!" we'll argue. And if we're telling the truth, that's that. Dad said. Mom said. The end. Take it up with them.

Isn't this just like the power that Jesus has given us? In His name, we are able to move mountains (Mark 11:23). In His name, we are able to cast out demons (one among many references is that of Luke 10:17-20). In His name, we are able to heal the sick (again, one of many references is Luke 9:1). You get the picture. If the Ruler authorizes it, it's done. (Daniel 4:35)

So do you see it now? Do you see that this ancient tale of Joseph relates to us today? Right here, right now? This man didn't wrong his brothers, yet they desired him dead. He didn't attempt to undermine their authority, yet they sold him as a slave. He didn't sleep with Potiphar's wife, yet he was accused of adultery. This man, an overall righteous one, a "good" man, spent years in prison before his release. He suffered. And then he was exalted.

He is eventually reunited with his brothers and father. He eventually marries and later, is the father of two sons in particular:

Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house." And the name of the second he called Ephraim: "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."

-- Genesis 41:51-52

Also somewhat like Joseph was Job. Many others, Jesus Himself included, who were "good" and "righteous" (I use quotations because the men who were purely human could not compare to Christ) suffered a great while before their reward was dealt to them. We are not any different. Bad things happen to good people. But the good always wins out in the end. Someone once said, "Everything will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, it's not the end."

We are assured that one day, there will be no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). We will have forgotten all of our sadness at the first sight of God's glory and wonder.

Let us let Him make us fruitful in our affliction. Ephraim. Let us let Him make us forget pain and sorrow. Manasseh.

But he who loves God has no need of tears, no need of admiration, in his love he forgets his suffering, yea, so completely has he forgotten it that afterwards there would not even be the least inkling of his pain if God Himself did not recall it.

-- Soren Kierkegaard