Bible Essay

Derrian Johnson

Mr.White

Old Testament

23 March 2014

Joseph started out an arrogant young man, but when his brothers sold him into slavery, he had to overcome his arrogance and learn. Imagine having your own family beat you, throws you into a pit and leaves you to die. They do have a change of heart and come back but only to sell you into slavery. You spend years in prison. Wouldn't you lose heart? I would. I'd sit there and nurse resentment. But Joseph didn't. His courage and faith in God kept him and enabled him to do great things.

Joseph was the 11th child of Jacob and the first child of Rachel, Jacob's second wife. Joseph's half-brothers and sister were the children of Leah, Rachel's elder sister. Joseph was the favorite child of Jacob; something Joseph's elder brothers resented. "And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." (Genesis 37:4 KJV)

Joseph didn't handle his favored position very diplomatically, either. When he had a series of dreams that showed in symbols his brothers and parents bowing down to him, he hastened to let them know about it. This arrogance inflamed his brothers further.

Joseph was sent by his father to see how his brothers who were tending flocks were doing. His brothers seized the opportunity to do away with this younger and arrogant sibling. They threw him into a pit and intended to leave him and tell their father that he was attacked by some beast and killed. However, Judah talked them out of this plan and they sold Joseph into slavery instead. (Genesis 37:18-28)

Joseph is taken to Egypt where he is sold to a wealthy man named Potiphar. Joseph is put in charge of all of Potiphar's holdings and increases his master's wealth. But, Potiphar's wife takes a liking to Joseph and tries to seduce him. Joseph tells her that to do as she suggests would be a sin against God. She pursues him nonetheless...