Joseph's Prudent Stewardship separates his family into the fertile Nile Delta where they are fruitful and multiply. Even though the famine becomes more and more intense in its effect, Joseph is able to provide food and grain to the Egyptians in exchange first fore their money, then their animals, land and lastly themselves, becoming slaves (serfs) to Pharaoh. Joseph institutes a flat 20% tax of harvest. Joseph's prudence saves Egypt and they recognize Joseph as a savior and not just for Egypt, but Canaan as well. Jacob blesses Pharaoh?
Jacob revives at the news and proof of the wagons and gifts that Joseph his beloved son is alive. Jacob first goes to Beersheba to offer sacrifice and to worship the God of his father Isaac. The prayer to God in worship, (which always involves sacrifice) comes first before Jacob sets out to go to Egypt. God reiterates the promise he made to Abraham and Isaac that Israel would become a great nation, Joseph rushes to meet his father and falls on his neck, and weeps a flood of tears in joy, for words have no ability to express this joy at Joseph seeing his father and Israel seeing his beloved son! Jacob's life is complete, seeing his son, whom he thought was dead is alive.
Joseph makes himself known to his brothers after Judah's supplication to sacrifice himself for his younger brother Benjamin's sake. Joseph is reduced to tears at God's providence and mercy.
Joseph puts his elder brothers to the test to gain information about where their true hearts are. Recalling how he was treated with envy and contempt, Joseph tests his brothers to see if their disposition has changed toward their father, to whom they must have lied to and toward their younger brother Benjamin. Are they still envious of the younger? Do they still hid their evil or will they come to the truth in humility. Repentance comes from humility in a trial. Judah, although not the eldest acts as the goel or redeemer of the youngest brother Benjamin.
From Moses to St. Paul to St. Cyril of Alexandria to the Second Vatican Council in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium; a continuity exists as God designs His Church, beginning with the topology foreshadowed in Genesis 43. God's plan is eternal to gather all men into His everlasting covenant in the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church.
We review Chapter 43 and then consider the thoughts of St. John Chrysostom regarding the sons of Israel (Jacob) when, driven by famine to go to Egypt and meet Joseph. St. John describes how Joseph's brothers consciences, convict them when Joseph treats them roughly and accuses them as spies. They are convicted of their crime when they suffer distress at the hands of Joseph. Yet Joseph treats them with great kindness by supplying them with grain without cost. Yet demands to see his younger full brother, Benjamine.
We discover the topology of Joseph as a Christ like figure in the Old Testament. We hear from St. John Chrysostom and look at Psalms, Daniel and Matthew. We can see in the life of Joseph a foreshadowing of the life of Christ.
Pharaoh has a dream that none can interpret. Not the priests of their religion, not his magicians, nor Pharaoh's "wise men" could interpret the dream. Joseph is remembered by the butler, the wine bearer and Joseph is brought before Pharaoh.God, through Joseph, properly interprets Pharaoh's dream. Joseph is appointed to the office of Vizer of Pharaoh. We go through Haydock's Commentary to understand the literal meaning, and look to the foreshadowing in this as it relates to Christ.
Joseph interprets the dreams of the Baker and the Butler. Joseph doesn't rail against those that have done him great injustice and falsely accused him. Rather, he only states his innocence and asks the butler to remember him when he is restored to his position. We hear from St. John Chrysostom extolling the virtues of Joseph. We look at St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians and the Gospel According to St. Luke in the New Testament to bring out the typology noted in the text and according to St. John Chrysostom.
Joseph retains his virtue by escaping Potiphar's lustful wife. Potiphar has Joseph put into a dungeon. We see by reading the Hebrew text that Joseph would seem to be in the same position as when his brothers put him into a pit. Joseph remains trusting in divine providence and God deals favorable with Joseph as Joseph remains in his virtue, particularly his meekness and docility to the Lord's working in his life. We see how Potiphar's wife is a portrayal of wickedness in the face of virtue.
Joseph is a topological Christ and displays great virtue in the midst of many trials and in the face of great temptation. Joseph's is graced by God and prospers in everything he does, as do those to whom he is a servant. We hear from St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. John Chrysostom to gain insight into how the events of Joseph, son of Israel, are timeless and perhaps more so now in these our times.
The failures and sinfulness of man do not thwart God's purposes for the salvation of man realized in Jesus. In fact, it is precisely through man's failures and sin that God weaves His story and shows man's need for Him and how He shows man to himself. Even within this illicit union of Judah and Tamar, God brings forth the lineage of King David and the everlasting King, Jesus.
We hear from St. Cyril of Alexandria breaking down Chapter 37 with a look forward to Christ. We look to the Psalms, Jeremiah, Isaiah and St. Matthew in the writing of St. Cyril. Because God doesn't waste words, we see much in all the details.
We begin in this episode the "Joseph Cycle" that will continue to the end of Genesis. Was Joseph purley innocent in being put upon by his brothers? We hear from Dr. Bergsma and Dr. Pitre to give us the genre of Genesis and in particular, the Joseph cycle. We also hear from St. Cyril of Alexandria. The Joseph Cycle opens with the narrative of Joseph's brothers intending to kill him, that is mitigated by Ruben. Why?Jacob's meekness and wisdom is displayed once again.
Was Job a real person? Esau makes peace with Jacob and peoples the lands around Canaan. Like Lot and Abraham, Jacob and Esau separate, Jacob remains in the land of the promise while Esau settles in the surrounding areas.
The little gems in this Chapter foreshadow the death of the Holy Innocents. The Chapter gives us a quick summary of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and now with Jacob. St. Cyril of Alexandria gives us the keys to understand this Chapter in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rachel and the prophet of Jeremiah are heard from as well.
Dinah is curious, associates with other women of the town of Shechem and falls victim of the prince of the town. Simeon and Levi contrive a means to enact vengeance on not just the man who rapped her, but to every man of the city and then plunder it. Was this justice? In this event recorded we see the ills of curiosity, lust, and vengeance.
The Beatitudes of Matthew 5 are foreshadowed by Jacob in his dealings not only with Laban, but more manifest in how he approaches his brother Esau. Jacob's virtue of Meekness earns him the favor of the brother that once desired his death.
We delve into Chapter 32 of Genesis through the eyes of St. John Chrysostom and St. Cyril of Alexandria. We see the Virtues of Jacob who valued relationship with his brother much more than worldly possessions. Jacob sees God, in so much as it is possible to see God this side of Heaven is a foreshadowing of Christ coming as a man.
No sooner than Laban, who had been afer Jacob to overtake him and intending to do him harm, but ends peaceably, does Jacob have to contend with Esau. Jacob sends presents to Esau and wrestles with God. In doing so, Jacob becomes Israel, because he had contended with God, (not against) and prevailed.