# 47 - Joseph: The Slave - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein we discover Joseph's journey from betrayal to service in Potiphar's house, a tale of resilience and divine favor. This episode unravels how faith and integrity transform even the darkest circumstances into a path of hope and purpose.
Episode 47 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Matthew 20:26, “but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.”
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Show Notes:
(02:00) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(03:01) Joseph: The Slave - Cinematic Retelling
(24:11) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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<v Speaker 1>Previously on the chosen people.
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<v Speaker 2>Oh, I had this spectacular dream. We were binding sheaves
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<v Speaker 2>in the field, and my sheaf arose and stood upright,
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<v Speaker 2>and and then your sheaves gathered around it and bowed
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<v Speaker 2>down to my sheaf.
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<v Speaker 3>So are you to rule over us? Joseph.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph's dreams, once a source of personal pride, had become
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<v Speaker 1>a point of contention among his family. His brother's hearts
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<v Speaker 1>grew colder, their patients thinner.
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<v Speaker 3>The dreamer is here.
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<v Speaker 1>His brother's pounced on him, tearing the coat right off
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<v Speaker 1>his body. Their kicks seemed endless. Joseph could feel his
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<v Speaker 1>ribs cracking under the pressure of their blows.
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<v Speaker 4>No stop, somewhould help help help me.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph lay there helplessly. His brothers were filled with spite.
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<v Speaker 1>They took his lips open, mangled body, and threw him
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<v Speaker 1>into an empty pit. Joseph tumbled down fifteen feet, hitting
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<v Speaker 1>the cold dirt below.
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<v Speaker 3>Why don't we sell him? There are spice merchants a
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<v Speaker 3>few yards from the town entrance. I happen to know
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<v Speaker 3>that they are slave traders. Joseph is a strong young man.
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<v Speaker 3>They would pay us a handsome sum of money for him.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph's cries for help were choked by the tight rope.
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<v Speaker 1>Tears filled his eyes, his heart heavy with betrayal. The
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<v Speaker 1>sun said, the stars, taking his place. As Joseph was
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<v Speaker 1>taken towards Egypt, as slave's fate awaiting him, he kept
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<v Speaker 1>his gaze fixed south toward Canaan, the land he was
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<v Speaker 1>leaving behind, the home that had betrayed him.
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<v Speaker 4>God, what have I done to deserve this?
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<v Speaker 5>In the house of Potifar, a Hebrew slave rose to
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<v Speaker 5>prominence not by power, but by the unseen hand of God. Shed, oh,
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<v Speaker 5>my friends, from here in the Holy Land. I'm l
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<v Speaker 5>Extein with International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome
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<v Speaker 5>to the Chosen People. If this podcast has blessed you,
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<v Speaker 5>we'd love it if you followed, left or review and
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<v Speaker 5>shared it with a friend. These may seem like small steps,
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<v Speaker 5>but they help us in our efforts to get this
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<v Speaker 5>podcast out to everyone. So go right now, follow the podcast,
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<v Speaker 5>leave her review, and share it with a friend. Thank
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<v Speaker 5>you so much for making this mission possible. Now let's begin.
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<v Speaker 5>What does it mean to be faithful when the world
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<v Speaker 5>turns upside down? This Bible story isn't just the story
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<v Speaker 5>one man's enslavement. Rather, it's a reflection of our own struggles.
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<v Speaker 5>Journey with me into a story inspired by Genesis thirty
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<v Speaker 5>nine one to say.
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<v Speaker 6>Get up, slave, we're here.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph stirred, his body, aching from days spent tid to
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<v Speaker 1>the back of a camel. He blinked against the brightness
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<v Speaker 1>the slender silhouette of the spice Trader looming over him.
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<v Speaker 1>With effort, he propped himself up the cold ground, taking
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<v Speaker 1>its toll. For over a week, he had marched toward Egypt,
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<v Speaker 1>the scorching Eastern sun leaving scars on his back. His
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<v Speaker 1>once muscular frame was deteriorating from lack of food. Groaning,
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph rose to his feet, his legs trembling and bleeding
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<v Speaker 1>from saws formed by the hot desert sand. The slave
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<v Speaker 1>Trader yanked on the rope around his neck, the coarse
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<v Speaker 1>fibers rubbing his skin roar, making each step a torment.
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<v Speaker 1>As they neared Egypt, the desolate desert gave way to
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<v Speaker 1>a lush and thriving city. The gates towered higher than
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<v Speaker 1>the hills of Canaan, and the architecture was more elaborate
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<v Speaker 1>than anything Joseph had ever seen. To his left, prized
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<v Speaker 1>horses were being bartered on the outskirts of the market place.
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<v Speaker 1>Deeper into the city, the bustling economy of Egypt unfolded
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<v Speaker 1>before his eyes. Exotic animals whose strange produce laced the
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<v Speaker 1>market place. Despite the clamor, the people were elegant, even
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<v Speaker 1>the merchants, carrying themselves with a regal bearing stories from
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<v Speaker 1>his father, had painted pictures of Egypt, but none matched
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<v Speaker 1>the vibrant reality now before him. It was a world
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<v Speaker 1>apart from his own. The small caravan came to a halt.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph captives tied him to a post alongside the camels
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<v Speaker 1>and entered a small tent. Joseph looked around, contemplating escape.
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<v Speaker 1>His studies had given him a few words in Egyptian,
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<v Speaker 1>and he overheard the slave trader bar uttering inside he
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<v Speaker 1>was about to be sold. Frantic, Joseph began rubbing the
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<v Speaker 1>ropes around his wrists against the top of the post.
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<v Speaker 1>Desperation fueled his efforts as he tugged and pulled with
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<v Speaker 1>his teeth, trying to rip free from his bonds. Glancing
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<v Speaker 1>at the tent, he saw the shadows of the men
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<v Speaker 1>standing an idea sparked as he noticed the camel tied
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<v Speaker 1>to the same post. Using what little slack he had,
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph picked up a small reed lying near by. With precision,
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<v Speaker 1>he struck the camel on the rump, startled. The camel
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<v Speaker 1>bolted forward, pulling the wooden class out of the ground. Joseph,
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<v Speaker 1>still bound, ran for his life, using the commotion to
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<v Speaker 1>his advantage. The slave trader and the buyer burst out
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<v Speaker 1>of the tent and saw.
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<v Speaker 6>Joseph running stop him.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph's breath came heavy and labored, his body weak from
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<v Speaker 1>days without sufficient water and food. His legs burned as
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<v Speaker 1>he raced through the streets, glancing back to see guardards
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<v Speaker 1>in pursuit. To his left, he spotted a large hole
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<v Speaker 1>in a stone wall.
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<v Speaker 4>They can't fit in there, but I can.
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<v Speaker 1>With a swift pivot, Joseph leaped for the opening, squeezing
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<v Speaker 1>through without a scratch and losing the guards. Breathless, he
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<v Speaker 1>paused to assess his surroundings. To his right was a well.
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<v Speaker 1>To his left was a small pool where Egyptian women
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<v Speaker 1>played with their children. Trying to appear inconspicuous, Joseph waited
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<v Speaker 1>for the right moment then dashed to the well. He
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<v Speaker 1>leaned over the edge, lapping water with desperate gulps. Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>celebrated for a brief moment. He hadn't had water in
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<v Speaker 1>over a day. However, his joy was short lived. As
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<v Speaker 1>his face was dipped into the well. He could feel
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<v Speaker 1>a hand on the back of his head, forcing it
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<v Speaker 1>deeper into the water. Joseph kicked and yelled, but it
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<v Speaker 1>was no use. The man's hands were set firmly over
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<v Speaker 1>his neck and head, keeping him down. Bubbles formed from
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<v Speaker 1>his desperate cries for help. After what seemed like an eternity,
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph's squirms became less animated as he slowly began to
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<v Speaker 1>lose oxygen. As his eyes began to grow dim, he
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<v Speaker 1>was released from lent and thrown onto the ground. Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>coughed up water on impact and cooled over, desperately trying
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<v Speaker 1>to catch his breath. Before he could compose himself, he
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<v Speaker 1>was kicked in the woods. Joseph lay there, holding his side, questioning.
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<v Speaker 4>His decision to run the sweather kill me.
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<v Speaker 1>Looking up, he saw his captor, a tall, older man,
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<v Speaker 1>broad shouldered and imposing. He wore an immaculate breastplate, and
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<v Speaker 1>a head dress signifying authority. Clean shaven like most Egyptians,
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<v Speaker 1>he exuded power. The man dragged Joseph back to the
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<v Speaker 1>tent where the slave trader was securing his camel. The
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<v Speaker 1>trader sneered at Joseph, but quickly bowed when he saw
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<v Speaker 1>his captor.
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<v Speaker 6>My Lord, forgive me the Hebrew escaped as I was
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<v Speaker 6>bartering to sell him. You may kill him if you like,
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<v Speaker 6>or I can do it myself.
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<v Speaker 1>The Ishmaelit was trembling with fear. Whoever this man was,
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<v Speaker 1>he was clearly very powerful. The man looked down at Joseph.
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<v Speaker 1>His expression was cold and impassive. Joseph couldn't get a
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<v Speaker 1>good read on how much trouble he was in. The
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<v Speaker 1>man gestured to the slave trader.
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<v Speaker 3>I will buy him off you you what.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph was just as surprised as the Ishmaelit. They looked
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<v Speaker 1>up at the man, unable to understand his reasoning.
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<v Speaker 3>I will give you fifteen shekels of silver for him.
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<v Speaker 1>The trader hesitated, five shekels less than what he paid,
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<v Speaker 1>but fear overrode his greed.
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<v Speaker 7>H as you wish Lord, part of her, please also
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<v Speaker 7>accept some turmeric freshly ground from the riverlands south of
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<v Speaker 7>the Nile.
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<v Speaker 1>Potipha handed over the silver without another word, signaling his
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<v Speaker 1>servant to bring his horse. The servant took the rope
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<v Speaker 1>attached to Joseph's wrists, and Potipha mounted his horse, trotting
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<v Speaker 1>away with a small entourage of gods.
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<v Speaker 4>I am net, the keeper of the Lord Potiphar's slaves.
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<v Speaker 3>Come, let's get you cleaned up.
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<v Speaker 4>I can't have you muddying up the lord Captain's home.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph could only make out a few Egyptian words. He
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<v Speaker 1>nodded to the servant and replied to the best of
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<v Speaker 1>his ability. The two walked side by side, with a
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<v Speaker 1>small entourage of guards walking behind them. Ned spoke slowly
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<v Speaker 1>and patiently to Joseph, explaining who had just brought him.
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<v Speaker 1>From what Joseph could understand, Potipha was the captain of
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh's royal guard and had authority over the city's security.
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<v Speaker 1>As they approached Potiphar's state, Joseph marveled at the lash
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<v Speaker 1>vignyard to the left and the stables filled with prized
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<v Speaker 1>horses to the right. The grandeur of the home surpassed
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<v Speaker 1>anything he had imagined. They led him to the slave quarters,
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<v Speaker 1>where he was stripped, shaven and bathed. Wrapped in Egyptian linen.
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<v Speaker 1>He was given stale bread and wine, the first real
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<v Speaker 1>meal in over a week. He ate voraciously. Afterward, Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>was taken to Potiphar's home. Ivory pillars supported a roof
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<v Speaker 1>over the large courtyard where Potipha sat at his desk,
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<v Speaker 1>fanned by palm fronds. Behind him bounched his wife, Younger, beautiful,
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<v Speaker 1>and adorned with fine jewelry. Joseph stood with his head bowed,
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<v Speaker 1>without looking up from his work.
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<v Speaker 3>Potipha spoke, as I witnessed in the market place, you
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<v Speaker 3>were able to run fast. Not only this, but you
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<v Speaker 3>were clever enough to escape my guards. While I would
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<v Speaker 3>not recommend you running away again, your talents Mape prove
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<v Speaker 3>useful to me. You will work in the vineyards and
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<v Speaker 3>in my home. You will do your work fast and
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<v Speaker 3>with great care. You will queen, you will cook, and
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<v Speaker 3>you will do anything my servants ask of you. If
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<v Speaker 3>you do not, I will kill or sell you. It
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<v Speaker 3>is as simple as that.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph understood the gravity of Potiphar's words. He was no
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<v Speaker 1>longer a favored son, but a slave. Yet he was
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<v Speaker 1>determined to be the best slave and to work with
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<v Speaker 1>diligence and humility. That night, Joseph lay awake. He peered
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<v Speaker 1>through the window of the slave's quarters, staring up at
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<v Speaker 1>the sky. The white noise of heavy snores and deep
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<v Speaker 1>murmuring reminded him of his brothers. He surveyed the stars,
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<v Speaker 1>searching for answers. He wondered if they were the same
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<v Speaker 1>stars he would gaze upon in Canaan. To Joseph, it
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<v Speaker 1>seemed as far away as the stars themselves. He thought
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<v Speaker 1>about his mother and father. He longed to hug them again.
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<v Speaker 1>He closed his eyes and tried to remember the smell
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<v Speaker 1>of fresh stew. He remembered running his hands through the
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<v Speaker 1>ripe grain fields beside the rolling hills. He remembered the
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<v Speaker 1>warm embrace of his colorful coat. Then Joseph remembered his brothers.
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<v Speaker 1>He could see their sneers of jealousy and hatred in
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<v Speaker 1>his mind's eye. His heart ached over what had happened.
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<v Speaker 1>He hated them for what they had done. He clenched
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<v Speaker 1>his fist and gritted his teeth, imagining what he would
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<v Speaker 1>do if he saw them again. Yet the anger soon
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<v Speaker 1>gave way to sorrow. Joseph turned over in his cot
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<v Speaker 1>and wept silently. He allowed tears to flow from his face,
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<v Speaker 1>then finally sighed to the heavens again.
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<v Speaker 4>What's this your plan? Why give me dreams of prosperity
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<v Speaker 4>only to throw me away like this?
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<v Speaker 1>He pondered his situation, realizing he was in the home
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<v Speaker 1>of a powerful man in the most powerful nation. Perhaps
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<v Speaker 1>his dreams were not completely lost. Joseph looked up again
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<v Speaker 1>to heaven. The clouds began rolling in with the breeze
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<v Speaker 1>slightly covering the moon.
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<v Speaker 4>Please give me favor as you did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
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<v Speaker 1>Despite his circumstances, a deep optimism welled within him. He
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<v Speaker 1>sensed God's protection and provision. Releasing the tension in his fists,
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<v Speaker 1>he breathed deeply and drifted to sleep. Joseph arose early
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<v Speaker 1>that morning before the other slaves. The sun had not
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<v Speaker 1>yet risen, and the coolness of mourning was a refreshing
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<v Speaker 1>chain from the stuffy room where the slaves were kept.
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<v Speaker 1>He greeted the guards outside the door and gestured to
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<v Speaker 1>the water basin with rags soaking in them. They nodded
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<v Speaker 1>and allowed Joseph to get an early start on his work.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph took the basin into the courtyard and began to
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<v Speaker 1>scrub the floors. He paid attention to every detail of
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<v Speaker 1>the floors. He scrubbed the cracks, polishing off every square
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<v Speaker 1>inch of the courtyard. After he was done, Joseph climbed
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<v Speaker 1>the ivory pillars, reaching up to clean off the cobwebs
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<v Speaker 1>that had formed in the corners. Then Joseph took some
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<v Speaker 1>oil from the palm roots and rubbed down Potiphar's desk.
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<v Speaker 1>He polished the wood and paid close attention to sanding
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<v Speaker 1>down any rough edges. Joseph had finally finished. As the
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<v Speaker 1>sun rose, Potiphar arose from his chambers, fully dressed, groomed,
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<v Speaker 1>and prepared for his day. Joseph was wringing out his
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<v Speaker 1>rags when Potipha entered the courtyard. He scanned the newly
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<v Speaker 1>polished area, then looked down at Joseph. Joseph bowed, picked
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<v Speaker 1>up the empty basin, and returned to the slaves quarters.
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<v Speaker 1>He wanted to return to the others before they could
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<v Speaker 1>see what he had done. Joseph had learned his lesson
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<v Speaker 1>from what had happened with his brothers. If he was
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<v Speaker 1>going to gain favor from Potiphar. It couldn't be at
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<v Speaker 1>the expense of the others. He had to be humble, diligent,
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<v Speaker 1>and kind. Joseph joined the other slaves as they made
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<v Speaker 1>their way down to the vineyard. Potipha sat at his
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<v Speaker 1>desk and ran his hands across the wood. He then
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<v Speaker 1>looked up to see Joseph leaving with the other slaves,
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<v Speaker 1>a slight smile dimly lit in his eyes. Weeks passed,
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<v Speaker 1>and Joseph continued to go above and beyond his orders.
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<v Speaker 1>When the other slaves returned for their meal, Joseph remained
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<v Speaker 1>in the vineyard, keeping a tally of the vines whose
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<v Speaker 1>branches produced more fruit. He kept track of their cycles
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<v Speaker 1>and reported them to the vine dresser. Before the sun rose,
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<v Speaker 1>while the other slaves slept, Joseph arose to scrub and
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<v Speaker 1>organize Potiphar's courtyard. He pruned the plants, polished the tile,
0:16:09 --> 0:16:13
<v Speaker 1>and buffed his desk. All the while he would pray
0:16:13 --> 0:16:17
<v Speaker 1>to his god, the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
0:16:18 --> 0:16:21
<v Speaker 1>He would pray for wisdom to learn the culture, endurance
0:16:22 --> 0:16:25
<v Speaker 1>to work harder than the others, and humility to pursue
0:16:25 --> 0:16:29
<v Speaker 1>it all with a pure heart. As Joseph worked, he
0:16:29 --> 0:16:33
<v Speaker 1>grew closer and closer to the God of his forefathers.
0:16:33 --> 0:16:36
<v Speaker 1>In his heart grew a deep love for his Lord.
0:16:37 --> 0:16:40
<v Speaker 1>Although he worked under Potiphar, he recognized that it was
0:16:40 --> 0:16:44
<v Speaker 1>God under whom he worked, and God granted Joseph favor
0:16:45 --> 0:16:50
<v Speaker 1>in everything that he did. Potipha noticed Joseph's talents, including
0:16:50 --> 0:16:55
<v Speaker 1>his organization, i for detail, and work ethic. Yet another
0:16:55 --> 0:16:59
<v Speaker 1>pair of eyes was on Joseph. Potiphar's wife would often
0:16:59 --> 0:17:03
<v Speaker 1>stroll aside the vineyards, catching glimpses of Joseph working under
0:17:03 --> 0:17:08
<v Speaker 1>the hot sun. However, Joseph's eyes never met hers. He
0:17:08 --> 0:17:12
<v Speaker 1>was intent on working and gaining favour with God and man.
0:17:12 --> 0:17:17
<v Speaker 1>Three years passed, and Joseph grew stronger and filled with
0:17:17 --> 0:17:21
<v Speaker 1>the spirit of God. He was diligent in learning the
0:17:21 --> 0:17:25
<v Speaker 1>language and eventually was promoted to oversee the slaves alongside
0:17:25 --> 0:17:29
<v Speaker 1>net Joseph had shown an aptitude for planning the vineyard's
0:17:29 --> 0:17:34
<v Speaker 1>harvest depending on seasons. He paid close attention to the weather,
0:17:34 --> 0:17:37
<v Speaker 1>its patterns, and the demand for wine in the marketplace.
0:17:38 --> 0:17:42
<v Speaker 1>Joseph became beloved amongst the slaves and the members of
0:17:42 --> 0:17:45
<v Speaker 1>Potiphar's house felt comfortable relying on him for important tasks.
0:17:46 --> 0:17:49
<v Speaker 1>It was evident to the entire household of Potiphar that
0:17:49 --> 0:17:54
<v Speaker 1>God had blessed Joseph. Joseph was now twenty years old.
0:17:54 --> 0:17:58
<v Speaker 1>His once prideful and arrogant demeanor had been replaced with
0:17:58 --> 0:18:02
<v Speaker 1>a strong and humble presence. He carried himself as someone
0:18:02 --> 0:18:08
<v Speaker 1>who was capable, but willing to serve instead of be served.
0:18:09 --> 0:18:14
<v Speaker 1>Joseph arose early, as was his ritual. His footsteps echoed
0:18:14 --> 0:18:19
<v Speaker 1>through the halls of Potiphar's courtyard. He scrubbed, scoured, and polished,
0:18:19 --> 0:18:22
<v Speaker 1>whistling a Hebrew lullaby his mother used to sing. It
0:18:22 --> 0:18:27
<v Speaker 1>had become a ritual for Joseph, a meditation of humility.
0:18:27 --> 0:18:31
<v Speaker 1>Yet it was interrupted by the regal footsteps of another.
0:18:31 --> 0:18:36
<v Speaker 1>Joseph stood at attention as Potiphar entered the courtyard. He
0:18:36 --> 0:18:40
<v Speaker 1>rubbed his hand against his desk, feeling its newly oiled surface.
0:18:41 --> 0:18:46
<v Speaker 3>You have been here before sunrise every morning since you've arrived.
0:18:47 --> 0:18:50
<v Speaker 3>At first, I thought you may be a thief, getting
0:18:50 --> 0:18:54
<v Speaker 3>acquainted with the house before the others were awake. A
0:18:54 --> 0:18:58
<v Speaker 3>year past, and I thought you to be an opportunist
0:18:59 --> 0:19:03
<v Speaker 3>hoping to in favor with the others. But now after
0:19:04 --> 0:19:10
<v Speaker 3>three years, I've come to be surprised by your relentlessness.
0:19:11 --> 0:19:14
<v Speaker 3>While you do this, you were never commanded to do so.
0:19:15 --> 0:19:16
<v Speaker 4>I live to serve, Lord Potiphar.
0:19:17 --> 0:19:20
<v Speaker 3>Do not give me pleasantly. Slave. I've asked you an
0:19:20 --> 0:19:24
<v Speaker 3>honest question. You will respond with an honest answer.
0:19:25 --> 0:19:29
<v Speaker 1>Joseph paused, realizing this was the first time Potiphar had
0:19:29 --> 0:19:31
<v Speaker 1>spoken to him since he arrived.
0:19:32 --> 0:19:34
<v Speaker 4>If I am to be a slave, I'd like to
0:19:34 --> 0:19:34
<v Speaker 4>be the best.
0:19:36 --> 0:19:37
<v Speaker 3>So it's ambition that drives you.
0:19:38 --> 0:19:43
<v Speaker 4>No, my Lord, not ambition contrition. I was once the
0:19:43 --> 0:19:46
<v Speaker 4>most favored son of my household. I was gifted with
0:19:46 --> 0:19:50
<v Speaker 4>a high status in my father's house despite being the youngest.
0:19:51 --> 0:19:55
<v Speaker 4>I am sad to say I squandered my position. My
0:19:55 --> 0:19:59
<v Speaker 4>arrogance and laziness led my brothers to jealousy. It led
0:20:00 --> 0:20:04
<v Speaker 4>led me. Hear Now, as a slave, God has granted
0:20:04 --> 0:20:06
<v Speaker 4>me the chance to change my heart, a chance to
0:20:06 --> 0:20:07
<v Speaker 4>do things right.
0:20:08 --> 0:20:09
<v Speaker 3>Which God do you worship?
0:20:10 --> 0:20:13
<v Speaker 4>I worshiped the one True God Master. He has given
0:20:13 --> 0:20:17
<v Speaker 4>me undeserved favor, favor.
0:20:17 --> 0:20:22
<v Speaker 3>You're a slave, although there is no denying it, Joseph,
0:20:22 --> 0:20:26
<v Speaker 3>your God has clearly blessed you in some way. Perhaps
0:20:26 --> 0:20:29
<v Speaker 3>this God of slaves can do something for me too.
0:20:30 --> 0:20:33
<v Speaker 1>The captain walked down the steps towards the vineyard and
0:20:34 --> 0:20:38
<v Speaker 1>gestured for Joseph to follow him. Joseph walked beside him.
0:20:38 --> 0:20:42
<v Speaker 1>Potipher plucked some grapes from the vines and began to eat.
0:20:42 --> 0:20:47
<v Speaker 1>He pointed towards the rising sun. Its golden beams showered
0:20:47 --> 0:20:51
<v Speaker 1>light over the dark grape leaves. The contrast was brilliant
0:20:51 --> 0:20:54
<v Speaker 1>to behold light from above and darkness from below.
0:20:55 --> 0:21:00
<v Speaker 3>This is the God that I worship, Joseph Amunah. He
0:21:00 --> 0:21:04
<v Speaker 3>is the source of life, power, and fertility of the earth.
0:21:05 --> 0:21:10
<v Speaker 3>He has blessed me with unprecedented power and influence. Pharaoh
0:21:10 --> 0:21:16
<v Speaker 3>himself listens to me, and it is all because of Rah. However,
0:21:16 --> 0:21:20
<v Speaker 3>since you have been here, our crops have increased, our
0:21:20 --> 0:21:24
<v Speaker 3>slaves are in higher spirits, the live stock are healthier.
0:21:25 --> 0:21:28
<v Speaker 3>Perhaps the favor your God brings can match the might
0:21:28 --> 0:21:29
<v Speaker 3>of ara.
0:21:31 --> 0:21:31
<v Speaker 1>Hum.
0:21:33 --> 0:21:36
<v Speaker 3>Joseph, I would like to appoint you as my household
0:21:36 --> 0:21:41
<v Speaker 3>overs here. Everything I own, every one who lives here,
0:21:41 --> 0:21:44
<v Speaker 3>and all the crops I grow will be under your care.
0:21:46 --> 0:21:49
<v Speaker 1>Joseph was speechless. It was an honor for Potiphar to
0:21:49 --> 0:21:53
<v Speaker 1>even speak with him. Now he was being appointed as
0:21:53 --> 0:21:57
<v Speaker 1>the manager of his entire estate. Joseph fell to his
0:21:57 --> 0:21:59
<v Speaker 1>knees and spread out his hands.
0:21:59 --> 0:22:03
<v Speaker 4>You honor me with this responsibility. May God bless you
0:22:03 --> 0:22:04
<v Speaker 4>for your kindness towards me.
0:22:05 --> 0:22:06
<v Speaker 1>I will not let you down.
0:22:06 --> 0:22:09
<v Speaker 3>Ha, Come here. It is much for you to learn.
0:22:09 --> 0:22:12
<v Speaker 3>If you're going to be the governor of my home,
0:22:12 --> 0:22:14
<v Speaker 3>you must carry yourself with authority.
0:22:15 --> 0:22:19
<v Speaker 1>Potiphar led him back through the courtyard and into his chambers.
0:22:20 --> 0:22:22
<v Speaker 1>There was a large wooden chest sitting at the foot
0:22:22 --> 0:22:25
<v Speaker 1>of his bed. He reached inside and pulled out a
0:22:26 --> 0:22:30
<v Speaker 1>gold chain. At the center was a sapphire the size.
0:22:30 --> 0:22:30
<v Speaker 3>Of a marble.
0:22:31 --> 0:22:34
<v Speaker 1>Potifa held it up to Joseph, then placed it around
0:22:34 --> 0:22:38
<v Speaker 1>his neck. It hung on his bare chest. The sapphire
0:22:38 --> 0:22:41
<v Speaker 1>was a bright contrast to Joseph's tanned skin.
0:22:43 --> 0:22:47
<v Speaker 3>Joseph, I give you all of my authority over this hole.
0:22:48 --> 0:22:51
<v Speaker 3>You may command my servants, the slaves, and every worker
0:22:52 --> 0:22:53
<v Speaker 3>within my estate as you please.
0:22:55 --> 0:22:58
<v Speaker 1>The tall captain froze mid thought and looked out the
0:22:58 --> 0:23:02
<v Speaker 1>door into the courtyard. His wife and her maid servants
0:23:02 --> 0:23:06
<v Speaker 1>were preparing to bathe in the paws. Potiphar looked at
0:23:06 --> 0:23:10
<v Speaker 1>Joseph intently, eyes revealing some deep wounds and desires.
0:23:11 --> 0:23:16
<v Speaker 3>However, you may, under no circumstances, order my wife or
0:23:16 --> 0:23:17
<v Speaker 3>her maid's effence.
0:23:18 --> 0:23:23
<v Speaker 1>Joseph nodded in agreement, giving a slight bow. Potiphar took
0:23:23 --> 0:23:26
<v Speaker 1>him for an early meal, and the two discussed how
0:23:26 --> 0:23:29
<v Speaker 1>the inner workings of the estate could be managed better.
0:23:29 --> 0:23:35
<v Speaker 1>Potiphar asked questions, praised Joseph's answers, and responded with more questions.
0:23:35 --> 0:23:39
<v Speaker 1>Joseph was surprised at how humble of a man Potiphar
0:23:39 --> 0:23:42
<v Speaker 1>truly was. For years, he had judged him as an
0:23:42 --> 0:23:47
<v Speaker 1>unapproachable ruler, someone stuck in his ways and cold. However,
0:23:48 --> 0:23:52
<v Speaker 1>under the overhang's cool shade, Joseph could relate to Potiphar
0:23:52 --> 0:23:56
<v Speaker 1>and speak freely. For the first time in three years,
0:23:56 --> 0:24:00
<v Speaker 1>he no longer felt like a slave. He felt once
0:24:00 --> 0:24:03
<v Speaker 1>again the loving approval of a father.
0:24:14 --> 0:24:17
<v Speaker 5>Joseph sold into slavery, found himself in the house of
0:24:17 --> 0:24:22
<v Speaker 5>an Egyptian named Potifar, and yet even in his enslavement,
0:24:22 --> 0:24:27
<v Speaker 5>Joseph served with unparalleled diligence. What drives a person to
0:24:27 --> 0:24:33
<v Speaker 5>work with such fervor, especially in such dire circumstances. Joseph's
0:24:33 --> 0:24:38
<v Speaker 5>unwavering commitment wasn't for the accolades or the rewards of
0:24:38 --> 0:24:38
<v Speaker 5>this world.
0:24:39 --> 0:24:41
<v Speaker 4>It was for the glory of God.
0:24:41 --> 0:24:44
<v Speaker 5>A testament to a faith that is living and active.
0:24:45 --> 0:24:49
<v Speaker 5>Do we find that same motivation in our daily tasks?
0:24:50 --> 0:24:53
<v Speaker 5>Can we see beyond our immediate trials and glimpse the
0:24:53 --> 0:24:58
<v Speaker 5>sacredness in our work? Joseph's story challenges me to reconsider
0:24:59 --> 0:25:02
<v Speaker 5>my own work ethic. What am I driven by? I
0:25:02 --> 0:25:06
<v Speaker 5>have to ask myself driven by the fleeting praise of men,
0:25:07 --> 0:25:12
<v Speaker 5>or by the eternal approval of my creator. Joseph's life,
0:25:12 --> 0:25:17
<v Speaker 5>even in po Tifar's house, radiates a light that speaks
0:25:17 --> 0:25:20
<v Speaker 5>of a deeper allegiance. He's a reminder that in serving
0:25:20 --> 0:25:26
<v Speaker 5>others with excellence, we are ultimately serving God. Joseph's journey
0:25:26 --> 0:25:29
<v Speaker 5>isn't just a story from ancient times. It's a call
0:25:29 --> 0:25:32
<v Speaker 5>to live each moment with the awareness that we too
0:25:32 --> 0:25:37
<v Speaker 5>are servants of the Most High. In every task, great
0:25:37 --> 0:25:43
<v Speaker 5>or small, we can glorify our Maker. May we, like Joseph,
0:25:43 --> 0:25:48
<v Speaker 5>find our strength and motivation in God, serving Him with
0:25:48 --> 0:25:53
<v Speaker 5>all of our heart, mind, and soul. Now, let's take
0:25:53 --> 0:25:56
<v Speaker 5>a deeper dive into Genesis thirty nine, the chapter of
0:25:56 --> 0:25:59
<v Speaker 5>the Bible where we find this story. Verse one state
0:26:00 --> 0:26:05
<v Speaker 5>effect quote. Now, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt
0:26:06 --> 0:26:09
<v Speaker 5>end quote. But Jewish tradition teaches that there's more than
0:26:09 --> 0:26:12
<v Speaker 5>a simple fact. In this opening verse, we're taught that
0:26:12 --> 0:26:17
<v Speaker 5>being quote taken down end quote hints at the Egyptian
0:26:17 --> 0:26:20
<v Speaker 5>slavery that would be the low point in the history,
0:26:21 --> 0:26:26
<v Speaker 5>not just for Joseph, but for all of the Chosen People. Sure,
0:26:26 --> 0:26:28
<v Speaker 5>things would be good for a while, which we'll see
0:26:28 --> 0:26:32
<v Speaker 5>in the upcoming episodes. So as long as Joseph was
0:26:32 --> 0:26:36
<v Speaker 5>alive and acting as the visceray of Egypt, things were good.
0:26:36 --> 0:26:41
<v Speaker 5>But eventually, more than two centuries of exile and horrible
0:26:41 --> 0:26:47
<v Speaker 5>bitter enslavement would nearly break the Chosen People. Now, let's
0:26:47 --> 0:26:50
<v Speaker 5>look at the words that the Bible uses here. It's
0:26:50 --> 0:26:54
<v Speaker 5>very interesting that it talks about going down to Egypt.
0:26:55 --> 0:26:57
<v Speaker 5>But then every time the Bible talks about going to
0:26:57 --> 0:27:01
<v Speaker 5>the Promised Land to Israel, it actually speaks of going up.
0:27:02 --> 0:27:05
<v Speaker 5>So we have to see that this going up doesn't
0:27:05 --> 0:27:11
<v Speaker 5>mean height or altitude, It means holiness, It means closeness
0:27:11 --> 0:27:15
<v Speaker 5>to God. When we're going up, we're getting closer to
0:27:15 --> 0:27:18
<v Speaker 5>our destiny, closer to our God. When we're going down,
0:27:19 --> 0:27:22
<v Speaker 5>we're going a little bit farther from that revealed blessing
0:27:23 --> 0:27:26
<v Speaker 5>that God is raining down. You see, even a modern
0:27:26 --> 0:27:29
<v Speaker 5>Hebrew when we go to live in the Holy Land,
0:27:29 --> 0:27:33
<v Speaker 5>to move our lives from wherever we're born to Israel,
0:27:33 --> 0:27:36
<v Speaker 5>that process is called aliyah. Have you ever heard of
0:27:36 --> 0:27:41
<v Speaker 5>somebody making aliyah? It means moving to Israel, but what
0:27:41 --> 0:27:48
<v Speaker 5>it literally translates has is going up. Aliah literally means rising.
0:27:49 --> 0:27:52
<v Speaker 5>This is exactly what my husband and I did nearly
0:27:52 --> 0:27:56
<v Speaker 5>twenty years ago. We made aliyah, and with so many
0:27:56 --> 0:28:00
<v Speaker 5>thousands of persecuted and empowerished Jewish people do so when
0:28:00 --> 0:28:04
<v Speaker 5>they immigrate to Israel. Thanks to the Fellowship's Christian supporters,
0:28:04 --> 0:28:09
<v Speaker 5>they make alia. They rise up, and the Fellowship helps
0:28:09 --> 0:28:12
<v Speaker 5>people make aliyah to move to Israel from all four
0:28:12 --> 0:28:16
<v Speaker 5>corners of the earth every single day. And you know
0:28:17 --> 0:28:20
<v Speaker 5>I'm speaking to you right now from Israel, and so
0:28:20 --> 0:28:23
<v Speaker 5>I can tell you that every day It's true, I
0:28:24 --> 0:28:28
<v Speaker 5>feel a high about living here. I feel like I'm
0:28:28 --> 0:28:32
<v Speaker 5>rising up. Not just when I move to Israel. But
0:28:32 --> 0:28:34
<v Speaker 5>every day that I'm living here on this holy soil,
0:28:35 --> 0:28:39
<v Speaker 5>as comfortable as our lives were in America, I definitely
0:28:39 --> 0:28:42
<v Speaker 5>feel like I'm made an assent in Aliah by coming
0:28:42 --> 0:28:45
<v Speaker 5>to live here in the Holy Land, this land that
0:28:45 --> 0:28:49
<v Speaker 5>God promised to his chosen people thousands of years ago,
0:28:49 --> 0:28:53
<v Speaker 5>and that I am blessed and privileged to be living in.
0:28:54 --> 0:28:56
<v Speaker 5>As you study the Bible with me, I hope that
0:28:56 --> 0:28:58
<v Speaker 5>you will feel a little bit of what I feel.
0:28:59 --> 0:29:02
<v Speaker 5>I hope that you'll feel uplifted, that you feel raised up,
0:29:02 --> 0:29:06
<v Speaker 5>that you feel in Aliad, that you feel encouraged, inspired,
0:29:06 --> 0:29:13
<v Speaker 5>that you feel closer to God now. Joseph's unwavering faithfulness
0:29:13 --> 0:29:17
<v Speaker 5>and a foreign land foreshadows Israel's call to remain steadfast
0:29:17 --> 0:29:21
<v Speaker 5>in exile. His story is a prophetic glimpse into our
0:29:21 --> 0:29:26
<v Speaker 5>collective destiny, exiled and scattered, yet always called to hold
0:29:26 --> 0:29:30
<v Speaker 5>fast to our faith. The theme of exile in return
0:29:30 --> 0:29:34
<v Speaker 5>is central to Jewish history, from Babylon to the Diaspora.
0:29:34 --> 0:29:38
<v Speaker 5>We have faced countless trials, but we have always clung
0:29:38 --> 0:29:44
<v Speaker 5>to our Confidant with Almighty. Joseph's loyalty mirrors this enduring
0:29:44 --> 0:29:48
<v Speaker 5>faith in Egypt, he serves with excellence. Echoing the prophet
0:29:48 --> 0:29:53
<v Speaker 5>Jeremiah's words to the exiles in Babylon, he says, quote,
0:29:54 --> 0:29:57
<v Speaker 5>seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which
0:29:57 --> 0:30:00
<v Speaker 5>I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord
0:30:00 --> 0:30:03
<v Speaker 5>for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper
0:30:04 --> 0:30:10
<v Speaker 5>end quote. Joseph's story reminds us of our journey as
0:30:10 --> 0:30:16
<v Speaker 5>the Chosen People. It's a call to steadfastness. It's a
0:30:16 --> 0:30:20
<v Speaker 5>testament to faith, and it's a beacon of hope. It's
0:30:21 --> 0:30:24
<v Speaker 5>the ability to see the light within the darkness and
0:30:24 --> 0:30:28
<v Speaker 5>to remember that God is always with us and always
0:30:28 --> 0:30:33
<v Speaker 5>in control. May we, like Joseph, remain faithful in our
0:30:33 --> 0:30:40
<v Speaker 5>own exiles, trusting in God's enduring and consistent love that
0:30:40 --> 0:30:44
<v Speaker 5>doesn't waver. And may our lives always reflect God's light,
0:30:45 --> 0:30:48
<v Speaker 5>seeking the welfare of the cities where we find ourselves.
0:30:48 --> 0:30:53
<v Speaker 5>Just as his word instructed, joseph life reveals a profound
0:30:53 --> 0:31:00
<v Speaker 5>theological insight. It teaches us how to have integrity under pressure,
0:31:01 --> 0:31:05
<v Speaker 5>living with integrity when the world presses hard against us.
0:31:06 --> 0:31:09
<v Speaker 5>That's what we can learn from Joseph's story. We face
0:31:09 --> 0:31:13
<v Speaker 5>the challenge of maintaining integrity in jobs that might want
0:31:13 --> 0:31:15
<v Speaker 5>to wear us down, or in roles where our efforts
0:31:15 --> 0:31:19
<v Speaker 5>go unnoticed. Maybe we feel trapped by the daily grind.
0:31:20 --> 0:31:24
<v Speaker 5>Maybe we feel like life is repetitive and we're not
0:31:24 --> 0:31:27
<v Speaker 5>getting the satisfaction that we want or the recognition that
0:31:27 --> 0:31:32
<v Speaker 5>we deserve. We have to ask ourselves what's in our control.
0:31:33 --> 0:31:37
<v Speaker 5>What's in our control is how we respond. How do
0:31:37 --> 0:31:42
<v Speaker 5>we respond? Do we cut corners, do we become cynical
0:31:42 --> 0:31:46
<v Speaker 5>and disheartened, or do we, like Joseph, recognize that our
0:31:46 --> 0:31:51
<v Speaker 5>work is a form of holiness, no matter how insignificant
0:31:51 --> 0:31:55
<v Speaker 5>it may seem. Joseph's story reminds us that God's favor
0:31:55 --> 0:32:02
<v Speaker 5>often accompanies faithfulness. Yes, this world is tough. It's filled
0:32:02 --> 0:32:05
<v Speaker 5>with jobs we do out of necessity and tasks that
0:32:05 --> 0:32:07
<v Speaker 5>wear us down. But in the middle of it all,
0:32:08 --> 0:32:12
<v Speaker 5>we have a choice, and this is our choice to
0:32:12 --> 0:32:19
<v Speaker 5>serve with integrity or to feel like a victim. We
0:32:19 --> 0:32:22
<v Speaker 5>have to trust in God's presence. We must believe that
0:32:23 --> 0:32:27
<v Speaker 5>our faithfulness matters. And so, my friends, here's a challenge
0:32:27 --> 0:32:31
<v Speaker 5>for all of us. Let's try and see our daily
0:32:32 --> 0:32:35
<v Speaker 5>work not as a burden, but as an opportunity, an
0:32:35 --> 0:32:39
<v Speaker 5>opportunity to serve others, even if it's in small ways,
0:32:40 --> 0:32:43
<v Speaker 5>to bless others, even if it's just with a smile,
0:32:44 --> 0:32:47
<v Speaker 5>and to honor God in everything that we do.
0:32:50 --> 0:32:53
<v Speaker 1>You can listen to the Chosen People with the Isle
0:32:53 --> 0:32:57
<v Speaker 1>Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
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<v Speaker 1>dot Com app today. This comnproduction is only made possible
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<v Speaker 1>by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard,
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<v Speaker 1>Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of
0:33:10 --> 0:33:15
<v Speaker 1>the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla,
0:33:15 --> 0:33:19
<v Speaker 1>narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton,
0:33:19 --> 0:33:25
<v Speaker 1>Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc
0:33:25 --> 0:33:28
<v Speaker 1>and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music
0:33:28 --> 0:33:33
<v Speaker 1>by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by bre Rosalie and Aaron Salvato.
0:33:33 --> 0:33:38
<v Speaker 1>Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows,
0:33:38 --> 0:33:42
<v Speaker 1>Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
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<v Speaker 1>and Jews. You can hear more prey dot com productions
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<v Speaker 1>on the prey dot Com app available on the Apple
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<v Speaker 1>App Store and Google play Store. If you enjoyed The
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<v Speaker 1>Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.
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