Chapters 37, 39-50

In these reading we learn of the life of Joseph the son of Isreal. The controversial theme that keeps coming up in these readings throughout the Genesis is the theme of betrayal caused by jealousy. The way Isreal treats Joseph makes his brothers especially jealous, so one day while working in the field they come up with the plan to kill their own brother. This plan is denied by Joseph's brother Rueben who then decided to strip him of his clothes and leave him in an empty pit without food or water. He was sold to the Ishmaelites where he was then brought to Egypt. His life in Egypt is explained, years later a famine hits the land and Joseph is the only one with food for the survivors. He is visited by his brothers who are in search of food and does not know how to react. He is now the man in control, he now controls his brother lives as they did the day they left him naked in that pit alone. Joseph in turn ended up with the better end of the deal, he suffered for a short time when first entering Egypt but now he is the only man who is safe from famine. Joseph believes God was the reason he was taken to Egypt, to have a better life, not blaming his life on his jealous brothers. I believe in the end Joseph takes his brother's and all their families, flocks and herds into Egypt to take care of them and give them food because he knows the real meaning of family, even though they did him wrong he knows it does not give him the right to do them wrong. This of betrayal keeps showing up throughout the stories of Genesis, all stringing from the theme of jealousy.