February 6

As everyone knows, Joseph was the favorite of his father’s sons, and he was given the “amazing technicolor dreamcoat.” Joseph pays a very high cost for being the “elect” son, which he does even not choose for himself. This favoritism leads to his brothers becoming wildly jealous of Joseph, and he is dropped in a pit and sold into slavery in Egypt. They bring back his bloodied garments, and Jacob is convinced his favorite son is dead. Eventually, however, Joseph, with God’s help, climbs the hierarchal ladder in Egypt with his gift of interpreting dreams. Now, the brothers are coming to Joseph, whom they know as a powerful leader in Egypt, not their long lost brother, to beg for food during the famine, and Joseph sneaks a silver cup in the youngest brother Benjamin’s sack of food. As the youngest brother, it seems that Benjamin has now become his father’s favorite, so Joseph chooses Benjamin out of all the brothers for this reason. Joseph is testing his brothers to see if they will condemn and betray Benjamin and prove that they are the same wicked men who will do anything to get rid of their father’s favorite. Fortunately, the brothers, especially Judah, refuse to leave without Benjamin and defend him, for Benjamin’s own sake and for Jacob’s sake, who will be crushed without Benjamin. By doing this, the brothers prove to Joseph that they have changed and now are merciful, understanding, and considerate of others, so Joseph reveals his identity. It seems like they have all grown morally and spiritually, leaving their spiteful ways behind. Anderson recognizes cycles like this in both Jacob and Joseph’s biblical stories. Favoritism occurs and jealousy and anger consume their relatives. But, as Anderson says, both stories end with “the reconciliation of the brothers,” illustrating the proper way to grow and give mercy.