Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/318

Rh The Book of Genesis

300 task

diffusing

of

blessing of selfish

some

The very humblest can work

blessing.

kind,

if

The

disposition.

who one day met

only he have the will and the unrabbis used to

prophet I^lijah

the

Full of curiosity, he asked the prophet

tell

in

who

man

of a wise

the

market

place.

all the busy answered the prophet slowly. "What !" said the sage, "of all this crowd not one?" Just then two men entered the market place. They seemed poor, and no one noticed them or greeted them. "These two will enjoy future life", said the prophet. The wise man w^ent to them and reverently asked, "Tell me what is your business, and what are your virtues, and what your

crowd

would

deeds?"

enjoy

"Virtues?

future

deeds?"

life.

they

of

"None",

asked,

"We

perplexed.

have none of these. We are poor men and live by our hands alone. Our only merit is that we have merry hearts. When we meet one who is sad, we strive to cheer him. And

when we

two who are enemies, wx seek

to make Thus we labor to do the will of our Father in heaven". In this way we may all work blessing. So even in prison God was with Joseph and he prospered, and did his work, as always, as best he could. As a slave

learn of

peace between them.

in

Poti])har's

house he had been faithful

as a lowly prisoner he fitted

to

him for the

do very soon.

far It

to his duties



now

work well. And all this greater work which God meant him

still

did his

reminds us of the wise saving of the

Bible,

Whatsoever thy hand (Ecclesiastes

IX,

attaineth

to

do hy thy

streni^th.

that

do.

10.)

and tlie modern ])rverb with much the same meaning, ^'Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well". Whatever we do now is training for something bigger and better tomorrow. So it was with Joseph, and so it is with us. Therefore all who came to know Joseph trusted him. It is a wonderful thing to win the trust and confidence of peo- \n