Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/321

Rh ^^03

Joseph in Egypt

As

come over Joseph.

home he had been

a l)oy at

to

(luick

But carry to his father tales of his brothers' evil conduct. merely he butler, chief now' when he tells his story to the protests that he

There

innocent of wrono^doin<^.

is

is

not a

word of condemnation of his brothers or of Potiphar's wife. He seeks now not to incriminate others, although he could do so truthfully, but merely to establish his owm innocence. experience, cooperating It would seem that misfortune and .

think with his naturally gentle disposition, had taught him to to than as well and as kindly of others as possible, rather Possibly, too, he realized think ill, as he had done as a boy.

how

must have

greatlv his conduct

that, without

irritated his brothers,

and

they would not have treated him as they

this,

did.

This

is

we might all learn with and for the blessing and happiness

indeed a lesson which

great profit to ourselves, of our others,

fellowmen.

and

for our

to lay

own

We

are

all

upon them

misdeeds,

the honest and strong

too prone to think evil of far as

as

and

sufferings,

man who

is

we

can, the

failures.

It

blame is

only

ever ready to examine

acknowledge his shortfor wrongdoing, comings, assume been done to have which and forgive and forget wrongs better and much Yet if we would all do this, how him. and how be; world happier a place to live in would this be, did ourselves much happier and more beloved would we even neighbors, we try to think good instead of evil of our his

own

actions

carefully,

and

to

his share of responsibility

though they may have wronged us somewhat. So Joseph learned by bitter experience to think and to how comIt shows more clearly than anything else, act. of his pletely he had changed, and how he had been purified fit to do the made and ennobled and strengthened and sin, brought great work, for which God had called him, and had

him down see

to

Egypt.

God's hand

at

In

all

his misfortunes

work preparing Joseph

we can

readily

for the great and \n