Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/330

Rh The Book of Genesis

312 learn,

like

forgive and forget, that

Joseph, to

life

may

be

sweeter, happier, and richer for everybody.

So Joseph's brothers stood the hard and bitter test, even it, and proved fully that they had been purified of all thoughts and desires of evil, and were fit for great and noble things. So God tries us all to learn whether we are worthy to do the great and good work He has in mind for all creatures. Those whom He would use for the We have seen this greatest tasks He tries most severely. And the in the case of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. supreme test is always that, like Judah, we be willing to go For into slavery, or even to lay down our life for others. unselfishness is this is the truest test of unselfishness, and as

he had stood

the

first

requisite in the service of God, the willingness

to

do for others, even the humblest of God's creatures, regardless of all that

it

may

cost.

The rabbis used to tell a charming story of the way in which God tried Moses, to determine whether he was fit to become the deliverer and leader of Israel. One day, when Moses was herding the sheep of his father-in-law in the wilderness, he saw a little lamb leave the flock and hurry away.

He

followed eagerly, to bring

it

back, but the lamb

ran on so rapidly that Moses had to go a long

he could overtake still

the

He became

it.

way

before

foot-sore and weary, yet

lamb hastened on, just beyond

the faithful shepherd hastened after

it.

his

reach,

At

last

and the

still

lamb

came to a spring, and drank eagerly of its cool waters. Then "Poor creature", he murmured, thou Moses understood. thirsty and wast so hurried ever on, away from my outstretched hand, and

I

did not understand.

Now

thou art

So, and worn, and canst not retrace lamb little weary and spent though he was, Moses took the on his own shoulder, and brought it back in safety to the Then he flock, and gently put it down beside its mother. heard God calling softly to him, with the sound of his own faint

thy

steps". \n