JULY102025

The Book of Genesis tells the story of Abraham’s family. His great grandson, Joseph, completes the cycle somewhere around 1700BC. The saga is set in the background of the geo-political situation. Egypt had achieved hegemony over Palestine during a time of drought when, due to the Nile, it still have food to share. It also has a religious dimension since Abraham’s family are going to be the carriers of the promise of God. And there are personal elements as well. Jacob still mourns for his beloved Rachel who died in childbirth to his youngest child, Benjamin. Joseph recognizes how these three threads are all woven together.  “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed… It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” The Biblical message: God is in charge of the political, religious and personal aspects of our life and God can make a way out of no way. No matter how things seem to be going, the will of God will not be thwarted. We just need to hold out because, as Dr. King reminded us, while everything bends toward justice “the arc of history is long.”