The Story Of Joseph Essay

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April 24, 2019

Selling to the starving men

Joseph shows his real greatness by promoting the belief that one must offer help to the poor and starving. I agree with the lessons given by Joseph to the people about helping others. Joseph mentions, “my father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen” (Genesis 47). The story of Joseph can be used for ending sufferings and misery from the world that is much needed today. The central reason for human tragedy is our selfish and careless attitudes towards each other. People are less concerned about other’s state and only focus on personal gain. Such an approach has undermined the concepts of happiness and helping humanity. Although Joseph suffered from odds but he still cared about people and his act of kindness becomes visible when he employed young men as shepherds.

Joseph provides a realistic approach to ending poverty and famine. The story depicts that today we can use the same ideology of supporting people by making them capable of doing work. This will contribute to their empowerment. Instead of giving donations or charities to the people it is more appropriate to provide them with opportunities for work. This will bring real change and improvement in their lives. A man who is lacking in money or power must utilize all means for providing food and shelter to his family. By accepting work he would be able to fulfil his duty of benefactor as explained by religion. Joseph thus stressed more on the philosophy of work than giving them charity. Joseph claimed, “the blessing of Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field” (Genesis 39). All humans for living a better life can use Joseph’s teachings.

People can follow the teachings of Joseph for ending poverty and misery from the world. Today we care more about wealth that is seen as money failure. Egypt followed years of famine and hunger, but Joseph provided a long-term strategy of overcoming such issues. The key decisions taken by him was to indulge all young men in fields where they could work and produce grain. He provided means of ending hunger and human suffering. The solutions proposed by Joseph provides a long-term plan for ending poverty. When every man who is capable of working contributes to producing food, no one will suffer from hunger or famine. He mentioned, "we have come to dwell in the land because your servants have no pasture for their flocks” (Genesis 47:9). The strategy explained by Joseph is a practical tool for ending poverty and providing better sources of food and money. Without Joseph's ways, it was not possible to end famine from the land.

The story of Joseph depicts he used teachings of religion for benefiting the society. I believe that the main reason for human tragedy is our selfish and careless attitudes towards each other. The society can adopt simple means that will provide relief to the entire world. Such as by providing work the wealthy would act in a way that will improve the status of poor in reality. I agree with the ideology of Joseph that the young men who have ability must work and provide food to their family members. When everyone would contribute to the betterment of society there will be more change.

Work Cited

Albright, W. F. "Historical and Mythical Elements in the Story of Joseph." Journal of Biblical Literature 37.3 (1918).

BBC. Joseph . 2016. 24 04 2019 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/joseph.shtml>.

Christianity. Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary (concise). 2018. 24 04 2019 <https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=1&c=47>.