The Story about Joseph you've never heard

Joseph learned early on in life that love is, more often than not, returned as hatred. Excellence, rather than leading to inspiration, precipitates Betrayal. Not by strangers, but by those in your own family.

You've heard Joseph's story (unlike me and some others reading this, you haven't lived it) and you love it for the highlights and faux little life lessons; the parts you've memorized from your favorite sermons. Read it again, and consider what is truly written there, rather than the fantasy soundbites you've heard; which I shall summarize as follows:

~ "Joseph had a lot to learn, he was arrogant as a young man (so he kind of deserved what he got)."

Seriously? A young boy is "arrogant" for sharing his (unsolicited) dreams with the ones he loved (who hated him in return)? Then let every Dreamer, for all Time, be cursed.

~ "Joseph teaches us about God's forgiveness, just behold how he (unconditionally!) forgave his scumbag brothers."

I agree, it's a great lesson about forgiveness. Joseph's story teaches us that Betrayal shall be Avenged Sevenfold, before it's forgiven.

"No, you're wrong, Joseph's story doesn't teach us that!"

I know why you deny it; the modern fantasy is that God doesn't punish a sin so grievous and heinous as Betrayal; the world has taught you that it's simply silently swept into a filthy corner.

Go count the verses in the Bible that deal with the Betrayal perpetrated by Joseph's brothers: 15 verses.

The verses that deal with the punishment for their Betrayal: 110 verses.

Yes, Joseph teaches us about forgiveness: Betrayal shall be Avenged Sevenfold by God Himself, before it's ever forgiven.

~ "Joseph got back so much more than he lost."

Really? Did he get back the years he could and should have spent in the company of a loving family? Was he compensated for every exquisite attack of anguish in prison, every unstoppable flood of sorrow, and every cruel stab in the back by the hands of those he trusted?

Maybe you're right about the compensation, and maybe that's just something you postulate to make the bad parts of Joseph's story fade a little in the memory banks, so you can focus on the inspiring bits.

It's a good story, you should go read the whole thing.