On Reading Genesis 36-50 (2014)

For better or worse,
      now we can see ourselves,
in this family,
      among these brothers.

Reuben, the oldest,
      with good intentions
but no action—
      except in bed with Bilhah.

Simeon and Levi,
      hot-headed, angry
for the insult against them;
      Shechem will pay.

Judah, who more and more
      takes the reins of leadership:
      - his idea to sell Joseph,
      - his predictable nature,
            that enables Tamar
            to set her trap,
      - his indignant judgment:
            Burn her to death!
      - his sentence—trapped
            by a woman.
      - he stands up for Benjamin,
      - offers himself for Dad’s favorite.

Dinah, who is the good neighbor,
      until Shechem loses control;
then no one asks what she wants,
      or what she feels—a woman
      trapped in a man’s world.

All the named sons
      who move and act
as a group:
      - to destroy a city,
      - to sell Joseph,
      - to concoct a story,
      - to travel to Egypt,
      - to buy food,
      - to find their money,
      - to return in duress,
      - terrified of the man,
      - mortified: it’s Joseph.

Joseph, the spoiled brat,
      the one who exploits,
      the one who doesn’t work,
            only inspects and reports;
      the one who angers his brothers,
            and does it again for fun;
      the one sold,
      the one framed for rape,
      the one thrown in jail,
      the one forgotten,
            who can’t catch a break.
      the one who grows,
            who can finally see
            what you were doing.

All this action in the text,
      while you step into the shadows;
fewer dreams and appearances,
      more silent motion—undetected,
until we look back and can see
      when and where you were at work.

Yes, we can see you in these pages,
      and see how you work today:
softly, quietly, little or no fan-fare.

Help us see you today, to recognize
      where you are at work,
so we may rise to the challenge—
      joining you—not opposing you.
Amen

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