Have you ever scrolled through photos from someone else's vacation and tried to imagine yourself there? Lounging on the beach? Gazing at the Parthenon? Climbing the trails of the Grand Canyon? What if you tried the same process as you read the stories in the Bible?
This became more vivid to me as I worked on my novel 'Rainbow Baby'. I started to think about the bond between Jacob and Joseph and how they would have grieved Rachel. I imagined their conversations and how Jacob might have passed on the hope he had because of God's promises to their family. I wondered how he'd interpret the covenant of the rainbow God gave. Did he give Joseph the coat of many colours to remember the faithfulness of God?
My curiosity about Joseph's steadfast trust in God during his time in captivity prompted this journey. How early did Joseph receive the dreams of honour? Did he and Jacob wonder and dialogue about them? Did Jacob pour the stories of his own encounters with God into Joseph as a young boy? How did those impact Joseph?
The next time you read a biblical account, take time to wonder. Check out the ripple effect in the next generation or those closest to the person in the story. Put yourself in the story and watch what happens on the biblical stage.
"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. but his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers." Genesis 49:22-26 NIV.
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