Hi,

Joseph was a very handsome man.  (Genesis, 39)

And his master’s wife tried to seduce him.  Again and again.

Every day.

And Joseph resisted.

One day, they were alone in the house, and she grabbed Joseph by his garment.

Joseph left his garment in her hand and ran out!

Then she accused Joseph of trying to seduce her.

And of running away when she refused.

Her evidence?

Joseph’s garment.

The master is furious.  And what does he do to Joseph?

He locks him up in Pharaoh’s prison.

He could have easily killed him.

After all, due process wasn’t big in Ancient Egypt!

Especially for a slave!

And it would have been the end of the story. 

Jacob and his family would have never gone down to Egypt.

But they had to.  It was part of the plan.

…  Jewish tradition tells us something fascinating about Joseph.

That the advances of his master’s wife were incredibly challenging.

And at one point Joseph was about to give in.

At the last minute something gave him the strength to resist.

What was it?

One opinion says that he saw the image of his parents.

Jacob and Rachel.

That inspired him.  Gave him the strength to do what was right.

… It’s an important lesson for parents.   Or future parents.

We hope that our children will never be tested.

But if they are?  And they struggle.

If they need strength to make the right choice?

They should picture us in their mind.  Be inspired.

And do the right thing!

They should say to themselves, “ My parents would never do that.

And I’m going to make them proud!”

… What makes our children rich?

Not what we give them.

But what we show them!

All the best,