Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
Back in 2009, before I joined FR, I wrote an essay on "that other site" about the Tomb of The Patriarch Joseph. So, do you think I can find it now? I've been searching all morning with every key word I could think of, but it seems to be gone. How people can dredge up unfortunate tweets from years ago to destroy current politicians is a MYSTERY to me. In spite of this, I will try to reconstruct the essay as best as I can. It will be interesting if someone digs up the old article and accuses me of Plagiarism(LOL), as my screen name was different!
At the age of seventeen, Joseph was betrayed by his older half-brothers, who sold him to a traveling caravan. They assumed that as a slave in a far away land, they would not have to deal with him ever again. To cover up this hideous crime against their brother, they soaked his garment in blood and presented it to their father. The father Jacob was inconsolable in his grief.
Joseph survived the trip to Egypt and was sold to Potiphar, the Captain of the Guard. Again, Joseph survived and actually flourished in captivity. He proved so competent and respectful that Potiphar promoted him to the head of the household. Like cream rising to the top, Joseph was noticed by Potiphar's lustful wife. She began to sexually harass Joseph (who was a slave, and in no position to refuse her), but Joseph resisted. And so, she falsely accused Joseph of rape, and Joseph was thrown into the dungeon.
In prison, Joseph once again proved his integrity, and not only survived, but grew in stature with his jailers. Due to Joseph's reliance upon his God for guidance and wisdom, Joseph is brought to Pharaoh. His interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams are so accurate and prudent that Pharaoh makes Joseph a sort of Prime Minister, in charge of Egypt.
I won't recount the story of how Joseph is reconciled with his Father and Brothers, as we have just read it through, but we are given Joseph's last request in the Book of Genesis: He wants to be buried in his own Native Land. No matter how long it was going to take...and it was about to take over 400 YEARS, that was Joseph's dying wish.
Fortunately for Joseph, he died in a land where funerary rituals could help insure that his mortal remains could be kept intact until the time came to move him. Joseph was mummified in the Egyptian Manner, in the style befitting his station, and kept among the Hebrews till they could bring him home.
Generations went by, and the Hebrews became too numerous for the Egyptians. Joseph's role in saving the country was soon forgotten, and the Hebrews were enslaved. By the time God finally raised up Moses to free His People, most of their traditions had been forgotten. But, somehow, the mummified body of Joseph was ready for transport when the time came to leave Egypt.
Through the Red Sea, across the Sinai, during the building of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, for 40 years the body of Joseph was carried along until it crossed the Jordan with Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan. The mummified body of Joseph was finally laid to rest in Shechem, (Now called Nablus) and surrounded by a modest tomb. At least, the modest tomb has been believed to be the Tomb of Joseph since before anyone can remember otherwise...and that's all that matters.
Anyway, the little Tomb in Shechem has been there since forever, and survived the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the rise of Islam, the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, WW1, WW2, Israel's War of Independence, The Six-Day War, and The Yom Kippur War.
However, in our Modern Era a disgusting act of vandalism has destroyed the Tomb. Arab residents of the area (now in the West Bank) have vandalized and burned the Tomb of Joseph (in 2009, and again in 2010 and 2015). Palestinian Authority officials charged with the protection of Holy Places have turned a blind eye to this desecration.
It seems that the Israelis have fixed it up again, from current photographs, but this event enraged me to no end at the time! Yesterday was Columbus Day, and I witnessed so many people denigrating Columbus, calling him a "racist" and a "rapist" and a whole lot of other epithets. Like the vandalism of the Tomb of Joseph, revisionists and haters want to vandalize our History.
Don't let it happen.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS
