The Story of Joseph

A movie, depicting the story of Moses, was filmed in either the late 60s or early 70s (I remember it from my childhood of those days). It starred Burt Lancaster as Moses; and if my childhood memory is correct, the movie was long because it extended over more than a single night.  It was something my family and I watched on TV, prompting my memory to see it as a TV movie, though I doubt such was ever the case as it carried the look and weight of a film.

The one aspect of the film, aside from Lancaster's performance, which was sterling, that I recall even today was the reference to Joseph’s bones.  The Israelites were to carry the bones of Joseph with them when they left the land of Egypt.  As a boy, hearing that for the first time, I could not understand how they could have the bones of Joseph, the husband of Mary, with them in Egypt.  I was yet to become familiar with the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

Since that time, having read the story of Joseph on multiple occasions, and even seen it depicted through the Hollywood mindset in movies of various mediums, I understand a little more than I could claim from those early days; I see a bit more than I could from that initial introduction.

Joseph's story is a remarkable study to ponder.  First off, the characteristic most people might association with him, the multi-colored coat his father gave him, having been developed into a popular stage production, it is rather insignificant to the overall tale.  It serves as a catalyst for his brother's anger and then evidence, his brothers use, to perpetuate the lie of his own death.  Aside from these two appearances, it carries no relevance to Joseph's tale in the least.

Unless, that is, one assumes the position of allegory.  If his coat is perceived allegorically to Joseph's person himself, in such an instance it would be present throughout the entire tale; for Joseph, as a person, was consistently his own 'coat of many-colors'.  He stood out from amongst the crowd of throngs. He did not blend into the background, being one of the many faces in the crowd.  In every setting from which the story takes place, he rose above - because God was with him.  God had a plan; and that plan was executed - even beyond what Joseph himself was able to comprehend.

There is one aspect of the story, true students of the Word will ponder with every reading.  What was Joseph's sin?  He comes across as a righteous man who never committed any wrong, proposed through all the wrongs committed against him.  The presence of the crimes committed against him, absent any retaliation on his part, make him appear as righteous a soul as any could ever hope to be.  Yet, as any believer will know by heart, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

So what was Joseph's sin?

The best response to that question that I have heard is his own self-righteousness.  He tells his family of his dreams with a near pompous, self-important manner that puts them down as not important - or, at least, not as important as himself.  It runs akin to what people say of Job and his problems - though God Himself called Job a man of integrity.