2 Chapter 2 - A Forced Leave

Joseph didn't lose his father's attention as some expected, He was beautifully submerged in his father's affection to the bones. And it's not surprising at all!

The boy lost his mother; the tenderness he should have been familiar with since his birth was taken away by destiny. Jacob has been the steady-as-a-mountain father figure, and the warm-hearted mother at the same time. Jacob really made a great job raising Joseph to not miss this familial lovely environment no matter where he is.

And although they reside in the depths of the desert, it comes hard to produce any spoiled children. Joseph was in no way spoiled by his father's love, he was growing to be astounding in whatever he does. He learns fast, acts deftly, shares burdens bravely and plays smartly. He was never in trouble.

On the other hand, his brothers did not favor him as much as the tribe did. Their hearts boil with jealousy like a volcano quietly awaiting its eruption.

One gloomy night, after leaving for their bedrooms in the adjacent tents, the brothers -except for Joseph and Benjamin- sat together conniving a tight plan.

"Our father is indeed led astray! we are his older sons, we should help him before he is completely astray."

"And how are we going to do that, exactly?", sarcasm is clear as day.

A moment of silence before a suggestion broke free.

"Kill Joseph…"

"Throw him away to never come back again!"

"What?", "Why Joseph?" stunned, one of them straightened.

"Think about it? What is the reason father is not teaching us about the prophecy?", urged the voice.

"He doesn't take us seriously, this is why!", answered another agitated voice.

Insisted the former, "And this is because of … who?",

"What do you mean? Joseph and Benjamin?"

"Listen to me first. Father has his all attention on those two, he doesn't have the time of the day to teach us anything of the prophecy. The prophecy has been in our lineage for decades, why would he relinquish passing it down to us?!"

The prophecy is an honor for their predecessors, therefore it's something they dreamt of since ages ago, and is supposed to be bestowed to one of them, brothers. But destiny got them played.

Although their father held the prophecy after their grandfather and great grandfather, it did not befall on any of them as they believed.

At this point, when thinking of

The only honor they wished for was the prophecy. In their mind, father's love and favor for little Joseph is a conclusive proof of this crucial inference.

Panic took over their hearts as they mulled it over with their hearts. It really is eye-opening for them. Father has always preferred Joseph over them. So in a sense, he might steal their awaiting honor in the upcoming future!

Even if he did not, and the prophecy fell on one amongst themselves, Joseph would still be the apple of father's eyes, and therefore they won't get the attention and reverie they dream of. Solemnly, their expressions mirrored the same furry.

Joseph has to die!

"No!", a yell woke them up. "Don't kill him, why not throw him in the wilderness?"

as many of them listened, he took a breath, "I know of a dried well on the trade-way of traveling caravans a fair distance away from home. Let's drop him in it, maybe he'll be picked by a passing convoy and sold a slave somewhere."

"Don't you think slavery is worse than death?", one wondered.

"Why do you care? At least he won't be an obstruction anymore!"

"Do we all agree that Joseph has to go down?", a vote started.

Almost everyone raised their hands, while silent ones were the accomplices of such frightening conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the undoubtful father and son were having an interesting conversation. "So you mean to say, Grandfather Abraham asked the same question I did?!", delighted, Joseph asked.

With a chuckle, "Yes, Joseph. He did. This is how God bestowed him with a great gift."

"'The moon goes away, the sun does too. Then who created this magnificent world?' But how did he know there was a God at all, father?", curious Joseph asked.

"Your great grandfather Abraham knew there was a God by looking at the greatness of ourselves, who do you think would let us live in a wonderfully organized environment? Night comes after day, the sun rises and sets every single day, the moon which lights the darkening skies for a few accounted days every month, the body we have, and every single plant can show us of a great creator. And this creator has to be so powerful that he made a sturdy universe. Look, the skies hold thousands of shiny stars and this many planets. Doesn't all this tell you enough about his might?"

Joseph looked at his father and asked carefully with an inquisitive tone, "But father, What is God's purpose of creating me and you and everyone else?"

"That's an excellent question Joseph, what does God indeed expect of us? What do you think, son?" Jacob's face was amused by his son's questions.

With a 'hmmmm' Joseph sat down properly to think for a moment, then after a while he said, "God has created us and also created the earth we live in, so it's reasonable to say we have to live and cultivate well… Is there another reason, father?"

Proud, Jacob replied, "What if we cultivate well but refuse to believe that it was He who created all of this?" and waved around.

"Then first we have to acknowledge that there is God who created us and live well?"

"That's correct. This is the message your great grandfather has received from God; Acknowledge no god But God himself, and follow God's teachings."

Continued Jacob as he straightened, "This is the prophecy I was telling you about Joseph. I know you are old enough to think for yourself now, I want you to know about the great things destined for you and be aware of this history. It is our life goal to worship our one God, benefit the earth and those who live on it, abide by righteousness and persist to be good. Remember this Joseph, God does tell us to cultivate on earth, but he doesn't force you to be good nor be evil. you have the choice. Never buy a moment of self-satisfaction for a small act that serves a rightful conscience, Joseph."

The night went short with the lengthy talk, and come the morning Joseph did not know what awaits him as of yet. He will be forced to leave this familiar place to a vague destination, totally unaware of the looming danger. So close to him than the moon and the sun he dreamt lining in front of him, once upon a dream…