Joseph the Dreamer

This may sound personal, but all of us have our own favorite bible character. Mine, aside from Jesus Christ, who was the seed of the woman,  was his almost counterpart in the Old testament, Joseph. In recounting his life during Session 5 at the Feast Bible Study, I don’t know but his life is somehow related to mine. I’m sure a lot of people could relate or even get awed once they piece by piece study Joseph’s life. You may refer to Genesis 37-50.

Jacob/Israel is now the father of twelve songs from whom will come the twelve tribes of Israel. This “account of Jacob” zeroes in on Joseph, who is eleventh son of the firstborn son of his beloved wife Rachel. Like those before him, Joseph is tested. Inspite of dreams indicating that he will rule over his brothers, circumstances are against him for years. “Will you trust God?” is still the question. 

Who would've thought his life can change forever?

Joseph never loses his faith in God, inspite of mistreatment by his brothers, being sold as a slave, unjust accusations, and languishing forgotten in prison. He is honest, hardworking, thoughtful, and courageous. He is humble and gives all credit to God rather than trying to advance himself in the eyes of others. He does not grasp what has been promised but waits patiently for it, trusting that God will do as he has said. Consequently, he rises to the chief position of leadership under Pharoah and is able to bless not only Egypt, but the surrounding countries as well.

After Jacob’s death, his brothers ask forgiveness and offer themselves as slaves. This was Joseph’s reply to them, “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20). This was a foreshadowing of Bible verse from the New Testament, “All things work for good, to those who love him and those whom he called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Joseph had learned through years of patient waiting and through tribulation that God had his hand in their affairs—that whatever things looked like on the outside, God was working it for good. Joseph’s faith gave him eyes to take this eternal perspective on events, while his brothers’ lack of faith and guilt fixed their eyes on temporal.

According to Jeff Cavins, Joseph is the forerunner of Jesus. These are the many parallels, similarities in character, in circumstances, and in what they accomplish.

Both Joseph and Jesus:

* are humble, forgiving, and strong in the face of temptation

* are beloved sons of their fathers

* see beyond the appearance of things and trust in God

* are betrayed and sold for silver

* are wrongly accused

* are brought out of captivity/death to life and glory

* reconcile their brethren to their father

* save the world

* become the source of food and life

* both have a big heart

Joseph blesses the foreign land, Egypt, and other nations by the end of Genesis. It shows that it's another stage in the growth of God's family when the seventy strong family of Jacob stayed there and completed the 12 tribes of Israel.

I keep on believing that dreams do come true, in God's perfect time. :)

Joseph, the real guiding star.

--30--

Eagles

In a far away, wildlife, there lived a 3 strong eagles. Once they woke up in the morning, they soar rapidly along the surreal sky. The first eagle was ‘Magiting’. He would stretch his wings fiercely in the wind. His feather was gray colored and his eyes looked sharply. The next 2^nd eagle was ‘Matipuno’. He is a little smaller than Magiting- and he seemed charming with his whitish color feather. The strength of his smashing wings was motivated whenever he sees Matipuno glides in the sky. But, Matikas was different, the 3^rd eagle, who’s strength is leveled with Magiting. It was an everyday habit that they would race swiftly in meeting the sunshine.

No one was left tired. They started it strongly and with confidence that no one can take that intensity. The flock of birds would look upon them admiring them as they spreading their wings and embrace the freshness of the air. They’re simply living in the moment. They were sometimes near to the sun or sometimes keep on going up and down on the wilderness. Some nearby habitants would look upon them with awe on how they aviate lavishly.

They could go wherever but on the forest part- because one gunshot to a poor hunted eagle might cause the blood splurging and the few feathers stringing out to the ground. Terrified is the solely emotion that’d rise among the congregation of eagles.

But Matikas, as hard headed as he is still defied the odds of roaming the foreclosed area. His agility and flexibility would redeemed him from dying, as he always said to himself. One moment, he saw and heard a group of avaricious hunters planning to set a trap in killing eagles as a wide leaves covered him in the daylight. A grin, slightly rouged on his face as he was plotting in his mind, Magiting’s death- destruction of his intense rival. He’s conceiving the ruthless and shameless death of Magiting as he’d fall into the ground with his lifeless body. He indeed slam against the wind his wings and flew directly to the sky.

On the next day, the 3 eagles took a flight as what they normally do. Unbeknown to Magiting and Matipuno’s consciousness. Matikas was chirping loudly. A hunter with his camouflage suit and grayish hat readied his riffle. Their crispy laughter and moustached face painted a sly smile. Yet, they can't easily shoot Matikas, because he flew fast. He needed to create a believable story that’ll make his friends accompany him. Meanwhile, Magiting, who’s better in contacting the town people, was concerned with these group of men, too.

Meanwhile, Matipuno was taking a nap in a big tree, Matikas just finish his aviation and unhesitantly wake up Matipuno and said, ‘ You might be surprised with this, but we have go to the forest. I saw a good oil there. Isn’t what you’ve been waiting for.’ As he continued telling it to bewildered Matipuno until he finally he answered,’ I’ll ask Magiting, first. Probably, he’d doubt about it.’ While yawning a little. ‘If he’s our friend, it’ll be ok, after all it’s been 5 years since…...’ Matikas assertively answered and leaving him alone.

Matipuno got worried on how to say this to his friend, whom he trusted the most. He shrugged his beak on the leafy tree, until Magiting came in after roaming around the wild; he wondered why his friend was doing that till he asked,

’ What’s the matter with you?’

‘ Magiting, you know how much as I wanted to take the oil to heal my father’s wound?’

‘Yes, I’m aware of that, but we rarely found it here. We need to go further just to get a single drop of it.’

‘But, I have an idea where to get it now- what I’m afraid of is the risk of getting it.’

Nothing to worry. Then, where can we get those? Let’s hustle. Come on!’

‘To the center of the forest.’

Magiting’s face turned into sadness. He remembered how his father met his fatal death in one gunshot. But as he saw, how Matipuno strived harder, sometimes doubling his effort to find a way on his father healing- with such realization, he said:

‘ Matipuno, ok let’s go tomorrow.’

A genuine smile flashed on Matipuno’s face , meanwhile Matikas was hiding on one of the bushes of trees and heard the whole conversation- that made him grin again.

The day came when the 3 eagles were about to take the flight. As they glided up the sky- one gunshot made the wildlife trembled. Matipuno screamed,

‘ Magiting!!!’ the gray colored eagle fell down.

As he came closely to Magiting, who’s catching his breath. Someone tapped him,

‘It’s not me. It’s Matikas.’

As they unhurriedly let the dying eagle faced them. The laughing hunters were coming, too. The hunter who shot Matikas had a double vision that’s why instead of shooting Magiting, it was Matikas whom he accidentally shot.

Magiting and Matipuno got Matikas and they flew diagonally to the sky. The hunters tried to shoot them, but they failed.

As they reached the land to help Matikas in reviving. A young wildlife veterenary saw them- he was kind and caring man, who’s called to serve the Wild.

He took Matikas, checked it’s impulse then ready himself for an operation. He took care of him for few weeks, until Matikas got healed. As he felt human touch, he grew stronger yet his heart became softer. Sometimes, Magiting and Matipuno would look outside the window and assure if Matikas is already fine.

The doctor noticed the 2 birds, but he allowed them to go. He’s also worried about the illegal hunters from the forest until he found the courage to ask their local government officials to process a law for punishing those illegal hunters. Although it took months to release such law- leastwise, awareness and activism deserves the preservation for these extinct animals.

Matikas got better as the time went by- He realized as he sets up a revenge for his friend, he’s the one who paid the price of destruction.
According to the doctor’s final check-up, he let Matikas join his friends.

When he started slowly stretching out his wings, he sighed,

‘Where are Matipuno and Magiting?’

Then the 2 eagless who were there everyday, went to him, embraced him and said,

‘Don’t do that to yourself again. We’re not enemies. We’re eagles- we’re not supposedly made to leave each other. You need to defeat the enemy in you- so that you can fly high again.’

‘Sorry, I won’t do it again. I want to fly together with you.’

Then the wildlife became fully alive again as the 3 eagles revived the once lost trust and friendship.

The doctor painted a smile on his face while holding an approved paper.