Identity

Identity

In a close self-examination I find that I feel the most anxious, angry or depressed
when my identity is challenged. As I reflect on my own ravenous consumption of
the apparent gifts of my efforts, I find at times that the vent of my aggressive
defense of who I am, was actually a war against the reminder of who I should be.
This can at times find its way to a self-righteous scourging toward the challenger,
who in retrospect, may have been designed to change me for the better.
One of the things I find fascinating when doing Old Testament studies are the
reactions of men under taxing circumstances where their identity is challenged.
Joseph, son of Jacob, is one of those men I find particularly interesting as his
identity seemingly gets challenged and changed and rewritten over the course of
his life.
Opening the pages of Genesis we begin to try to understand how Joseph sees
himself. In the beginning, as his father showers privilege and love on him,
Joseph seems to identify as one responsible for his father’s affairs as he raises the
ire of his brothers, reporting their misdeeds to his father. Adding to this, he
seems to see himself as a leader and an authoritative figure as his dreams both
infuriate and puzzle his family. As his brothers up-end his life with betrayal,
Joseph finds himself rebuilding his identity as the affairs of his father give way to
the affairs of Potipher.
Again, his diligence and careful attention to detail bring him success, the next
betrayal however, is on the horizon. Once again Joseph is subjected to a
complete rewrite of his identity as treachery rewrites his current vocation and
seemingly strips away the fabric of who he is. The affairs of Potipher give way to
the affairs of the jailor.
The life of Joseph continues its downward descent, being demoted from son to
slave to prisoner. At last, finally Joseph is awarded the auspicious position of
second ruler of an entire nation as the affairs of the jailor give way to the affairs of
Pharoah, the affairs of the Egyptian nation and indeed the affairs of the entire
world.
How does one float so freely from one master to another without being deeply
damaged as every responsibility and privilege is stripped away through egregious
adversarial attacks, only to have new obligations thrust upon you. A full reading
of the text suggests Joseph’s identity was consistent the entire time. Through
each approaching storm, during each respite, however brief, we find a common
theme in Joseph’s life. From father to captain to jailor to king, it seems that
Joseph’s allegiance was to someone beyond his current circumstance.
Consider after the first betrayal, the physical bruises of falling into the pit, the
hardship of his forced march across the desert and the dehumanizing
transformation from beloved son to purchased property. The evidence of
Joseph’s allegiance is found in the very instance that the serpent confronts him
and offers fruit that he knows has not been given to him. How can I do this thing
and sin against God? The affairs of Joseph’s desire are those of God. It does not
matter to whom he is rendering service.
There is a nuance between serving someone and ministering to them. While both
are indicative of service, the one who serves in the position of servant is following
orders. One who ministers in the position of a servant is one who cares for the
benefit of their master.

Potipher was merely a beneficiary, having purchased a servant of the Most High,
he was blessed with Joseph’s ministry. Fortunately for Potipher, Joseph viewed
indiscretions against the beneficiary as faults against the true Master. This theme
was the bulwark upon which his entire life was built.
Consider, as the blindness of deceit overtakes Potipher and he discards Joseph as
rubbish, Joseph is found serving, ministering, to someone new. What is it that
makes Joseph order his life in such a way that the jailor relinquishes his
responsibility to his new charge. How does Joseph approach the cup bearer and
the baker? “Why are you so sad today”. Has not Joseph been on a constant
violent descent into the lowest part of his life, having been betrayed, lied about
and violently extruded through the sieve of someone else’s jealousy or lust?
Hasn’t the deepest humility been thrust upon him in the most dehumanizing
way?
It seems that no service, or ministry, is too small for Joseph. This, brings Joseph
the peace to ask others, at the lowest time in his life, “why are you so sad today?”
This, not as a condescending comparison from their life to his, but as an earnest
appeal to find service where he can soften the sadness.
Consider Joseph’s final transformation as he leaves the pit for the palace and
Pharoah’s request lands in his lap. Joseph deflects his ability to interpret the
dream, the task which can grant him life-changing opportunities. He rather
points to God as the one that provides the coveted knowledge. He also,
incredibly, makes no attempt to lobby for or take the position for which he is so
obviously suited. He waits for his role to be granted to him. So finally, Joseph
ascends as the second ruler of an entire nation, having exited through the doors
of the prison.
As I reflect on the promise of the deceiver in the garden “you shall not surely die”,
I see over and again the constant refrain of all the lies spoken by the accuser.
In the court of Potipher, “The woman is pleasant to the eye, take, and nothing will
stand in your way”. In the court of the jailor, “I told you, why continue trying,
all you ever do is discarded and makes no difference. You must act on
opportunities that naturally come from your influence”. In the court of Pharoah,
“The honor you deserve is finally upon you, next is the throne itself. Take what is
rightfully yours”.
Joseph turned away all these putrid filthy lies and built, as a life defining identity,
the ministry to and for, the only one that truly never changes. How deeply
enriched are the lives of men and women who encounter a true servant of God
the almighty creator of the universe.
Finally, when revenge and justice are laid at the foot of Joseph. The accuser
brashly suggests, “At least you can get recompense on those who treated you so
ruthlessly in the beginning”.
Once again, Joseph, as he has always done, turns his eyes to the affairs of his true
Master and refuses even this apparent “gift”. Joseph, because of his relationship
with his Master, can see the sharp edges and turns rather to the plan that the
Master Architect had all along, and he is thankful to have been a part of the
design. He refuses the “gift” with the authoritative statement “Am I in the place
of God? He has made all things good, again.” He capstones his ministry with a
solemn request of those who betrayed him. “Take me back to the land my Father
promised after I die”. This last request, a testament to the entire life of Joseph.
He was and had always been in the court of his Father, the most High God,

creator of the universe.
My life will be filled with all manner of “masters”. From pit to palace and back to
pit, one thing is certain. I will forfeit peace and joy when I forget my true Master
and grasp in greedy hands the apparent rewards to which the accuser says I am
entitled. My life will be filled to the full, waiting on the Creator as he rains down
manna and escorts me into the glory that he promised and has always intended.
- Steve Turquette

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