THE FIERY SPIRIT - Coptic Orthodox Electronic Publishing

Joseph lived both his childhood and youthhood, amidst
the envy and jealousy of his brothers. By human wisdom he
ought to have been more wary and careful and be able to escape
from serving his brothers outside his father’s house, just in case
they harmed him. But under the guidance of the Spirit, with
divine wisdom, he looked for them, in order to present them
with food. With great love he offered them food, but they sold
him as a slave, as a second thought, after changing their mind
from killing him!
How did wisdom support him? Joseph says. “But as for
you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good”
(Exod. 50:20).
Joseph was faced with various problems: First he lived
as a slave in the house of Potiphar. When he won Potiphar’s
confidence, and was given charge over all his possessions,
Joseph was then exposed to imprisonment because of the lust of
his master’s wife. All outlets were shut, Joseph the lonely,
young man in a strange land, away from his beloved father, who
has no hope for a happy marital relationship, is deprived of all
family affection, now attacked by the lust of this woman!
According to human wisdom Joseph should have given in to her
lust, as an escape from her wickedness, at the same time
released his own deprived physical state! All these are worldly
conceptions. But Joseph, the pure and holy, thought otherwise.
He chose the divine wisdom and as a result he was sent to
prison. What happened then? He later attained the glory that is
obtained by the Spirit of God!
Human wisdom can free you from suffering, but
temporary. It can even present you with wealth and prestige
which never suffices and is never lasting! As for the divine
wisdom, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, it transforms you
from suffering to glory, not merely the future everlasting glory,
but inner glory which you enjoy here on earth as a deposit for
everlasting glory with God Almighty!
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