Manric Tan (LMPM): The Life of JosephHalimbawa

“Empathy’’

Joseph has come a long way from his brash, spoiled, and haughty days.

Prison is the last place to expect sympathy, much less empathy.

That’s why our verse for today is so surprisingly pleasant.

Two men, both former officials of Pharaoh, had a dream. Both were bothered. They could not decipher the meaning of their dreams. They need help to shed light on their confusion and anxiety. But in prison, who is the wise man that could do it for them?

We are all familiar with the story of Joseph.

He was sold by his own siblings to strangers as servant and was brought to a foreign land. This is a traumatic experience of rejection and abuse, similar to that of human trafficking oppression. Imagine that you are in Joseph’s place then, how would you feel?

Agitated, bitter and depressed, Joseph must have spent so many sleepless nights and it could have taken a while.

After this ruthless experience, Joseph tried to make a brand new start only to get framed-up this time, for a crime he did not commit. Again, what would that make you feel?

One misfortune after another is alarming. Sometimes you try to rationalize why such things happen when you are living in righteousness.

Prison is a place of misery and self -pity more so if you are not guilty. Prison is not place to expect empathy.

However, Joseph remained sensitive to the feelings of his prison mates even he is busy with his own hostilities. The animosity of Joseph’s past did not stop him from helping other people. Joseph’s deliverance from the thongs of the enemy is evident. He is, unmistakably, a free man even in prison, free from resentment, anger, retribution and depression. Remember, only “free men” are capable of fulfilling God’s dreams for them.

Are you?