How dark depressive thoughts and negative self-talk creates more emotional problems than the actual events that trigger our emotions. Self-talk refers to the way we mentally process events, how we interpret things that happen to us. We color events by telling ourselves what to think about them. It is important to understand how our self-talk form our emotions. In a very real sense these emotions are the only visible Storm Clouds created by a Whole Climate System that is at work within each of us.
Try to create an Internal Climate of Peace and happiness, a bright, positive-spirited approach to life, no matter what the circumstances might be. It contributes to swifter healing from the emotional punches that life sometimes throws to us.
In Genesis 45, Joseph gives us a clear example of a positive-spirited approach towards his brothers in Egypt.
Joseph was the 1st of Jacob's two sons by his beloved wife Rachel. At his birth, Rachel, because of having been barren, exclaimed:"God has taken away my reproach!"She then called his name Jos-eph, saying:"God is adding another son to me."Rachel had accepted as her own Dan and Naph-tali, although they were borne by her maidservant Bilhah. At this time Jacob was about 91 years old. Then 6 years later Jacob left Paddan-Aram with his entire family to return to the land of Canaan. Upon learning that his brother Esau was coming to to meet him with 400 men, he divided off his children, wives and concubines, placing Rachel and Joseph in the rear. Joseph and his mother therefore were the last to bow before Esau. Thereafter Joseph resided with the family at Succoth, Shechem and Bethel respectively. Rachel died on the way from Beth-el to Eph-rath, while giving birth to Benjamin.
At 17, Jos-eph, in association with the sons of Jacob by Bilhah and Zilpah, tended sheep. While doing so, he, although their junior, did not share in their wrongdoing but duty-fully brought a bad report about them to his father. Jacob loved Jos-eph more than all of the others and become special object of his father's affection. As a result Jos-eph came to be hated by his half-brothers. At Hebron, his father requested him to check on the welfare of the flock and his brothers while they were in the vicinity of Shechem. In view of the feelings that his brothers had toward him it was not a pleasant assigment for Joseph, yet, unhesitatingly he said:"Here I am!"
From the Low Plain of Hebr-on he then set out for Shechem. Informed by a man there that his brothers had left for Dothan, Joseph continued on his way. When caught sight of him at a distance, his brothers began scheming against him. The firstborn Reuben, however, desired to thwart the murderous plot and urged that they not kill Joseph but through him into a dry WaterPit. Subsequently , as a caravan of Ishmaelites came to view, Judah, in Reuben's absence,persuaded the others that , rather than killing Joseph, it would be better to sell him to the passing merchants. They sold him for 20 silver pieces. Later, they deceived Jacob into believing that Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. Eventually the merchants brought Joseph into Egypt, and sold him to Potifar (he whom Ra [Egyptian Sun-God] gave),
the Chief of Pharaoh's bodyguard. This purchase was not unusual. Ancient papyrus documents indicate that Syrian slaves were valued highly in the land. Joseph was 1/2 Syrian. (Genesis 29:10;31:20). As a slave he proved to be industrious and trustworthy. Everything that he did turned out successfully. Potiphar therefore entrusted to him all the household affairs. Potifar's wife became infatuated with him. Repeatedly she asked him to be with her. He refused saying:"How could I commit this great badness and actually sin against God?" Furious she accused him of being unfaithful to his master trying to made immoral advances on her. Potifar enraged had Joseph thrown into the prison house.
Because of Joseph's exemplary conduct under adverse circumstances and the blessing of God because of it, the chief officer of the prison placed him in a position of trust over the other prisoners.
When the 2 of Pharaoh's officers, the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers, were put into the same prison, Joseph was assigned to take care of them.
In the course of time both of these men had dreams, which Joseph, after ascribing interpretation to God, explained to them. The cup-bearer's dream pointed to his being restored to his position in 3 days. Joseph therefore requested that the cupbearer remember him and mention him to Pharaoh so that he might be released from prison. By that time some 11 years had already passed since his being sold by his brothers.
At the end of 2 more full years, Pharaoh had 2 dreams that none of Egypt's magic-practitioners priests and wise men could interpret. It was then that the cupbearer brought Joseph to Pharaoh's attention. In keeping with Egyptian custom, Joseph, before going to the Pharaoh's headquarters, he shaved and changed his garments. He did not take any credit to himself but ascribed interpretation to God. He then explained the dreams. Both dreams pointed to 7 years of plenty to be followed by 7 years of famine. Additionally Joseph recommended measures for alleviating the future conditions of famine. Pharaoh recognized in 30 years old Joseph the man wise enough to administer affairs during the time of plenty and the time of famine. Joseph was therefore constituted 2nd ruler in Egypt, Pharaoh giving Joseph his own signet ring, fine linen garments and a necklace of gold. Joseph's name was changed to Zaphe-nath -Paneah. Joseph was also given Ase-nath, the daughter of Potifphera the Priest of On, as a wife.
Then came the famine. Since it extended far beyond Egypt's borders people from surrounding lands came to buy food from Joseph. Eventually his 10 half-brothers arrived and bowed low to him. They did not recognized him, dressed in his royal attire and speaking to them through an interpreter. Feigning not to know them, Joseph accused them of being spies and put them in custody. On the 3rd day he said to them:"Do this and keep yourselves alive. I fear the True God. If you are upright, let one of you be kept bound in your house of custody, but the rest of you go, take cereals for the famine in your houses. Then you will bring your youngest brother to me, that your words may be found trustworthy; and you will not die." Genesis 42).
In view of these developments, Joseph's half-brothers began to sense divine retribution on them for selling him into slavery years earlier. In front of their brother, whom they still did not recognize, they discussed their guilt. On overhearing their words reflecting repentance, Joseph was so emotionally overcome that he had to leave their presence and weep. On returning, he had Simeon bound until such time as they would come back with their youngest brother.
When Joseph's 9 half-brothers told Jacob what had happened in Egypt and then discovered that the money was back in their sacks, all became very much afraid, and their father gave expression to grief. Only the severity of the famine, coupled with Judah's assurance for the safe return of Benjamin, moved Jacob to allow his youngest son accompany the others back to Egypt. They were reunited with Simeon and much to their surprise, all were invited to have dinner with the food administrator. When Joseph came they presented him with a gift, prostrated themselves to him and, after answering his inquiries concerning their father, again bowed down to him. On seeing his full brother Benjamin, Joseph was so aroused emotionally that he left their presence and gave way to tears. After that he was able to control his feelings and had the noon meal served. The 11 brothers were seated at their own table according to age, and Benjamin was given portions 5 times greater than the others.
As the previous visit, Joseph had each one's money put back in his bag, and additionally had his silver cup placed in Benjamin's bag. After they had gotten under way he had them overtaken and charged with stealing his silver cup. The man over Joseph's house was to say to them:"Is not this the thing that my master drinks from and by means of which he expertly reads omens?" The cup was found in Benjamin's bag. With garments ripped apart, they returned to Joseph's house and bowed before him.
Joseph told them that all except Benjamin were free to go. But this they did not want to do, showing that "the envious spirit that had moved them about 22 years earlier to sell their brother" was gone. Judah eloquently pleaded their case, offering to take Benjamin's place lest their father die from grief because of Benjamin's failure to return. Joseph was so affected by Judah's plea that he could no longer contain himself to his brothers. Although greatly mistreated by them, he harbored no resentment.
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