The Bible as Mirror: Trump and Joseph

I have had the chance now to witness 100 days of the Donald Trump presidency, and I can conclude several things from these observations. First, The Donald is not going to change one whit. Those who suggested that he might alter his behaviors in the face of his now awesome responsibilities, have been proven wrong; he remains the same man, short-tempered, ill-informed, and vindictive against those who dare disagree. Second, his ignorance appears to have few bounds. Yesterday, he opined that Andrew Jackson, our slave-holding, Native American slaughtering, populist seventh president was angered because of the Civil War. This is quite remarkable since Jackson died 16 years before the Civil War began! He went on to say that if Jackson had been president then, the Civil War never would have happened. Since the primary cause of that war was slave holding, as nearly all genuine historians say, one might assume that Jackson would have fought on the side of the south to retain that odious institution that had helped make him rich. Third, he will never stop telling lies, even saying once again this week that a huge illegal vote had cost him the popular vote victory that clearly rankles him not to have won.

I could go on, but we need to get to this week’s Bible mirror. My choice this time may surprise some, because it is the famous patriarch of Israel, Joseph, who has been lauded for centuries for moral probity, vast wisdom, and the salvation of his people. Some of that may be true, though in my mind overstated, but the question of the day concerns Joseph’s nasty vindictiveness that the long Genesis tale makes all too plain. In this, he is very like our 45th president who plainly just cannot let things go. Joseph’s implacable vindictiveness is demonstrated again and again.

After his brothers toss him into a dry well in the desert (Gen.37:24) in the vain attempt to get him to shut up about his constant dreams about his greatness at the expense of their own family positions (Gen.37:5-11), he is quite incapable of mustering up any final forgiveness for the act. I can readily grant that the act was a cruel and dangerous one, plainly intended to murder their brother, but Joseph is so often portrayed as the very model of forgiveness, it is important to see that the picture is far more complicated. When Joseph is miraculously rescued from the well by some passing traders, and is sold into Egyptian slavery into the household of a wealthy and powerful Egyptian noble, the reader might imagine that he has reached his end. Quite the contrary! The wily Israelite, after his attempted seduction by the noble’s nubile wife, and his imprisonment for the alleged rape, rises to the prison position of trusted guard in the light of his mastery of dream interpretation. He soon comes to the notice of pharaoh himself who is troubled by his own dreams and whose magicians are useless in their interpretation. Joseph again wins the day with his skill, and becomes astonishingly the Secretary of State of the whole land of Egypt, second only in power to pharaoh. From pit to the pinnacle of the state is a fabulous tale that all people enjoy telling—rags to riches is ever a popular conceit.

But now the story takes a dark turn. His Israelite family is forced to come to Egypt for food because the famine in Israel is severe. And wouldn’t you know it? They are ushered into the presence of their long-lost brother who has become one of the great powers in the foreign land. Of course, they do not recognize Joseph, since he is dressed in resplendent robes, speaks only Egyptian, and treats them with a haughty disdain (all of this may be found in Gen.42-44). It is right here that Joseph could have revealed himself to them; he had all the power to do so. “All is forgiven, my brothers,” he might have said. “I am now a powerful agent in Egypt, and I will take care of you. Though you tried to kill me, I understand your anger. Do not worry about that! We are all together again. Is our father well?” He does none of that. He first accuses them of being spies, plants the money they gave him for the grain back into their sacks, accuses them then of theft, and then throws one of them into prison as surety that they will return to him. When they do come back, he gives them the food they pay for, but secretly hides his famous divining cup in the sack of Benjamin, their youngest sibling, sends some retainers to “discover” the cup, and has them hauled back to Egypt as accused thieves. In short, Joseph plays the cruel puppet-master of the tale, and appears to enjoy every moment.

He finally reveals his identity to his incredulous brothers in Gen.45, but it really is too late. His cruelty cannot be forgotten, because in Gen.50, after father Jacob has died, the brothers still believe that the merciless Joseph will now get an even harsher revenge. So they lie to him that Jacob had said before his death that Joseph must forgive his brothers for the “crime of the servants of the God of your father” (Gen 50:17). And Joseph hears that, after he has twice told them that he would care for them, and he weeps. I think his tears are a recognition that his earlier cruelties are not so easily passed over. He has in effect poisoned his relationship to his family forever.

And so does Donald Trump continue to do with his own implacable vindictiveness. He is poisoning his relationship with those close to him and with the rest of us who must live with his cruelty. He simply seems unable to forgive anyone. He has said that he has nothing to be ashamed of, and a person without shame is finally incapable of forgiveness. When he labels all his critics as “spoil sports” because of the election or “losers” because they see things differently than he does, he plays the role of Joseph, refusing to admit that he has a large role in keeping others separate from and furious with his decisions and actions. At the very end of Joseph’s story, he remains unreconciled to his brothers, and at the end of Trump’s presidency (may it be soon!) he too will remain aloof and separated from any who did not agree with his plans and goals. Once again, the ancient Scripture is a mirror for the 45th president of the USA. Would that he knew more of the Bible than his ludicrous espousal of his favorite book “Two Corinthians”! How much more can we take of this egregious and nonsensical so-called presidency?