"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." (Ex 1.8)

It would be nice to finish the reflection on Josef's story with a happy ending. A person without understanding of God´s will see the Bible as a bundle of legends, to which, of course, happy endings of all kind belong. Stories from the Bible then appear (and sell) like infantile messages with a sweet endings. But the truth is different.

It is unlikely that the new pharaoh did not know of Joseph's existence. At least decades passed since his death (for Israelis, Joseph's death marks a four-hundred-year period of slavery), but the trace Joseph left in Egypt was indelible, and his incredible story must have been told among the people for a long time — simply because they were aware of whom they owed for the preservation of their life.

It is more probable then, that the memory of him quickly lost its luster, because Joseph never completely fitted in among Egyptians. He didn't suit, he was different: a different culture, different customs, a different religion. In the same way, God's people can be successful in their job, exceptional in some field, but they are easily forgotten, others are given priority. Because they are different, "they are not of this world." Although Joseph was Pharaoh's right-hand man, the Egyptians were still happy to set aside special territory for his family - because they despised them. It is certain that thanks to his career, Josef aroused jealousy of many and also had enemies at court. They "didn't know" about him simply because they didn't want to remind him. From the past, people remember the chapters that suit them and push the others to oblivion.

It could be sad, but there is a happy ending to it: the fact that it developed like this was not a mistake. It was a preparation for the release of the whole nation from Egypt.

However, in order to understand such a happy ending, one must be able to see things from the other side.