Don’t ignore the positives

[Tanakh Keeper]

It’s funny, no matter how much I read the bible, I can always find new things in it.

G e n 37:25 And they sat down to eat a meal, and they lifted their eyes and saw, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, and their camels were carrying spices, balm, and lotus, going to take [it] down to Egypt.

As every word in Torah has meaning, why did G-d teach us the specific items that this caravan was carrying? Joseph is about to be sold into slavery, should he care what other products the merchants were carrying? It seems that he would have more important things on his mind. However, this minor happenstance shows the Hand of G-d.

You see, normally caravans to Egypt carried kerosene and resin to be used for fuel. These products have foul odors. But, this caravan had a pleasant odor. This was a subtle hint to Joseph that all was not lost, that G-d was with him. There was something positive that he could find in his situation. This is a good lesson for anyone undergoing a difficult situation. It is easy to wallow in self-pity or melt in despair. It is easy to focus on what’s wrong in our lives. However, one needs to keep their eyes (and noses) open. Be aware of any positive aspects. Remain open to anything that is possible to appreciate. Let the little things be a guide to changing your situation and reaching your potential.

[Salty]

Good lesson there.

Unfortunately, it isn't easy to find that silver lining. And sometimes the positive aspect doesn't show up for a long time. The test is in trusting that there is something positive to be found, and not giving in to the despair while you're looking and waiting for it.

[Tanakh Keeper]

Good lesson there.

Unfortunately, it isn't easy to find that silver lining. And sometimes the positive aspect doesn't show up for a long time. The test is in trusting that there is something positive to be found, and not giving in to the despair while you're looking and waiting for it.

You are right. The Dvar Torah that I found this, took it much farther than made sense to me. They actually claimed that the pleasant odor was a reward for Joseph's righteousness. To me, that was too much too claim. I know Joseph turned out to be #2 in Egypt, but calling it a reward just after being sold into slavery was a bit much for me.

Also, though Joseph was a prisoner for a long time, he made himself noticed by providing dream interpretation. He did more than simply wait around. He took what actions he could to better his situation.

[sylvius]

You are right. The Dvar Torah that I found this, took it much farther than made sense to me. They actually claimed that the pleasant odor was a reward for Joseph's righteousness. To me, that was too much too claim. I know Joseph turned out to be #2 in Egypt, but calling it a reward just after being sold into slavery was a bit much for me.

Also, though Joseph was a prisoner for a long time, he made himself noticed by providing dream interpretation. He did more than simply wait around. He took what actions he could to better his situation.

Maybe the pleasant odor of their merchandise saved Joseph's life, since his brothers had thrown him into a pit full of snakes and scorpions and only the passing by of the caravan brought Judah to the idea to sell him and thus gain profit.

If the camels would have carried only naphtha and tar, whose odor is foul, then maybe Judah wouldn't have come to the idea to sell him at all ...

So maybe the odor worked on Judah's brain ...

(Parallelled in NT?
Mark 14:3
When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head.,
Mark 14:10,
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. )