A Biblical Record of Major Crimes: Attempted Manslaughter and Human Trafficking

A Biblical Record of Major Crimes: Attempted Manslaughter and Human Trafficking.

“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant. Truth in indirection lies.” (Emily Dickenson).

A Different Look to a True Story. Emily Dickenson’s advice was to come at the truth from different angles; reveal the truth while approaching it sideways. There are times when only an indirect story will effectively grab a reader’s attention and will inspire a fresh perspective on an ancient truth. There are occasions when coming at a truth from the side through a story will go further than a didactic, systematic study using logic and reason. We seem to be created in a way in which truth can often be better understood from the side instead of head-on through a blunt statement of raw truth. This fictional story below is intended to reveal the truth of a biblical crime story in a way that brings a fresh perspective, an unexpected layer of meaning, to a familiar story. Perhaps we can learn something new in this indirect approach to the true story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (Genesis 37).

–  –  –  – –  –  – –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  – – –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –

This is me, Albert the Tailor, signing in, making another entry into my private diary. This story is so unlikely that I had no choice but to write it down in detail so I can confirm in my own mind that it actually happened. As a famous tailor for the stars here in Hollywood, I receive special requests constantly for unique designs of every type of clothing imaginable. But this one particular request was highly unusual, and it developed into such a surprising story of unexpected twists and turns that I can only repeat that observation that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

This story that took on a life of its own started on a typically sunny day here in southern California, when a dignified, elderly man walked into my tailor shop with the authority of someone who is used to being large and in charge. He walked right up to me and introduced himself as Jake, no last name. He quickly explained wehat he wanted me to design… a one-of-a-kind robe for his son, a robe that would be mad of the finest silk material, full-length, covered with my original designs. The elaborate embroidery was to generously highlight the shiny presence of gold thread. The long sleeves were to have cuffs that would reach mid-palm, like all the royal robes he had seen in photographs. Jake told me to spare no expense in this robe, and that he would pay whatever it costs. This robe, he said, was to announce to all who see it that the wearer is a privileged child, a special son who is obviously the heir apparent.

Hmmm. Okay, Mr. Jake, I said. But I have a couple of questions for you…  You are aware, of course, that this robe would be impossible to wear at the son’s work site. So I assume this robe will only be for special occasions, correct? Jake didn’t hesitate when he replied that his favorite son would wear this royal robe all day, every day, and that he will not be doing any work that would require the need to remove it. He told me that he will leave all the manual labor in his family business to his other sons, all eleven of them. I assumed then that this special son of his must be the first-born. Jake corrected me once again. No, he said, he is my favorite son because he was the only child of my favorite wife who died.