As is often the way in the Bible, our attention is drawn to insignificant people who find themselves at the centre of God’s purposes for the world. This is the first and the last that we hear of the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah.

Joseph’s brothers must have very sore backs by now. Since they first came to Egypt looking for food they have repeatedly bowed low, even prostrated themselves before their brother. They hated his prophetic dreams, but they cannot escape their fulfilment.

Just as Judah had left his personal seal and staff with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen 38), so Joseph now leaves his cloak with Potiphar’s wife. But how different Joseph is to his brother! Just as when his brothers stripped his cloak off him and threw him into a pit, so now, Joseph is an innocent victim.