8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.
Our reputations can precede us. They can help set the stage for the next assignment in life. In the military people often know about us before we arrive at our next duty station. Word gets around. This is especially true in my branch. It is very small and word travels fast, both of the positive and the negative nature. Joseph’s reputation had helped the Israelites find favor with the ruling Egyptians, probably for generations. But, the memory of what Joseph did to save the nation of Egypt had faded. This reminds me of great moments in our nation’s history. We are beginning to see 9/11 as something in the past, something that is not as important in our current life. But for those of us in the military, who are still engaged in our nation’s battle, 9/11 and the lessons of that day are very fresh. We are still putting our lives on the line to defend against another attack. I personally remember JFK getting killed, Nixon resigning, Challenger exploding, the Berlin wall being dismantled…. These have meaning to me personally. But to the next generation, they don’t necessarily have the same meaning. Pearl Harbor had a powerful impact on my parent’s lives. He went to war and returned to a thing called “the suburbs.” Our nation had changed. Let us not forget the lessons of our past. Let’s study history so we can learn its lessons.
The Arnold Journey 