The Journey to Shechem

Three months after Yusuf’s dreams, the dry season was coming to an end. The grass around Kano had been eaten by the cattle, and Ibrahim knew it was time to move the herds to greener pastures. This was the way of the Fulani people – always moving, always searching for better grazing land for their animals.

“My sons,” Ibrahim called out one morning as the family gathered for breakfast. “Take the cattle to Shechem. The rains have been good there, and the grass is growing tall and green.”

The ten older brothers nodded. They were used to these long journeys with the herds. It was hard work, but it was their livelihood.

“What about Yusuf?” asked Dan, the youngest of the older brothers.

“Yusuf will stay here with me,” Ibrahim replied. “He’s still learning.”

The brothers exchanged glances. Part of them was relieved – they wouldn’t have to deal with their annoying little brother and his fancy clothes. But another part of them was angry that once again, Yusuf was getting special treatment.

For two weeks, the brothers were gone with the cattle. Ibrahim received no word from them, which was unusual. In those days, travelers would often bring messages from one place to another, but there was complete silence.

Ibrahim began to worry. Had something happened to his sons? Had raiders attacked their camp? Were the cattle safe?

Finally, he made a decision.

“Yusuf,” he called to his beloved son. “I need you to go and check on your brothers. They should be in Shechem by now, but I haven’t heard anything. Take some provisions and go see if they’re well, and bring me back news.”

Yusuf’s heart leaped with excitement. Finally, a real responsibility! A chance to prove himself to his father and maybe even make peace with his brothers.

“Yes, Baba,” he said eagerly. “I’ll leave right away.”

Ibrahim packed a bag with dried meat, dates, bread, and water for the journey. Shechem was about three days’ walk from Kano – not too far, but far enough to be an adventure for a seventeen-year-old.

“Be careful, my son,” Ibrahim said, embracing Yusuf. “Stay on the main roads, don’t travel at night, and come back quickly with news.”

Yusuf set off at dawn, wearing his magnificent agbada. The morning was cool, and he felt like he was walking into his destiny. The road to Shechem was well-traveled, with merchants, farmers, and other travelers moving back and forth between the towns.

On the first day, everything went smoothly. Yusuf stopped at roadside stalls to buy food and water, and he slept that night in a small village where the people welcomed travelers.

On the second day, he began to get excited. He would soon see his brothers! Maybe this journey would be the beginning of better relationships between them. Maybe they would finally see that he wasn’t trying to be better than them – he just wanted to be part of the family.

But when Yusuf arrived in Shechem on the third day, there was a problem. He searched all over the town, asking everyone he met: “Have you seen ten young men with large herds of cattle? They’re my brothers.”

“No, no,” everyone said. “There have been no such people here.”

Yusuf was confused and worried. Where could they be? Had something terrible happened to them?

As he wandered through the fields outside Shechem, looking lost and confused, an old farmer approached him.

“Young man,” the farmer said kindly, “you look troubled. What are you searching for?”

“I’m looking for my brothers,” Yusuf explained. “My father sent them here with our cattle, but I can’t find them anywhere.”

The old farmer nodded thoughtfully. “Ah, yes! I saw a group like that several days ago. But they didn’t stay here. I heard them talking about going to Dothan. The grazing is even better there, they said.”

Dothan! That was another day’s journey further north. Yusuf thanked the farmer and decided to continue his search. His father had sent him to find his brothers and bring back news, and that’s exactly what he was going to do.

The road to Dothan was lonelier than the road to Shechem. Fewer traders traveled that way, and the villages were smaller and further apart. As Yusuf walked, he practiced what he would say to his brothers when he found them.

“Assalamu alaikum, my brothers,” he rehearsed. “Peace be upon you. Baba sent me to check on you and the herds.”

He imagined their faces lighting up when they saw him. Maybe they had missed him. Maybe this journey would heal the wounds between them.

Little did Yusuf know that his brothers had indeed gone to Dothan, and they had been watching the road for days. Not because they were expecting him, but because they were planning something that would change all their lives forever.

As the sun began to set on his fourth day of travel, Yusuf finally saw smoke rising in the distance – the smoke of cooking fires from a large camp. His heart began to beat faster. This had to be them!

He quickened his pace, his beautiful agbada flowing behind him in the evening breeze. In the distance, he could see the familiar sight of cattle scattered across the hills, and the dark shapes of tents.

“Thank God,” he whispered to himself. “I found them.”

But what Yusuf didn’t see was that his brothers had spotted him too. Far off in the distance, they could see the unmistakable figure in the colorful agbada walking toward their camp.

“Look,” said Simon, pointing. “Isn’t that our dreamer brother?”

The brothers gathered together, shading their eyes against the setting sun to get a better look.

“It’s him alright,” confirmed Judah. “In that fancy robe our father gave him.”

A dark silence fell over the group. For months, they had been away from home, and their resentment had only grown stronger. Out here in the wilderness, far from their father’s watchful eyes, dangerous thoughts had been growing in their minds like weeds.

“He’s coming to spy on us,” muttered Levi. “To run back to Baba with reports about what we’re doing.”

“The dreamer,” said Reuben with disgust. “Coming to see if his dreams are coming true.”

And then, one of them spoke the words that would change everything:

“Here comes the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.”

Lesson from Episode 2: Sometimes our eagerness to please and do the right thing can lead us into danger. Yusuf’s willingness to undertake this journey showed his good heart and desire to serve his family. But he walked innocently into a situation where people had been nursing grudges against him. We must be wise as serpents but gentle as doves – aware of the intentions of others while maintaining our own good character.