Hamid hurried to walk with him and showed him the number of bushels of wheat he had calculated so far.
Joseph nodded. “God has been very good to Egypt. I must admit I underestimated just how good He can be when He chooses to bless us. This is far above what I had imagined.” He turned back toward his chariot. “When you are finished, I want to discuss a new assignment for you.” He stepped into the chariot and sat behind the driver. “Come to my home at eventide, and we will discuss these things then.”
Hamid gave a slight bow. “I will be there.”
Joseph nodded once as they drove off, hoping he hadn’t caused the man to fear change. Hamid’s skills were good, but any of the other head servants could keep track of the wheat in one city at a time. He had other plans for Hamid and hoped the man was up to the task.
Later that evening, Joseph’s servant ushered Hamid into his private banquet chambers. A servant offered both men goblets of beer and a tray of various nuts, olives, and cheeses. Joseph looked at his friend, hoping his faith in this man would never be misguided. He needed people he could trust, as even the pharaoh could be a target of ill will.
“This is very good beer, my lord,” Hamid said after taking a sip, following Joseph’s lead. “Made from wheat, not barley? And I taste ginger?”
Joseph nodded. “From the best of Pharaoh’s storehouses.” He lingered over the cup, then ran his finger along its rim. At last he looked up and studied Hamid a moment. “I have two things to ask of you, Hamid,” he said, tenting his hands and resting his chin on them.
“Anything, my lord.” Hamid set his drink beside him on a low, intricately carved table and clasped his hands in his lap. “You took me from slavery to a woman I came to despise. I could never feel anything but gratitude to you. How may I serve you?”
“You can start by calling me Joseph again. Zaphenath-Paneah when we are in public, but not when just the two of us are talking or around Asenath, should she join us.”
“Very well,” Hamid said. “Joseph, thank you.”
Joseph lifted his cup toward Hamid in a gesture of approval. He would never get used to his Egyptian name, but then again, he’d only had it a year. Perhaps one day it would fit him more. “I have decided to place you as my right hand to oversee the people in my household, from my chief steward to the lowest slave. You will also oversee your replacement in charge of counting the wheat. You are far more useful to me here than out in the field alone. I also want you to be my spokesman and interpreter for those who speak in anything other than the Egyptian tongue, but you will pass everything by me and I will give you a decision.”
Hamid looked both awed and taken aback by Joseph’s request. It was a lot of responsibility to work as Joseph’s right hand. Even holding such a position for Potiphar did not come close to the responsibility he would have now. Nor the power he could wield.
“You do me a great honor, Joseph. I know that of all men, I do not deserve your respect in this way.” He looked at his hands before meeting Joseph’s gaze. “My past—”
“Is behind you,” Joseph interrupted. “You have shown me that you are loyal, and I need loyal men in my service. You of all men know where I came from. I was born a prince in my family, but I am not Egyptian. I would like you to help the people never doubt that I am of Egypt now. Pharaoh has made me such, and I am ready to let the memory of my people go.”
Hamid leaned back in his chair and gave Joseph a curious look. “I never thought I would hear you say so. What of your father and brother?”
Joseph could not deny the kick of longing at the mention of them, but he did not show his feelings. “My father could be in Sheol by now, and one day, if God allows it, I may send men to find Benjamin and bring him to me. I will make him an Egyptian as well, if he wants it. I would protect him, in any case.”
“But you can forget them?” Hamid picked up his goblet again.
Joseph smiled. “I do believe God has made a way for me to do that, yes.” He leaned closer. “Asenath is with child. When she delivers, I will know that God wants me here to stay.”
Hamid laughed and slapped his knee. “With child! How wonderful! When do you expect this birth?”
“In about four months. We said nothing except to her father until she was far enough along. Of course, her father wanted to give her all manner of amulets to keep bad things from happening to her, but she refused them all for my sake.”
“She believes in your one god then?” Hamid’s eyes widened as though he never would have expected such a thing.
“She does. And if she doesn’t, for my sake, she has agreed she will try. I hope someday you will do the same.”
Hamid looked beyond Joseph. “I respect your faith in your god, Joseph. I have seen the way he has blessed you, and I know those things don’t happen by chance. I fear I have been in the teachings of Egypt so long . . . it is hard to consider that none of the gods we worship are true.” He cleared his throat, and Joseph watched him closely. “For your sake, I will try to understand your god. I hope that is enough for you.”
Joseph nodded, though his heart longed for more. “It will have to be, now won’t it? I cannot give you faith, Hamid. One day perhaps you will see my God do something so amazing that your doubts will flee. In the meantime, it is enough that you seek. It is in seeking Him that we will find Him.”
Hamid sipped from his cup again but said nothing more.
Joseph took a bite of one of his favorite cheeses. “There is one more thing I would like you to do for me.”
“Anything,” Hamid said.
“This one is something you may decline if you wish. I would not force a man to marry if he does not want to.”
Hamid’s brow furrowed. “Marry, my lord? Who would I marry?” Hamid lifted his hands.
“I have requested Heba be released from Potiphar’s house to serve Asenath. My wife understands how Potiphar and his wife treated you both. I would offer Heba to you in marriage, if you so desire.” Joseph leaned back in his seat.
Hamid’s eyes widened, and a smile slowly spread across his round face. “Joseph, you do me great honor! I thought my life would never include a wife or family after what happened with Aneksi.”
“Well, now you have the chance to begin again, as I have.” Joseph lifted his cup and nodded toward Hamid. “I will have Asenath and her servants arrange a wedding for you, my friend.”
Hamid laughed, and Joseph joined him.
When Hamid left later that evening, Joseph returned to his rooms, pondering his life. While he had never expected to be in this place, he found satisfaction in knowing he had helped someone else find joy and freedom. When Asenath gave birth, his life would be complete.
29
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Asenath awoke with a start. Pain pierced her back, not like the nagging ache she had endured during the day but stronger, a fierce grip on her spine.
“Safiya!” she called, her voice barely able to rise above a whisper. “Hurry!” She leaned against the pillows, forcing her legs over the side of the bed to pace and hopefully make the babe kick her in a different place. But was it kicking she felt?
Her mother had told her that birth pains came across a woman’s middle, not her back, but Asenath could not deny that something was either terribly wrong or she was in labor.