Beware of Brain Pickers. Part II

A three part series to guide your gift, skill and destiny from danger.

May 03, 2025

DEAR GENIUS,

You’re here because "good enough" was never your standard.

This newsletter is your weekly compass —packed with growth hacks, boundary-pushing insights, and the tools to unlock what’s really possible.

Today’s Focus:
How to keep what matters most close (plus a resource to fuel your year).

⏳ 11-minute read | 📂 Last edition

The next oldest thing after humanity is storytelling. This art transcends generations, eras, and seasons. Wherever humans exist, stories are never in short supply. Many from older generations feel a deep nostalgia when they recall their early days.

The art and medium of storytelling have evolved over time, but its essence remains unchanged. I remember the era before the internet disrupted traditions—when African families thrived on storytelling. We called these intimate moments tales by moonlight, a name inspired by the time these stories were told. They usually unfolded outside, beneath the glow of the night sky.

Children from different households would gather under a tree, eager to hear wisdom from an elder. One phrase I grew up hearing repeatedly was “Story, story!”—to which we’d respond, “Story!” Then came “Once upon a time…” and we’d chant back, “Time, time!” Once those words were spoken, everyone fell silent, ready for the journey ahead.

Back then, I didn’t grasp the power of those gatherings—not until the internet replaced them. Today, such moments are rare. We hardly pause to listen to the wisdom of elders. What wouldn’t I give to sit under that moonlight again, learning from those who’ve walked the Earth before us? Part of me is grateful for those times; the other part worries for the next generation, who may never experience anything like it—not in this digital age, with its machines and distractions.

Wisdom, like life’s most precious things, has grown scarce. Yet I hope that this newsletter can help bridge that gap

In the last letter, we began the story of the greatest brain heist in biblical history and explored the factors that led to it. If you haven’t read that instalment yet, I’ve included the link at the end of this letter.

This part’ll examine our second scenario: how storytelling guided our main character away from falling prey to brain pickers. Fasten your seatbelt—let’s dive in.

If you read Part One, you’ll already be familiar with Jacob’s story through a fresh lens. Properly understanding that account will be crucial for grasping this second instalment.

After twenty years in Laban’s household, Jacob left following the birth of his eleventh son, Joseph. Suddenly, he had an epiphany—it was time to return home. But the journey wouldn’t be easy. He had to fend off Laban, and Esau’s intentions remained uncertain. Like anyone forced to choose between the shark and the deep sea, Jacob knew either path carried dire consequences.

Luckily for him, both outcomes favored him. God intervened, speaking to Laban in a dream and warning him not to harm Jacob. Meanwhile, time had softened Esau’s hatred. A perfect win-win unfolded—aside from the minor incident of his favorite wife stealing her father’s idols, the family’s return seemed destined to end well.

Sadly, the very reason Jacob stayed in Haran for twenty years never made it home with him. This confirms this story as the greatest brain heist recorded in Scripture. Rachel's death forced the family to remain in that land. It was during this time that Reuben lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Jacob heard of it. Can you imagine? Jacob had stayed with Laban all those years to marry Rachel and bring her home, yet she never reached his homeland.

Picture Jacob being interviewed upon arrival and asked why he'd remained with Laban so long. What could he say? The wife he'd worked tirelessly for was gone.

Later, in the subsequent chapter, we read about Jacob's children. The passage ends with a profound statement: "Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt."

After twenty-plus years, he finally returned to his family. The narrative then shifted from Jacob to his beloved son, marking the transfer of Abraham's grace. The moment this happened, Joseph became the prime target of brain pickers. Unlike Jacob, Joseph had been well trained by his father.

Case Study #2: Joseph in Egypt

The 37 chapters of Genesis introduced us to Joseph. Scripture tells us he was seventeen when he began working on his father's farm. On one occasion, while laboring alongside his half-brothers, he witnessed their misconduct. Joseph didn't hesitate to report everything to their father. This honest account sparked their hatred toward him - a resentment compounded by Jacob's obvious favoritism.

Here's what most readers miss about Joseph and Jacob's relationship:

“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age.”

Joseph wasn't the youngest son, so why does Scripture call him "the son of [Jacob's] old age"? I believe Joseph was the one who sat at his father's feet, listening and learning. At the start of this letter, I mentioned our tradition of "tales by moonlight" - but this practice didn't originate in Africa or even in our century. The concept is as old as humanity itself. Remember Eden? God would come in the cool of the evening to commune with man. That was the first "Tales by Moonlight."

Joseph spent his formative years absorbing his father's wisdom. He understood morality, knew the God of his great-grandfather Abraham, and was versed in Isaac's story. He'd heard about Laban, too - how that man had tried to manipulate his father's destiny.

By seventeen, Joseph was no ordinary youth. He'd been groomed for greatness. His distinction among Jacob's sons wasn't accidental - Jacob had intentionally cultivated it.

Yet like all dreamers, Joseph's moment of revelation made him a target. Brain-pickers often come disguised as haters or unreasonable critics. How else do we explain brothers hating Joseph simply because their father favored him? Make no mistake - Jacob loved all his sons, but he invested more in Joseph, the "son of his old age."

Like many gifted teenagers, Joseph shared his visions prematurely - not once, but twice. When his second dream included his (deceased) mother, it raises questions: What did Jacob mean by his response?

So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:10-11

This highlighted moment deserves our attention. Jacob didn't rebuke Joseph - instead, he began connecting the dots. I believe this explains why Jacob mourned for years when he thought Joseph was dead. He recognized his son's divine calling in that moment, though perhaps he should have discussed it openly with Joseph. (We might assume he never got the chance since he thought Joseph died)

Now, let's examine the brothers' perspective.

The dreams only fueled their hatred, so intensely that they plotted murder. Scripture reveals their core motive:

“Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

They wanted him dead for one reason only: to stop his dreams. Nothing else threatened them as deeply. Fortunately for Joseph, Reuben intervened, proposing an alternative. He planned to pull the boy from the pit and return him to their father.

I suspect Reuben saw this as an opportunity to regain Jacob's favor. After sleeping with his father's concubine, his stepmother, he likely feared that Jacob knew the truth. Returning Joseph might have redeemed him, but destiny had other plans.

When Joseph arrived, his brothers stripped off his colorful robe and hurled him into the pit. As they stood there, a caravan of Ishmaelites appeared—merchants from Gilead with camels laden with spices, balm, and myrrh, journeying to Egypt.

Then Judah had an idea: Why kill our brother when we could profit from him? This revealed their true motives. Beneath their rage, they still loved Joseph—they were simply terrified of his dreams.

This exposes the core of every brain-picker: intimidation or envy of the gift they seek to steal. Left unchecked, that envy festers into hatred—a destructive force that can lead you down unimagined paths.

“Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”

Reuben wasn’t present when this happened. Even he believed Joseph had been killed. When he discovered the truth, he knew all was lost. "Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, 'The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?'"

This confession supports my theory—Reuben had hoped to use Joseph to regain favor. Later, on his deathbed, Jacob pronounced a curse on Reuben that haunted him and his descendants for generations. Only at Moses’ death was this curse lifted.

Now, back to our story: Joseph arrived in Egypt against his will, yet better prepared than his father Jacob had been. He carried Jacob’s grace, but unlike Jacob, Joseph was never manipulated.

True, history labels him a slave—but look deeper. His life in Potiphar’s house bears no resemblance to the boy sold for twenty silver coins. To understand why, we need historical context.

In Ancient Egypt during Joseph’s time, the political system was a strong, centralized monarchy with the Pharaoh wielding absolute power. Directly beneath Pharaoh were high-ranking officials, followed by the wealthy elite, then ordinary citizens. Slaves occupied the lowest rung—considered property rather than people. Known as bak, they were commodities to be bought and sold, their humanity ignored in service of their masters’ needs.

To make matters worse, Joseph wasn’t just a slave—he was a foreigner. This made redemption nearly impossible, little more than a futile hope. Slavery offered nothing but relentless degradation and abuse.

Yet when we reread Joseph’s story with this context, something remarkable emerges: though sold to Potiphar, he never lived like a slave in that house.

2. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.
4. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
5. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
6. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

This passage reveals a profound truth about Joseph's time in Egypt. While we don't know exactly how long he served in Potiphar's household, one thing is certain: Joseph ceased being a slave long before his official liberation. He enjoyed such favor that Potiphar entrusted him with complete authority over all his possessions.

The contrast with Jacob is striking. Despite God blessing Laban's household through Jacob, Laban never treated him as an equal; Jacob remained a servant throughout his twenty years of service. Remember, Jacob entered Laban's service voluntarily, unlike Joseph, who was sold into slavery. Through this paradox, the free man became a servant while the servant attained freedom.

Both Potiphar and Laban witnessed the same divine blessing, yet their responses revealed completely different characters.

The Lord blessed the house for Jacob and Joseph’s sake, and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and the field.

But we’re not done. This ran longer than I planned. Part III drops next, as we wrap up this series: How to Spot and Stop Brain Pickers Before They Drain You.

Until I write to you again, don’t stop being a Genius!

James Iroro

The Genius Note

I hope this letter has inspired you in some way.

If you’re ready to elevate your life to the next level, I invite you to explore my latest book, The New Season Checklist. In it, I outline eight key pillars that, when applied, can unlock transformative change.