Genesis 37:1-11

We read here that we are beginning to study “the history of Jacob”.  We have of course already studied God’s work in the life of Jacob in the previous chapters of Genesis.  But Jacob’s “history” is about his children.  It is his “legacy”, the heritage of his children.

Quite clearly the history gets off to a rough start.  Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph cannot be good from the point of view of how a father should treat his sons.  But it is a fact: Jacob loved Rachel, and Joseph was the first son of Rachel.  Jacob’s bias was demonstrated in the beautiful coat he gave to Joseph.  In terms of Joseph’s relationship with the other brothers (the 10 who were not born of Rachel), we also see that it was not going well because of a bad report Joseph had given to his father about their behavior.

As we begin to consider Joseph’s life there are a couple of questions we need to ask to help us see his life in the right way.  For example, is this bad report the words of a tattletale or a man of integrity?  We usually discourage tattling between children because it likely involves pride or envy between siblings.  But we are not told of that here on Joseph’s part.  Likely what he told his father was something his father needed to know.  The resulting hatred by his brothers is an indication of where they are spiritually.  Pride causes us to “despise” chastening (Prov. 3:11-12).  A scoffer does not listen to rebuke (Prov. 13:1).  The problem here is not with Joseph but with the brothers.

As the history continues things only get worse.  Joseph has 2 dreams and tells them to the rest of the family.  The idea of each dream is essentially the same, but there are slight differences that will be born out as the story progresses.

Again we must ask: Is Joseph a show-off or a man of integrity?  Pay careful attention to the story.  Joseph did not ask for these dreams; they came from God (v5,9).  This is God speaking in a fashion common to the Old Testament times (Heb. 1:1-2).  This is, for Jacob’s family, “scripture”; it is the “word of God” to them.  And it is given through Joseph who shares it with them because it involves them.  Again, the problem is not with Joseph but with the brothers.  They chafe at the idea of being submissive to Joseph.  But what that means is that they chafe at obedience to the word of God.  Even Jacob struggles with what God says, though he does not deny it outright.  

This would not be the last time, as again and again in the Old Testament, Israel would reject God’s word through His prophets (Zech. 1:4).  Perhaps you struggle with certain aspects of God’s word.  Perhaps you doubt or deny the message of salvation through One Savior, Jesus Christ.  There are many people who reject Christ because of the humiliating way He was put to death.  In the story of Joseph, like it or not, the dreams were fulfilled to perfection.  So it is with the entire Bible.  God’s word is true and will be the word by which men are judged.  “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)