Genesis 37:1-2
Esau had settled in the neighboring land. He had many offspring, many chiefs and had joined with the people of the land, blending with them. By contrast Jacob settled in the land of his father. He was in the land but an alien resident, a visitor. They had not yet entered into possession and inheritance of the Promised Land. While it was promised to them, it required patience and faith.
Genesis 37:2b-4
The is the 'toledot' of Jacob family. It is the last in Genesis. This is where we can look back and see the beginning of a work God was doing with this family. We'll see all the details, all the events and decisions that led this family to Egypt. Then four hundred and thirty years later they will come forth as a nation.
Joseph was the first born of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel. Yet, he was the eleventh in line. Abraham's story is long and the most important story in Genesis, but the story of Joseph has the same number of chapters detailing his life, and his story ends up being 25% larger overall. There are more spoken words of Joseph than any other Old Testament character, but he is never once quoted in the New Testament. He is mentioned just four times in the New Testament as part of the heritage of the Jews.
This seventeen-year-old was with his brothers. His brothers were all older, but he was his father's favorite. We can imagine how difficult these older brothers made his life. Jacob openly favored Rachel and her children. This created animosity and division in the family, so we can imagine how the brothers felt toward Joseph. While feeding the flocks with his brothers Joseph apparently delivered a bad report about his brothers to his father. The report might have been bad because it reflected negatively on his brothers, but it was more likely bad because it wasn't true.
Jacob's love and favoritism for Joseph was displayed when he gave Joseph this tunic of many colors. This tunic was given to the son of birthright. It was a princely garment, symbolic of status. It wasn't worn by a working man, but the favored one. As Joseph was presented as a person of status and authority, the brothers had quickly heard enough. The brothers despised him for it. At seventeen, Joseph probably didn't know how to handle being the favorite.
Genesis 37:6-8
Dreams were seen as divine communication. The brothers hated Joseph and his dream just made matters worse. The brothers were all aware that he was the favored son but now this dream implied that he would one day have ruling status over them. This appears to us as a break in judgment as he failed to discern the meaning or how it would be received by the brothers. But in the end we see the plan of God being played out and the dream initiated the plan. Walter Brueggemann said:
The main character in the drama is Yahweh. Though hidden in the form of a dream, silent and not at all visible, the listener will understand that the dream is the unsettling work of Yahweh upon which everything else depends. Without the dream there would be no Joseph and no narrative. From the perspective of the brothers, without the dream there would be no trouble or conflict. For the father, without the dream there would be no grief or loss. The dream sets its own course, the father-brother-dreamer notwithstanding. And in the end, the dream prevails over the tensions of the family.
Ultimately, the dream would prove to be a valid dream as it appears to portray Joseph's rise to power and authority in Egypt and the brothers coming to bow before him seeking food. Note the dream was of sheaves of wheat when food would ultimately bring him to power over his family.
This was an utterly appalling thought to them. They already despised him and now had to imagine him being their ruler. It's almost implied that they would never bow before him. Their pride is consuming them. This punk was still a kid, how dare he disrespect those older than him this way. They were out tending flocks before he was even born.
The writer states three times that the brothers hated him. This sets up the motive for the brothers' actions that kick off this series of events the put Joseph in exactly the right place to save his family later.
Genesis 37:9-11
At this point you begin to look at Joseph with a little more skepticism. Was he trying to irritate them? Had the 'favor' gone to his head where he felt free to agitate the brothers. Was he so focused on his own dreams and aspirations that he paid no attention to what it sounded like to others? Possibly so. However, the dreams do come true. It's interesting that even his father rebuked him for suggesting his parents would bow to him. His brothers were jealous and blinded by their outrage. They never considered if the dreams were from God or that they might come true. While Jacob rebuked, he 'kept the matter in mind'. He seemed to know there was something to the dream his son had.
Note: Rachel passed away in Genesis 35:16-20. This part of the story is either stepping back and not in strict chronological order or her absence adds to how ridiculous the thought that she would bow before him.
Genesis 37:12-13
Two things jump immediately come to mind in this verse:
- Shechem was a long way to go to feed the flock.
- Shechem is also the place that cost this family a lot of pain and sorrow.
- It was a long way for this young man to travel alone.
- The roads were known to be dangerous
This sounds strange, almost like it was a setup. When we know what's about to happen, it makes us wonder. Notice, though, the use of 'Israel' instead of Jacob. This is an indication that Israel was acting in the Spirit in accordance with God's will.
Joseph responds; the NIV says 'very well' which is a little bland when we see the NKJV translate to "Here I am." Joseph is willing to go where his father sends him. He is he obedient (might we say Christlike?) son. There doesn't seem to be anything about this that bothers Joseph. We should begin to watch the life and faith of Joseph, we never see him complain about anything.
Genesis 37:14-17
It's fifty miles from Hebron to Shechem, which is about 5 day's journey on foot (rough terrain, not paved). This unnamed man finding him wandering around is an interesting insertion into the story. He seemed to know exactly who Joseph was looking for. Either the brothers had a reputation of some kind or the size of the flock was notable. Dothan was about 15 more miles north. The brothers must have been seeking good grazing for their flocks or they were selling some of the flock. Dothan put them square in the trade routes to Egypt.
Note: Some interesting thoughts develop around this man in the field when we later consider if Joseph is a type of Christ. It says the man found Joseph, but he wasn't really lost. He was in Shechem, exactly where he was going. Many would one day find Christ in the fields where He would abide as He looked for His brothers. We don't want to make something where there is nothing, but its thought provoking.
Genesis 37:18-20
The brothers see him far off and begin to grumble against him. The sarcasm gives them away as they consider Joseph 'the dreamer'. The common hatred among them breeds a plot to kill him. Hatred, bad attitude, and negativity in general, spreads so quickly and easily. If the brothers were asked who first came up with this idea, they would all look at each other. Each would think it was another and all went along because everyone else did. They became a mob; many heads with a single mind and no thought process.
They were a long way from home, in the middle of nowhere. Who would know? The brothers seem to be acting together. The plan was to kill him and throw him in a pit. Then they would claim an animal ate him. It would be easy. No more dreamer and his wild ideas. No more feeling second class to the son of Rachel. They liked idea while he was still a ways off. It sounded like a good plan.
They were unknowingly testing the dreams. If they were from God, there would be nothing they could do to change it. If they were not of God, then the dreams never meant anything and held no power over the brothers other than what they gave him in the anger.
Note: Considering Joseph as a type of Christ, John 1:11 comes to mind as his brothers saw him and rejected him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:11)
Genesis 37:21-22
Reuben either had a heart or a motive. He wanted to deliver Joseph back to his father so he told them not to shed any blood but to just throw him in a pit. He was going to return and pull him out. He could be the hero in that story. He could deliver Joseph after the other sons said he was eaten by an animal. Jacob would hold him accountable if something happened to the young man, putting him at further odds with Jacob. Reuben might have even had the thought that Jacob might look on him a little more favorably if he rescued him. Remember, Reuben had lost his status because he slept with his father's concubine. He could have taken a stand and done what is right but he didn't want his brothers mad at him (maybe he thought they would do the same with him if he rebelled).
Genesis 37:23-24
They stripped him of the tunic that marked him as one of favor. The word 'stripped' is sudden and violent. They rushed on him and tore the tunic from him like skinning an animal. They threw him in the cistern and left him to die. Cisterns were manmade places cut out of rock to store water. Some were very large and deep.
It feels as though Joseph was at the mercy of his brothers, of circumstances beyond his control. In similar situations, we start thinking in terms of 'bad luck' and 'fate' as if God had looked away or was caught off guard. Joseph was never at the mercy of his brothers. His life was being lived in the middle of God's plan. We can know the same, even when it doesn't seem that way.
Genesis 37:25-28
They threw their brother in a hole to die as a secondary plan to what they really wanted to do. Then, they callously sat down to eat a meal. Later, in Egypt, they will reflect on this and say:
They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come on us. (Genesis 42:21)
The brothers felt no anguish when Joseph cried and pleaded with them. These guys are truly heartless to ignore the cries of their brother. It took 22 years for their conscience to get to them and realize how awful they had acted. Yet, later in Egypt, Joseph would not ignore their cries for food. He shows them his heart.
Judah saw a way to make some money. He reasoned that killing Joseph was wrong, but selling him was a good thing. They all agreed. This thought Judah had was his own, it was his sin, but God used it to get Jacob on that caravan headed to Egypt. The Caravan is said to be Ishmaelites in verse 25 and Midianites in verse 28. There appears to have been a close relationship between these two companies of people. They apparently joined together on this caravan.
Joseph was bought for 20 shekels of silver and taken to Egypt.
Genesis 37:29-32
Reuben was upset that Joseph wasn't in the pit. He grieved and tore his clothes thinking Joseph was dead. He was apparently absent at the sale of his brother. It's possible Reuben anticipated being held responsible for the boy. More likely, the boy represented some small of hope of redemption with his father.
Strangely enough, Rebuen wasn't interested in rescuing his brother. Instead he joined the others in this plot to deceive their father. They stained his tunic in blood and took it to their father. What a cruel deception.
Genesis 37:33-35
Jacob recognized the tunic. He believed the worst and tore his clothes in grief and mourning as only a father could do for the loss of a son. This is such a painful loss for him and this had to put an amazing amount of conviction and guilt on his other sons. Isn't it interesting that Jacob, the one who deceived his father with the skin of goats, has now been deceived by his sons and the blood of a goat? There is some sort of poetic justice in this event. The apples didn't fall far from the tree.
Jacob declared he would go to his grave in mourning. The word for grave is 'sheol'. It is the first use of the word. It means the abode of the dead. The word 'grave' shows up earlier in the Old Testament but it is another word meaning an earthly burial plot. Jacob declared his life would be marked by the death of the son until he joined him in the grave.
Genesis 37:36
Potiphar is a high ranking official of the Pharaoh. His name was associated with their god 'Ra'. The name is more of a title than a personal name. Joseph had a new home.
Joseph was sold in the slave trade. The favored son never dreamt such a thing would happen to him, especially in light of the dreams he had. How could the dreams come true if he was a slave in Egypt? Joseph could have complained, lost faith, considered the dreams worthless and his life the same. Yet, we never see a complaint. He's an adventuress youth, in the hands of God on a great adventure.
Should we not be the same? Walking with the Lord is a great adventure. We never know what's around the next corner, but we know he's with us. He guides us. He constantly tells His people, fear not. This is part of belief system that's easy to maintain when we are wearing that robe of the favored. When we're thrown into the dungeon, its hard to remember we're favored and don't have to live in fear. He will see us through as He guides Joseph through this maze to put him right where he needs him; right place, right time, right position as God intended all along. It was back in Genesis 15, right after Abraham honored Melchizedek that the Lord came to him and said, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward". He then went on to make a covenant with Abram and spoke promises into his life. Part of the information about the future of Abram's family was "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there."
To hear of hatred born of partiality, fueled by a bad report, stoked by dreams, brings to mind many things, the least of which is a biblical story. In reality, it's not just a biblical story, it's a life story. Joseph didn't know how things would turn out. He was going through the adventure of life, doing his best to remain faithful and positive, remember the Lord loved him and would be with him. That's what we can do today. We can know this and that the Lord can do great things with your life also, even when we aren't aware. We may never hear or see the outcome of the lives we come in contact with.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
© 2019 Doug Ford
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