2. Joseph was loved by his father. The Lord Jesus was loved by His Father, who declared, This is My beloved Son.

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 3, 2019 Accept It Background: Genesis 37:1-36 Lesson: Genesis 37: 5-11, Motivation: More space is devoted in Genesis to Joseph than to any other character. He is in many ways a foreshadowing type of Christ. J. Vernon McGee notes in his Thru the Bible commentary (vol. 1, pp.147, 150) that more chapters are devoted for Joseph than to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or anyone else in Genesis. The typology we see is explored by McGee: I want to call to your attention to the comparison of Joseph to the Lord Jesus. You just should not miss the analogy. 1. The birth of Joseph was miraculous in that it was by the intervention of God as an answer to prayer. The Lord Jesus is virgin born. His birth is certainly miraculous! 2. Joseph was loved by his father. The Lord Jesus was loved by His Father, who declared, This is My beloved Son. 3. Joseph had the coat of many colors which set him apart. Christ was set apart in that He was separate from sinners. 4. Joseph announced that he was to rule over his brethren. The Lord Jesus presented Himself as the Messiah. Just as they ridiculed Joseph s message, so they also ridiculed Jesus. In fact, nailed to His cross were these words: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 5. Joseph was sent by his father to his brethren. Jesus was sent to His brethren He came first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 1 / 10

2 6. Joseph was hated by his brethren without a cause, and the Lord Jesus was hated by His brethren without a cause. We might add to this list: # 7 both went down to Egypt; #8 each took a Gentile bride (Eph 5:25); #9 both were sold for the price of a slave; #10 both were raised from the dead (Joseph figuratively); # 11 in each case brothers conspired to slay him - Matt. 26:2-3; # 12 both reconciled their brothers and exalted them; #13 both descended into a pit (grave) Ps. 16:10. Examination: I. A Family Stressed by Unhealthy Attitudes (1-4) A. Unhealthy Attitudes of Israel Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons... (3) We can understand that Joseph held a special place in Israel s heart; Rachel was Israel s favorite wife and Joseph was Rachel s older son. The fact that he was second youngest, probably meant that Israel was able to enjoy his company more while Joseph s older brothers worked in the fields. Feelings of favoritism sometimes cannot be helped; however, displays of favoritism should be avoided. Israel should have learned the pitfalls of favoritism from his own family experience. HCSB, p.70: 37:2-4 The family records of Jacob, which extend through the end of the book, constitute the eleventh and last of the (hb) toledoth sections in Genesis. The account begins with a description of 17-year-old Joseph, the central human figure in this section; he is the subject more than 200 verbs within the narrative framework of the final 14 chapters of Genesis. These opening verses continue the troubled portrait of Jacob s sons begun in chapter 35, as the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher-misbehaved. Jacob s unequal treatment of his sons (cp. 25:28) aroused great jealousy, so that Joseph s brothers hated him. The robe of many colors probably marked Joseph as Jacob s chosen successor for clan leadership, especially since he 2 / 10

3 was the firstborn of Rachel, the only woman Jacob ever intended to marry. 1. Displaying favoritism with a confidence he brought a bad report about them to their father (2) The text does not condemn this as bad; however, in context, we can see how it contributed to ill will among the brothers. The impression is that Israel allowed Joseph the privilege of tattling on his brothers. 2. Displaying favoritism with a gift he made a robe of many colors for him (3) Giving anything to one child and not another is a recipe for envy and jealousy. In this case, the gift was meant to be worn and displayed as a badge of favoritism. B. Unhealthy Attitudes of the Brothers They hated him (4) Israel was wrong in showing favoritism; Joseph was wrong in flaunting the favoritism. Yet, the brothers must assume full responsibility for their wrong attitudes. We can choose to react to the wrong actions of others with either acceptance or anger. 1. Displaying Jealousy When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him (4) Circumstances will always have the potential to upset us; they will make us bitter or better. Jealousy and envy result from comparing our security and significance to others rather than resting them in Christ. 2. Displaying Anger and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him (4) Ephesians 4:29 says Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. Sometimes the most loving thing a person can say is nothing at all! Joseph got himself in trouble with his mouth (8); now the brothers displayed their anger through their words. 3. Displaying Envy his brothers were jealous of him (11) - Here is the root of all the anger and bitterness. The brothers let their emotions control them rather than controlling their own emotions. Unhealthy attitudes in a family are usually carried down from generation to generation. Favoritism, anger and hate were seen in Israel s family of origin; now they are displayed in his sons. Being a new creation in Christ certainly includes breaking the cycle of bad attitudes and setting a Christ-like example for our children. 3 / 10

4 4. It should be noted that our unhealthy attitudes can have a direct effect on our ability to commune with God (cf. I. Peter 3:7). Although Israel kept the matter in mind (11) realizing that it could be a revelation from God, the brothers were oblivious to any spiritual message. Later in Egypt, this insensitivity would come back to haunt them. II. Rule over Us? (5-11) 6 Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, Listen to this dream I had: 7 There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf. 8 Are you really going to reign over us? his brothers asked him. Are you really going to rule us? So, they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. Look, he said, I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and 11 stars were bowing down to me. 10 He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him. What kind of dream is this that you have had? he said. Are your mother and brothers and I going to come and bow down to the ground before you? 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (5-11). A. Unsettling Dreams of Joseph HCSB, p. 70, 37:5-11 Like his father Jacob (28:12-15; 31:10-13), Joseph received two dreams from God during his lifetime. Both portrayed Joseph as gaining a position of supremacy in his family, though the symbols differed greatly. The first dream used an aagricultural image (v. 7). The second, more important and wider in scope than the first, was astronomical (vv. 9-10). The pairing of dreams with a shared meaning meant that God would certainly make the event happen (41:32). Ancient interpreters suggested that the moon signified Bilhah since Joseph s mother Rachel was dead at this time (35:19). B. Unhealthy Attitudes of Joseph Listen to this dream I had (6, c.f. 9) Generally speaking, Joseph is regarded as a type of Christ; little bad is written of him. One could argue 4 / 10

5 that even in this passage, Joseph is simply telling the truth, even being prophetic. However, as applied to family tensions, we can certainly see some things to avoid. 1. Displaying self-centeredness in conversation - Paul exhorts us to give preference to one another (Rom. 12:10). We might contrast Joseph s eagerness to share his dreams with the pondering in her heart that was the reaction to a supernatural revelation by Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 2:19). Family members generally do not react well to a relative who talks only about him or herself. 2. Displaying self-centeredness in actions - Joseph must have been very aware of the jealousy and hatred that his brothers had for him. We read that they could not speak peaceably to him (4) In light of this tension, it seems to be very insensitive of Joseph to share the dreams (not just once but twice!) and then to wear the coat of many colors in front of his brothers (22). Joseph seemed to care for no one else s feelings, not even those of his father (10). This dream was literally fulfilled in Egypt; for a figurative fulfillment see Rev. 12:1. III. Target of Conspiracy (37:12-18) A. Israel s Errand Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing... (14) It s somewhat puzzling that Israel would send his favorite son into such a dangerous environment. The last mention of such a mission resulted in a bad report (2) which caused hatred from his brothers. Now Israel specifically wanted another report bring word back to me (14) Perhaps Israel didn t understand the depth of feelings in his own family. B. Joseph s Confusion A man found him there, wandering in the field (15) Joseph s later decisiveness and world-renowned leadership are quite a contrast to this young lost boy. This should be a reminder to us all that no one should be dismissed from God s service. Give God time and opportunity to grow and develop His children. IV. What Happens to Your Dreams Now? 5 / 10

6 They said to one another, Here comes that dreamer! 20 Come on, let s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we ll see what becomes of his dreams! 21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, Let s not take his life. 22 Reuben also said to them, Don t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don t lay a hand on him intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. 23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. (37:19-24, cf 25-36) A. Family Feud: Ephesians 4:31 chronicles the stages of a family fight: bitterness (an attitude), anger (a set opinion), wrath (an emotion that begins to be evident to those around), shouting (public anger), slander (character assassination), and finally malice (intent to do bodily harm). Such a fight will inevitably escalate to its conclusion unless one or both parties put Ephesians 4:32 into practice: And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. 1. The Brothers Were Bitter - Jealousy and envy affected the way they looked at Joseph. Their attitudes reduced him from a brother to an object. 2. The Brothers were Angry - they hated him (14) Jealousy and envy settled into an opinion and lifestyle. 3. The Brothers were Wrathful - Anger began to be public when it affected their communication could not speak peaceably. (4) Unresolved anger is perhaps the number 1 problem in family life today. 4. The Brothers Anger became Public - they plotted to kill him (18). 6 / 10

7 5. The Brothers Slandered Look, Here comes that dreamer! (19) The final step before physical violence is to demean a person verbally so that he/she has no value. 6. The Brothers Acted with Malice Come on, let s kill him (20) The plot to kill Joseph did not occur in a day. It evolved over a period of time in which bitterness was allowed to escalate unchecked. Although the brothers argued about the mode, there was no doubt that they wanted to get rid of Joseph. Judah offers a mercenary scheme to sell Joseph into slavery, which in that day may have been a fate worse than death. A little historical irony occurs in verses 32ff. Israel the deceiver who fooled his father with skins and was fooled by Laban with veils is now fooled by his own sons with a coat! B. Evolution of a Plot (25-36) 1. Kill him (20) HCSB, p. 71, 37:18-24 Joseph s older brothers, all of whom hated him and were violent men (34:27-29) or even murderers (34:25-26), immediately plotted to kill him, calling him the lord of the dreams ( that dreamer ). Being skilled at deception as well (34:13), the brothers also concocted the lie that a vicious animal ate him. They threw him into a dry cistern designed to store water for the flocks. 2. Sell him (27) HCSB, p. 71, 37:25-28 The fact that Joseph s brothers sat down to eat a meal soon after they disposed of him reveals how brazenly sinful they were. Later Joseph would be free while the brothers were in prison (42:17). But on this day the brothers saw a caravan of Ishmaelites traveling south on the main road leading from Egypt to Damascus. Judah convinced seven of his brothers that it was more profitable to sell Joseph as a slave than to kill 7 / 10

8 him. According to 42:21, Joseph pleaded with his brothers, but to no avail. They sold him for 20 pieces of silver, the standard price for a teenage mail slave (Lv 27:5). Midianite is another designation for Ishmaelites in this narrative. Mention of the descendants of Ishmael (21:9-13) and Midian (25:1-6) call to mind the kind of sibling rivalry that is taking place here again. 3. Deceive our father (31) HCSB, p.71, 37:29-35 As the oldest of the brothers, Reuben felt responsible for Joseph s safety. He had not been present when his brothers decided to sell Joseph. He was shocked and dismayed when he discovered what had happened. In a traditional ancient Near Eastern show of grief, he tore his clothes. Jacob naturally concluded that a vicious animal had torn Joseph to pieces. Joseph had been Jacob s favorite son (v. 4), and Jacob s mother Rachel had recently died tragically. Thus, when confronted with this evidence, he refused to be comforted, expressing instead the desire to go down to Sheol -the traditional term for the place of the dead-to be with his son. 4. Joseph remains alive (36) HCSB, p. 72, 37:36 Even as Jacob mourned his son s death, Joseph-very much alive-was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, a prestigious military officer in the court of Pharaoh. Application: 8 / 10

9 1. Anger cannot be allowed to grow unchecked; 2. Favoritism breeds envy and jealousy within families; 3. Unhealthy attitudes in a family will not go away; a Divine intervention by God s Holy Spirit is needed for healing. Leader Pack Item 5: Poster: Dreams in Genesis; Item 7 Handout: Genesis Timeline; Item 10 Handout: Dreams in Genesis Biblical Illustrator p. 40 Sibling Rivalry as a Biblical Theme Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; Dates: 1/6 Lord s Supper; 1/ Daniel Fast; 1/16 Midlink Preview night; 1/19 Men:S erve Oasis; 1/22 PORCHlive every Tuesday; 1/23-5/8 Midlink on Wednesdays; 1/25 Midnight Madness in WC & Gyms; 1/27 - FBA HFBC; 1/27 Fitness Expo; 1/29 - Staff CYP Campus; 2/8 - Night to Shine/Tim Tebow Foundation; 2/8-9 9 / 10

10 - Superstart (Preteen) WC; 2/ LIFT weekend (AFC); 2/10 MIYCO; 2/ Summit trip to Israel Don Munton (TL); 2/15 - Marriage Matters; 2/24 - Parent Commitment; 3/1-2 Men s Ministry Mentoring Conference; 3/6 Midlink bonus night; 3/9-14 RUSHMORE; 3/30 Men:Serve. 10 / 10