A Coat Of Many Colors Genesis 37:1-36 Message by Michael J. Barnard September 3, 2017 Teaching Aim: To examine the early life of Joseph and see why his brothers hated him enough to sell him into slavery. To explore the providence of God and see how the biblical doctrine of concurrence was working in the story of Joseph. To realize God would use the evil intent of Joseph s brothers to bring about salvation of the Hebrew people. DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Joseph is given a coat of many colors and two revealing dreams (Gen. 37:1-11) 1. As we join Genesis 37, Joseph has returned from Haran to the land promised by God to his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham (vs. 1). What country is this land located in today? 2. How old was Joseph as the events of Genesis chapter 37 unfolded (vs. 2)? What was Joseph s profession at the time? The sons of Bilhah (the handmaiden of Rachel) were Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah (the handmaiden of Leah) were Gad and Asher. What kind of report did Joseph share with his father about the activities of the handmaiden s sons. Do we know what they were doing? 3. Israel was the new name for Jacob (whose name meant supplanter or deceiver ). Israel means, he who wrestled with man and with God and has overcome. What can we learn about Jacob from verse 3? What special act did Israel (or Jacob) do for his favorite son Joseph? What did this garment signify? 4. What did Joseph s brothers determine from the gift given in verse 4 and the events in Gen. 33:1-3? How did this affect them? How does parental favoritism affect families today? 1
5. God spoke to Joseph through dreams, how did Joseph s brothers respond to his dream when it was revealed to them (vs. 5)? What was symbolized by each item revealed to Joseph in his dream (vv. 6 & 7)? Did Joseph s brothers clearly understand the meaning of the dream (vs. 8)? How did it make them feel? According to Deut. 33:16 and 1 Chron. 5:1-2, was Joseph s dream accurate? 6. In verse 9, God revealed yet another truth to Joseph in a second dream. What was it? Who were the sun and moon symbolic of? What about the eleven stars? (See Commentaries) If Joseph s mother Rachel was already dead, who is the moon symbolic of? (See Gen. 35:19-20) 7. How did Jacob respond when Joseph shared this latest dream with him (vs. 10)? Why? According to verse 11, why were Joseph s brothers jealous of him? How did Jacob s attitude change the more he thought about the revelation? Part II: Joseph is seized by his brothers and sold into slavery (Gen. 37:12-28) 1. In verse 12 the brothers of Joseph had moved their father s flock 50 miles north of Hebron to Shechem. This is a strange location since Simeon and Levi had earlier killed several people in Shechem because of the rape of their sister Dinah. (See Gen. 34:25-31) Why do you think they went back to an area where they were despised when there was good grazing grounds near Hebron? Is it possible they were getting into trouble again? 2. Does it appear from verse 13 that Jacob was concerned there might be trouble in Shechem? What did Jacob do in response to his concern (vv. 13 & 14)? 3. Upon arriving at Shechem, Joseph apparently gave the appearance of being lost. How do we know this (vv. 15 & 16)? Did the man know the whereabouts of Joseph s brothers (vs. 17)? What other Bible story took place at Dothan? (See 2 Kings 6:16-17) 2
4. As Joseph approached his brothers, how long did it take for them to recognize him (vs. 18)? Why? Why was the coat of many colors such an agitation to Joseph s brothers? 5. What title did the brothers label Joseph with in verse 19? This label can also mean the master of dreams or the dream expert. Of course, they were mocking him. According to verse 20, how deep was the brother s hatred for Joseph? Why did his brothers want to kill him? 6. Which brother tried to protect Joseph (vs. 21)? What alternate plan did he come up with (vs. 22)? As the firstborn son, Reuban stood to lose the most if Joseph remained alive. Why do you think he tried so hard to keep him alive and bring him back to his father? (See Gen. 35:21-22) According to Gen. 49:3-4, did Jacob ever forgive Reuban for wronging him? 7. What was the first thing Joseph s brothers stripped him of (vs. 23)? Why? What did the brothers do next (vs. 24)? Would Joseph have died if left there? 8. How calloused were Joseph s brothers according to verse 25? Who was passing by from Gilead as they ate? Was this simply by chance, or did this event take place by the providence of God? Who were the Ishmaelites and why were they traveling to Egypt? 9. Which brother devised a plan to make a profit from Joseph (vs. 26)? Did this brother come up with his plan out of mercy or because of greed? Note: The brothers didn t want to bear the guilt of Joseph s death, so they decided to let the Egyptians do it for them. 3
10. What was Judah s plan (vs. 27)? Why? Midianites is another name used interchangeably with Ishmaelites, apparently these two groups had intermixed and become an alliance (vs. 28). Who fathered these two groups? (See commentaries) Who were their mothers? 11. What made this act of human trafficking especially appalling? According to Gen. 42:21, how did Joseph respond as his brother worked out a deal with his relatives to sell him into slavery? What would Joseph s final destination be? Why would this strike fear in his heart? Part III: Joseph s brother s evil plan to deceive their father Jacob (Gen. 37:29-36) 1. Was Reuban part of this decision-making process (vs. 29)? What was Reuben s response in verses 29 & 30? Why would he be held responsible by his father? (See Commentaries) 2. The brothers now come up with a plan, this time with Reuben s participation (vs. 31)? How would the brothers explain the absence of Joseph to Jacob? Who was deceived in a similar way by Jacob? (See Gen. 27:15-16) How does the saying, What goes around comes around apply to this story? 3. How trustworthy were Jacob s sons according to Gen. 27:15-16? How is the saying, Like father, like son true in verses 32-33? 4. How did Jacob respond to the report of Joseph s death (vs. 34)? Place yourself in Jacob s sandals, how would you have felt if you received news like this about your child? Jacob takes the bait hook line and sinker, for the next 20 years he regretted every day sending Joseph out to find his brothers. In Jacob s mind, Joseph was dead! 4
5. Were the brothers of Joseph repentant for what they had done (vs. 35)? Of the daughters of Jacob, who is the only daughter mentioned by name in the Bible? (See Gen. 34:1) How did Jacob respond to the insincere attempts of his children to comfort him? 6. What is a dysfunctional family? What are some ways that Jacob s family was dysfunctional? 7. Upon arriving in Egypt, who did the Mideanites sell Joseph to (vs. 36)? Was the sale by chance or by the providence of God? Why do you think bad things happen to good people? How has God turned difficult situations around in your life for good? MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! Being godly is no guarantee that we won t have to go through difficulties in life! Being godly does guarantee us that God will walk with us through those difficulties! God keeps His promises and is at work behind the scenes! Joseph didn t understand what was happening to him at the time, but he would later! Joseph remained honest and faithful to God right to the very end! What goes around comes around, that was definitely the case with Jacob! God in His providence works out all things for the good of those who love Him! Joseph went from the pit to the throne in just a few short years; to the glory of God! 5