Joseph, A Man of God Genesis 37 I. Introduction and review A. In our last encounter with Jacob and his family they had moved to Hebron 1. There they had buried Isaac 2. Esau had moved away into the area east and south of the Dead Sea 3. And now Jacob and his family will grow to second, third and fourth generations 4. The oldest son Reuben is about 24 5. His youngest son Benjamin would be a toddler 6. And Joseph, the oldest son of Rachel, who passed away giving birth to Benjamin is 17 B. Jacob s family is divided into three parts 1. The sons of Leah(who is still alive): Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun 2. The sons of his concubines: Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher 3. And the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin 4. In and amongst this family there had always been fighting, competition, negotiations and jockeying for position [e.g. trading mandrakes for the right to sleep with the husband] 5. At this point in the story, the biggest concern of these three groups is who is to be the most favored and who will inherit from Jacob the birthright and the blessing Page 1 of 8
6. As we consider the setting, we learn that Joseph s home was anything but a place of shelter and comradery a. It was storm center of factions and agendas b. His mother died when he was a teen c. But for as long as he knew his mother, his home was made up of two wives, two concubines, four mothers, eleven sons and one daughter, and then at the end, a baby boy was added d. Throughout this home there was jealousy, strife, anger, lust, deceit, competition and secrecy C. Jacob, treated his sons just as he had his wives, he showed great favoritism 1. It became abundantly clear to all who was the favorite son 2. So I want us to pose a question: how easy is it for the favorite son or daughter to grow up well grounded and a godly person? 3. Now a second question: how does one grow up and become a godly person while young? a. Godly parents sometimes produce very ungodly children b. But can one have a very godly child without godly parents? c. Unless there is intervention of a godly person, such as Eli with Samuel, I don t believe so. D. When you compare the amount of time that is spent in the Book of Genesis recounting the story of Joseph, its really quite surprising 1. There are more pages spent on Joseph than on Adam, Noah, or Abraham 2. Clearly the writer of Genesis, that is Moses, wants to acquaint the nation Page 2 of 8
of Israel to the story of Joseph and his coming to Egypt more than anything else 3. Joseph s story begins when he is 17 and ends when he is 110 4. Joseph is a man who responds to broken dreams and impossible circumstances, with a faith that we have not seen as of yet in the Scriptures, especially at such a young age E. Reconsidering where we are, some might say that studying these old testament stories and writings is a waist of time, and that we should be spending the majority of our time in the meat of the New Testament 1. Consider Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 2. 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. II. The story of Joseph [Gen. 37] A. The story starts in and around the town of Hebron, where Isaac had been dwelling B. The Scriptural record starts with the phrase: These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Page 3 of 8
1. hd'l.at towledah {to-led-aw'} or hd'l.to toledah {to-led-aw'} Meaning: descendants, results, proceedings, generations, genealogies 2. The NKJV translates it history of C. Joseph is helping to shepherd the sheep of his father along with the sons of the concubines 1. Joseph brings back a bad report to his father 2. Many believe that this report was about the sons of the concubines 3. Others believe that it may be information he learned from these brothers about his other brothers, the sons of Leah 4. hb'di dibbah Meaning: whispering, defamation, evil report 5. It could possibly mean that the report was bad because it wasn t true 6. Whatever the case, it causes his brothers to hate him a. anef' sane' {saw-nay'} Meaning: 1) to hate, be hateful D. The brothers also recognize that there father loves Joseph more than them and that intensifies their hatred of him 1. An outward sign of his father s favoritism was the infamous coat of many colors a. In the Hebrew is is referred to as a tn<tok. kethoneth {keth-o'-neth} or tn<toku kuttoneth {koot-to'-neth} Meaning: 1) tunic, under-garment 1a) a long shirt-like garment Page 4 of 8
usually of linen b. sp; pac {pas} Meaning: 1) flat (of the hand or foot), palm, sole 1a) of the tunic reaching to palms and soles (fig.) c. This tunic or coat was unusually and could be distinguished at a great distance 2. This favoritism made the family situation so bad that they could not even speak peaceably E. In the midst of this, God gave Joseph two dreams 1. Did these dreams cause the rest of the family to dislike Joseph even more? 2. Why would God do that? 3. Do they indicate a special relationship between Joseph and God? 4. The first dream was of the sheaves which pictured Joseph and his brothers 5. It pictured his brothers bowing down to him a. What kind of response do you think that evoked among the family 6. Then hr reported a second dream, a. This one included his father and Leah b. Imagine the conversations between Leah and her boys c. This involved the whole family bowing down to him d. His father, although outwardly put out with Joseph, kept this reported dream in his heart e. Leah probably became aware of his response to the dream f. These dreams are not mentioned again in Genesis or else where in Page 5 of 8
the Old Testament, nor in the New Testament, until you get to Revelation 12 (1) who does this woman represent Israel (2) Joseph s dream provided the tie in to this description 7. How did Joseph relate these dreams to his family a. Was he aware of the situation with his brothers they hated him b. He told these dreams in a way that was either arrogant or inconsiderate gloating, c. Either way his actions and choices showed little tact or understanding III. Some lesson we can glean from this passage A. No family is exempt from adversity 1. We all have to deal with adversity and family conflict 2. We look back and wish we hadn t done so things we did, 3. But we also know that we can never go back and undo them B. No enemy is more subtle than passivity 1. Many passive parents avoid conflicts until one day they explode in anger 2. Children are pushed toward anger, jealousy hatred and resentment 3. Or it may be that that passivity leads the parent to avoid discipline at all costs 4. The consequences are equally dire 5. Consider the passivity that Jacob showed a. Dinah got raped and what did Jacob do nothing Page 6 of 8
(1) When his sons retaliated (2) he was angry with them (3) and gravely concerned about their safety living in the land, but no concern shown towards Dinah b. When his oldest son sleep with one of his concubines, what did he do nothing c. There is this foment brewing in his home, what does he do stoke the fires C. No relational response is more cruel than that of jealousy or envy [Song of Sol. 8:6] 1. Consider these two a. Jealousy jealous resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, or against another's success or advantage itself. [Father s favorite] b. Envy a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, possessions, or the like [the tunic] 2. Jealousy uproots family harmony and unity 3. Jealousy and envy are sins which poison a persons heart and lead to: a. Slander and unwarranted criticism b. Hatred and maleviolence c. Sexual sin, d. Cruelty e. Murder Page 7 of 8
4. And causes disaster in future generations Page 8 of 8