Forgive me for for going over what you have read in earlier chapters, but background may help us to understand what follows. We first encounter Joseph at his birth in Genesis 30:24. You can read that previously Jacob had been tricked by his uncle Laban into marrying Leah after he had worked for seven years to obtain Rachel. He had to work a further seven years for Rachel whom he loved. So, he had two wives, one he loved more than the other, and inevitably the competition was fierce. Leah had children but Rachel did not. Leah had four sons and then stopped bearing children. Rachel pleaded with Jacob for children, in fact at one point 30:1 she cried, “Give me children or I die.” Jacob was angry with her and replied, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” She then gave him her handmaid Bilhah as wife, and she bore Jacob two more sons. Not to be outdone, Leah gave him her handmaid Zilpah and she bore two sons. What a complicated, dysfunctional family we have here, but it doesn’t stop there. Because of a fairly petty argument, Jacob lies with Leah again and, wonder of wonders she bears a fifth son, and then a sixth son, and later a daughter.
We then have an amazing statement in v22-24, “Then God remembered Rachel and listened to her and opened her womb and she conceived and bore a son” and she named him Joseph saying, “The LORD shall add to me another son”. That is one of those imponderable statements – I don’t believe that God ever forgot Rachel, but maybe, that’s a way for us to think about it. God does not forget like we do, the only thing He chooses not to remember are our sins when we repent and confess them to Him. Much later recorded in chapter 35:16 Rachel gave birth to another son, she called him Ben-Oni “Son of my sorrow” she had a difficult birth and, in fact, after the birth Rachel died, and Jacob called the boy Benjamin “Son of my right hand.” In total Jacob has twelve sons and one daughter.
In those chapters 30 to 35 we see what a terrible mess ensued in this family. You might think you have got problems! Rivalry, favouritism, envy, sexual sins, uncontrolled desires, lack of self-control, sin, lack of trust in God show themselves and inevitably lead to family feuds and breakdowns, as well as sinful behaviour. What a way to start and what a family to be brought up in? Little wonder that awful things ensued. You might think you have never had a chance because of your family upbringing and lots of children go on the wrong path as a result, but there is a ray of hope! This was truly a dysfunctional family.
Jacob, the father of Joseph, was not always careful in his relationships and this showed up in the behaviour of his sons Reuben (35v22) and Judah (38) to name but two. But we see also that a child who trusts in The LORD can be different – Joseph (39v2) “The LORD was with him.” That statement makes all the difference.
So, we discover Joseph in Ch 37. He is now 17years old and was feeding the flock together with Dan & Naphtali, and Gad & Asher. It is interesting that Joseph is with his four half-brothers born of surrogate mothers – all four born out of their rivalry “Anything you can do; l can do better- syndrome”.
Attitudes are so important in families and also in a church. “Love envies not …… “ (1 Corinthians 13).
Lesson: Let each of us drive out the critical spirit and unloving attitude – look on others greater than ourselves. And let us be full of grace. The lack of it will drive us apart.
The fact that Joseph is with these four could be open to interpretation. Maybe the sons of Leah considered themselves aloof from the sons of the two maids, and Joseph, son of Rachel, too maybe was counted as amongst the low. Our upbringing doesn’t matter to God when it comes to what He can do with and through us. Class and status don’t hold anything with God. A life surrendered to Him is beyond anything that man can supply or dream of.
God was working in Joseph’s life despite his failures and despite the difficult and confusing family background. Maybe Jacob in his older years was a changed man; after all, God changed his name from ‘deceiver’ to ‘a prince with God.’
Some Bible Commentators differ – but it appears to me that to some extent Joseph was a little horror. Many would say he was right to tell tales of his brothers because they were up to no good and it is often right to expose evil in an effort to weed it out and put it right and l would fully agree with that proposition.
Some say Joseph is a ‘type’ of Jesus – by that they mean an early example, a forerunner to give the people of God a glimpse as to what the Messiah would be and do. Now that may be true. But I am always wary about types/typology and going too far, because all these men, Jesus apart, were sinners. And one can only go so far with a ‘type’ – After all, the Bible says, “We have the mind of Christ“, but it does not mean that we never make a mistake, and our minds are always pure.
The Bible says we should grow more and more like Jesus as He lives in us, but it is only when we reach Glory that we shall be absolutely like Him – perfect!
If by ‘type’ they mean that Joseph’s life displays many similarities to that of Jesus, I agree.
• being sold for pieces of silver
• being rejected
• becoming their rescuer, e.g.
But, unlike Jesus, Joseph was a sinful human being like you and me.
Joseph’s life shows what a life committed to God can be despite our disadvantages and failures. How God can change lives is evident in Joseph.
No-one can fully fill the picture of Christ Jesus. The Bible gives us the life stories of these people warts and all.
Many have said and written that Joseph was very spiritual and correct in all he did and acted and spoke. However, the context of the early verses of chapter 37 come across to me (as I’ve read it and prayed over it) as different: – When l read – “He told tales of his half-brothers” (37:1). He was spoiled! – 37:3 “lsrael (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colours” (or with long sleeves) indicating he was the heir, even though he was the next youngest. He was the object of his father’s favouritism. “As a result, his brothers hated him and showed it by the way they spoke to him. They could not speak peaceably to him.” (37:4)
Lesson: Beware of spoiling your children, especially, beware of favouritism. One would have thought Jacob would have learned this lesson having been a favourite himself and known what trouble that brought. It always leads to jealousy, envy, pride, hatred and even wars and fighting. Surely Jacob knew that his favouritism of Joseph caused great problems in the family, sadly he seems oblivious to it. We know that the first love of his life was Rachel and when she died giving birth to Benjamin, I guess that her first son Joseph reminded him of her constantly, but it caused huge problems in the family.
Not only did Joseph tell tales and was spoiled – but it did also not stop there because he was tactless and insensitive enough not to realise that he was the cause of the trouble and strife between them. He dreamed dreams and told them of his dreams, which, as a result – “they hated him the more” (37:5). Little wonder really when you hear what those dreams were like (v7, 9) Even his father was not very happy at the second dream (v10, 11). They brought out envy from his brothers and a rebuke from his father.
It is interesting, however, that these dreams were not idle fancies, whilst at the time they may seem to have been, because these dreams actually came true. These dreams were from God. I don’t know whether Joseph knew that at the time, I guess not, but even if he did, he seemed oblivious to their envy and hatred (v9) for (v10) “He dreamed another dream and told it to them”, and as a result his father (at last) rebuked him.
Now whether this rebuke was ‘a telling off’ or whether it was disbelief- “Shall l and your mother and your brothers bow down to you?” I do not know. But perhaps it was the first rebuke he had received from his father. However, his father gave it some thought (v11).
We might say that he could have dealt with his dreams differently – he could have said, ‘Look guys I’ve had this dream, I don’t know what it means’. Maybe that would have been more tactful. I don’t know and be it far from me to suggest such things. It may have helped to keep the peace.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS WISE TO TELL OTHERS GOD’S PRIVATE MESSAGE TO YOU (casting pearls before swine). IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU A GIFT — WAIT HIS TIMING – HE WILL USE IT IF IT IS FIRST SURRENDERED TO HIM.
Whether or not his father kept Joseph at home deliberately is not clear, but he certainly did not go to feed the flock from about this time (v12). Maybe Jacob had become wise to the fact that Joseph’s behaviour was not conducive to good relations with his brothers. However, there came an occasion when Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were getting on. One wonders why he thought sending Joseph alone to see how his brothers were faring when he knew how they treated him. This act meant that he would not see Joseph again for over twenty years.
Hebron to Shechem was approx. 60 miles north, Dothan about 10/15 miles further north. v18 Sure enough, when they saw him in the distance – they conspired against him to slay him. “Behold the dreamer comes” (v19) – they obviously treated him with utter disdain. v20 They really hated him – and they were ruthless – “…slay him, cast him into some pit, and tell our father an evil beast has killed him, then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.” Their very words show their contempt – kill him – throw him into some pit, etc. and then tell father he got killed by a wild animal – when, as shepherds they would, or should, be quite adept at dealing with wild animals that came to attack the sheep. v21 Reuben was present on this occasion – maybe they worked in shifts, v2 seems to indicate that. But I would think that being 60 miles away all would go on this outing except we are certain that Joseph did not. Maybe Jacob kept him at home for a cooling off period because of his dreams. Reuben did not want to go along with this terrible plan – v22 “Shed no blood but cast him into this pit…” “That he might deliver him to his father again.” He would not be popular with his brothers if he did that, but he was prepared to do it, prepared to stick his neck out so far …. but not altogether.
How far are we prepared to go for right – even Reuben was scheming dishonestly in an effort to do the right? Do we come straight with the fact that sin is sin, or do we cover it and hope that we can bring the best out of it – it doesn’t work!
Why didn’t he come straight out with it – “it is wrong” his dithering led to the loss of Joseph when he could have been a man? Maybe he was afraid, but nevertheless they did as he suggested (v24). His authority as the eldest was adhered to and, at first, respected.
Now I know that God was at work in all of this as we read from Joseph’s own words later (45:5-8; 50:19,20) but we are not robots, and I don’t believe that God specifically purposed every move of every person although He knew and planned the end from the beginning. God in His foreknowledge was aware of it all. It would take away free will – become fatalistic rather than trusting in God’s Sovereign Will and authority. It could also mean that God does evil things! Which He does not. God does bring good out of evil – that could give the impression that God acquiesces evil, but good can come despite evil. The important thing to remember is that God was with Joseph, we read that several times. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. To this end many in prison have said to me that it was God’s will that they came into prison because they have found Christ there. For the same reason, namely that God planned them to do evil, I don’t agree. Having said that, there is little doubt that when the sentence was passed, God was at work seeking the lost as He always is and when men and women go to prison there can be a tremendous opportunity to reach them with the Gospel.
lf God doesn’t use you, He will use someone else and knows in advance that you won’t and who that someone else will be.
Many may not agree with the following. Does God know the final picture and plan the result, or does He shape every piece? Difficult question to answer – it must be ‘yes’ to both, but at the same time He does not take away our free will. We are free to say ‘No’ and face the consequences. God in His mercy, grace and love wants to mould us to His will, but He will bring the end to pass despite us.
Back to Reuben – are we like him? — do we go ‘all around the houses’ in our witness or are we brave enough to be ready to say what we believe?
Reuben obviously leaves at some stage because whilst he is absent a turn of events overtakes him v23. When Joseph arrived, they removed his special coat, took him, and threw him into a dry pit – we are specifically told that the pit was empty and no water in it. I suppose if there had been water in it he may have drowned. And whilst he was in there – no doubt wondering what on earth was going on and pleading with them for his release, those heartless brothers sat down to eat- whilst Joseph was parched in a dry pit. Their hatred and uncaring, heartless attitude goes even to the point that they sat down to eat their lunch (37:25), probably food that Joseph had brought for them while Joseph was in the bottom of a dry pit.
Was Joseph sat quietly in the pit or was he pleading for release? Apparently, he was. The late Derick Bingham said, ‘As Joseph lay in the pit, I’m quite sure he didn’t shout, “Praise the LORD, don’t you fellows know I am to be the Governor of Egypt and free you one day from death and starvation! This pit is marvellous because it is the actual highway of God’s guidance for me.”’
Well wouldn’t you plead for your release. How do we know he pleaded? Ch. 42v21 tells us he did. Much later in the story, when his brothers appear before Joseph in Egypt and after he tells them who he is they are almost destroyed by guilt — “We are guilty for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us and we would not hear. Therefore, his distress has come upon us.”
v25 A company of Ishmaelite traders passed by travelling from Gilead to sell their wares in Egypt.
Ishmaelite — descendants of the same forefather Abraham, their great grandfather. Ishmael was the son of Abraham by Hagar, Sarah’s servant when Abraham and Sarah tried to fulfil God’s promise of a seed when they thought it was impossible because she was old and barren, they tried to give God a helping hand. But the promise was not to Ishmael but to Isaac who was born later as God had promised.
Now Isaac’s grandson, Joseph, is sold to the descendants of Ishmael (Ishmael became the father of the Arabs who are for ever a thorn in Israel’s side). I wonder if these traders knew these men who were selling them a slave, one of their own family?
v26 Judah steps in and suggested selling Joseph – no profit in killing him and concealing our guilt for his blood, disposing of his body etc. “Let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh” (v27) Sudden attack of care for his brother! Or was it a case of “We might as well make some money out of this”. The other brothers were happy with this. v28 Now Midianites – seems to be interchangeable with Ishmaelite — no problem with this as this was a common interchange — Midian also was a son of Abraham- Genesis 16:16 Ishmael born to Hagar; Genesis 25:1,2 Midian born to Keturah, one of Abraham’s wives.
They sold him for 20 pieces of silver (v28). Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. (v36)
v29 Reuben returns to the pit to find, to his horror that Joseph has gone — he rent his clothes, and he went to his brothers and asked where Joseph was – “… and I, whither shall I go?” What does he mean? – ‘Where shall I look for him’?’ ‘Can I go home without him?’ He did (v22) intend to deliver him to his father after rescuing him from the pit. After all He was the oldest and, therefore, responsible for him. They ignore his concern.
His brothers took Joseph’s coat and dipped it in the blood of a kid which they killed. (v31) They lied to their father that they had found the coat (v32). Note that they ask, “Is it your son’s coat?” not ‘our brother’s coat’ or ‘Joseph’s coat.’ They didn’t want to be classed as his brother – again their hatred and disdain for him is evident.
v33 Jacob knew whose coat it was and immediately jumped to the conclusion, “An evil beast has devoured him, Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. “ He rent his clothes, put on sackcloth (the apparel of mourning) and mourned many days (v34). They never corrected him in his surmising – it is apparent that they never got to telling him what they planned to say – they even tried to comfort him (v35) – all his children. It seems that they probably never told him until they had to tell him much later that Joseph was alive. The deceiver of Isaac and Esau is now deceived by his own sons.
Their callousness is glaringly evident. They hadn’t cared for Joseph and now they don’t care for their father. They let him mourn, even to the point of him saying that he would mourn for him all his days. They let him wallow in his grief, his heart was broken, and they couldn’t care less. They had got what they wanted, or so they thought!
LESSON – How we need more love in our families, and particularly in God’s family, less critical, less hypocrisy. We can often be as two-faced as these brothers were – knowing the truth but putting on a face.
