Genesis 37:1–11 (ESV)
Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
This is where the story of Genesis slows down and zooms in on Joseph, Jacob’s beloved son. He’s only seventeen, just a boy really, but the family drama around him is already fierce. We’re told plainly that Jacob loved him more than the others, and he even gave him that famous robe. You can picture the scene: Joseph is there strutting around in his coat while his brothers are covered in dust from their hard work in the fields. No wonder they hated him. But it is about to get worse, because Joseph also has those famous dreams.
First he dreams about sheaves of wheat, then about the sun, moon, and stars bowing down. The meaning is clear enough that even his brothers can see it: Joseph is destined to rule over them. But like any siblings they don’t like this at all. Joseph and his dreams, and let’s face it, his loud mouth causes their hatred for Joseph to deepen. Now to his credit Jacob his father rebukes him outwardly, but quietly keeps these dreams and their meaning in the back of his mind.
I find this story so interesting because even here in the middle of the family drama that, frankly most of us suffer in some shape or form, still God is already at work. He is setting in motion the very plan that will save Jacob’s family, through this brat of a boy Joseph. Sure Joseph doesn’t know yet exactly how much his dreams will cost him. His brothers don’t know yet how far their jealousy will drive them. But God is moving in the background and even this family squabble won’t overrule his plan.
And that’s often how God works. God does not wait until we have our act together before he works. He works in the mess, in the favoritism of parents, in the jealousy of siblings, in the pride of youth. In fact it is often the mess itself that God uses to grow us, shape us, and work out his will.
At the same time this passage names two temptations we face. First, the temptation to envy. Joseph’s brothers looked at him and burned with jealousy. This is because of the sin of their father’s favouritism, but they still envied. Envy makes us unable to be happy for the gifts God gives to others. Second, the temptation to pride. Joseph, for all his innocence, didn’t hesitate to parade his dreams in front of his brothers. Pride blinds us to how our words and actions affect others.
But even failing in both these temptations as they do in this passage, there is a deeper truth for us to be encouraged with. God’s promises and his plan is greater than our failures in these areas. God’s promises don’t break because of our sin. We see that most clearly in Jesus, who is the truest beloved Son, who was hated and rejected by his brothers, and yet God used those sins to bring about our salvation. Truly how great is our God!
Prayer
Father, thank you that your plans are stronger than our sins. Forgive us for our envy and our pride. Teach us to rejoice in the gifts you give to others and to walk humbly with the gifts you give us. Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, your beloved Son, who was rejected for us and raised to reign for us. In His name we pray. Amen.