SCRIPTURE:
2 This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.[b] 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.
Genesis 37:2-8
OBSERVATION:
Today, we begin the story of Joseph, one of the most epic stories of the Bible––one of anointing, jealousy, drama, betrayal, heartbreak, twists, turns, and most of all, redemption. This is the beginning of the story of Joseph as it is written in Genesis 37:2-8 in the New Living Translation.
2 This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.
3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.[b] 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. (Genesis 37:2-8)
Fast forward to the end of this chapter––Joseph has another dream that makes his brothers even more mad. In response to their jealousy-turned-anger-turned-hate, they ambush Joseph with the intent of leaving him in a ditch to die, but then these Ishmaelite traders from afar pass by at the most opportune moment, so they instead decide to sell him as a slave to them to make some cash for it. And what do they tell Jacob, their father? They dip Joseph’s clothes into the blood of a goat and lie to him, leading Jacob to believe that Joseph was eaten by a wild animal. And that concludes the first chapter of this epic saga. But just because it’s the beginning of the story doesn’t mean it lacks gems of wisdom.
Heed these three truths from the story of Joseph that will help ensure you don’t end up in a ditch like Joseph:
Truth 1:
God works through messed-up families.
And as we begin the story of Joseph, I want to remind you that this is more importantly the story of Jesus’ family line. This is the story of the family that God chooses to work through to save humanity and bring redemption and reconciliation to our mistakes in Eden. Don’t read Genesis as individual, isolated stories––it is one giant story that all connects the beginning of the word to Christ. From Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Joseph, and eventually, to Christ and to you. The Bible is the story of God saving humanity through a man named Jesus and Genesis is the origin story of how all this connects to Christ. Joseph results in Jesus. And Joseph’s family was messed up!
- Jacob––the father––was a deceiver who schemed to get His brother’s birthright and deceived to get His brother’s blessing.
- Joseph’s 10 other brothers were murderers who convinced the men of an entire city to get circumcised to leave them vulnerable so they could kill them all and avenge their sister’s assault
- Jacob the father clearly played favorites, creating unhealthy competition and jealousy between brothers
- Joseph, God’s anointed and completely aware of his position, thought it was okay to pompously tell his brothers and his parents that he would one day rule over them like it was everyday news
- And Joseph’s brothers seriously considered murder as a viable option to deal with their family friction and personal insecurities
Talk about messed up! But this is the family that God works through. God works through messed-up families.
Truth 2:
Favoritism disfavors you.
Your favoritism might strengthen bonds between you and the one you love, but it deteriorates ties between you and everyone else––for there are always two sides of a coin. That’s what it did with Jacob and Joseph. When Jacob gave Joseph the coat of many colors, yes, Jacob was saying “I love you” to Joseph; he was saying “I care less about you” to the others. Jacob was willing to spend money on Joseph; he was cheap with the others. Jacob singled out Joseph as important; he reduced others to an insignificant corral. The two loved each other, but everyone else around hated them. And it was this favoritism-initiated-hate that made them desire to kill
Truth 3:
Communication is Key.
Yes, Joseph was anointed. Yes, he was highly favored. And yes, he was chosen by God. God gave Joseph a dream, but he communicated that dream poorly. For what does verse 8 say? “They hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.” It wasn’t just his dreams that ticked them off––it was “the way” he talked about them. It was his communication, or rather, his lack thereof that led him into slavery. Who knows what would have happened if he communicated his dream well? All we know is that he shared the dream poorly and it was the way that he said it that led to his familial fallout. Because Joseph pridefully and tactlessly communicated his dreams, he lead himself straight into that ditch.
APPLICATION:
Like Joseph, you are chosen by God. You are anointed by Him, and naturally, others won’t like that. It’s just human nature. So what can you do to make sure you don’t lead yourself into a ditch like he did?
Life Lesson 1:
Remember God works in messed-up groups.
Overcoming human stupidity is God’s specialty. Your family, your workplace, your friend group all may be messed up, but God works through messed up people. That is one of the main takeaways not just from Joseph, but from the book of Genesis, and through the entirety of the Bible. Theologian David Guzik says it this way––“God’s word to everyone is this: Your messed-up family — past, present, or future — does not mean God has forsaken you or that some cloud has come over you that will never pass. God works in and through difficult and messed-up families.” If you live, work, or play with messed up people, remember that God is greater. He can overcome stupidity. He can overcome inefficiency. He can overcome immaturity and insecurity. Just make sure you don’t get sucked into it yourself. Rise above and let God bless you in your mess.
Life Lesson 2:
Don’t show favoritism.
As Peter says in Acts 10:34-35, “God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” Favoritism feels good in the moment but will always set you back in the future. It was Jacob’s favoritism coupled with Joseph’s fed-ego that led him into a ditch. If you are showing favoritism, stop––for it doesn’t set the one you love apart; it sets them back. And if you are receiving favoritism from someone, don’t parade it around. Joseph lost favor with man because he enjoyed his privileges publicly. Pride always goes before a fall, and you are no exception. The fruits of favoritism are not love, joy, and peace––they are jealousy, anger, and envy. Favoritism breeds hate, not love. Don’t do it. Disengage and steer clear, for favoritism feels good in the short run, but favors no one in the long run.
Life Lesson 3:
Communicate wisely.
You can be chosen by God but tactless. You can be anointed by God but immature. You can be given a vision by God but completely miss the point. Communicate wisely, because poor communication will lead you into a ditch. It was the way that Joseph communicated to his brothers that turned them away, and it is the way that you speak to people that has the potential to turn them from you. When communicating with others, how you say something is just as important as what you say. Tact, timing, wisdom, word choice––it all matters because communication is not just content––it’s clarity. When speaking with others, communicate with wisdom. Consider
- What am I communicating? Is it good or bad. Will it be received well or poorly? Do they want to hear it or do they not?
- Who is my audience? Do I know them or do I not? Do I have a relationship with them or am I distant from them? Do I have their trust or do I have their spite?
- What position should I communicate from? Am I speaking from a place of authority above them? Am I a peer or equal who is beside them? Or am I a humble servant who approaches from below them?
The words you use, the tone you choose, the way you speak to them, and even the clothes you wear all communicate something to them. Communicate wisely. And most importantly, if you are communicating a conviction from God, ask God first if He even wants you to say something.
Because in this passage, does God ever tell Joseph that He wants Him to share that vision with others at any time? All we know is that God didn’t say to share it. Which leads us to the possibility Joseph shared a vision to others that was meant for himself. Just because God gives you a prophetic vision or revelation or clarity doesn’t mean it’s for others to know. Sometimes, it’s just for you. And it’s when we take God’s personal gift and flaunt it to the world that leads us right into a ditch. Don’t just communicate wisely––ask God is this something you even want me to share. And if it’s not, then keep it to yourself.
Like Joseph, you are chosen, anointed, and appointed, and that comes with great responsibility. Misusing that spiritual authority for personal gain will cause you to lead yourself right into a ditch. But you are starting strong. You will learn from Joseph’s mistakes and:
- Remember God works in messed-up groups––for overcoming human stupidity is God’s specialty.
- Don’t show favoritism––for favoritism doesn’t set you apart; it sets you back.
- Communicate wisely––for it’s not just what you say that matters, but how and WHETHER God wants you to say it that’s just as important.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for teaching us from the life of Joseph. We repent for the times we have let our pride, immaturity, and brokenness lead ourselves into a ditch. We ask for Your forgiveness, and we thank You for saving us time and time again. Help us to not make Joseph’s mistakes and to rise above life’s challenges. We love You, Lord. Thank You for loving us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
