A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
The Dreamer (Genesis 37:1-50; 26) Though the Book of Genesis records the lives of several great men, none is described more completely than Joseph. Because he was one of the youngest sons of Jacob, the firstborn by Rachel, he was the favorite of his father. But favoritism creates unique problems. Joseph had ten older brothers who resented the special relationship that existed between Jacob and Joseph, and it resulted in their selling him into slavery. In the course of his life, Joseph was an honored son, a common slave, a trusted prisoner, and a leading minister in the government of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Joseph was a man with a special ability to interpret dreams. This ability manifested itself early in life. But it also aggravated an already tense situation in his own family. His ability to interpret dreams was not only a factor in his being sold as a slave in Egypt, it was the primary factor in his eventual exaltation as the prime minister of that land. Throughout his widely varied experiences of life, Joseph discovered God was faithful in accomplishing His purpose in the world through Joseph. Despite the unfortunate experiences of his life, a key phrase from the mouth of Joseph explains, “God meant it for good” (50:20). But perhaps the most unique feature of Joseph’s life is the quality of his life itself. While the Bible never makes a claim that Joseph was sinless, it is interesting to note it also never identifies sin in his life. This is one of the reasons that several commentators view him as a type of Christ. Ironically, several generations later, another “Joseph, son of Jacob” would be the adopted human father of Jesus. JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY IN CANAAN (Gen. 37:1-38:30) Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, probably born within a few years prior to the family’s departure from Haran. Though little is known about the boy’s earlier childhood, he was apparently his father’s favorite son. This attraction was probably due in a large part to the preference of Jacob to Rachel, and Joseph’s similarity in appearance to his mother. The Hebrew phrase yepheh-tho’ar wipheh mare’eh translated “handsome in form and appearance” (Gen. 39:6) describing the physical appearance of Joseph is only used of one other person in Genesis, his mother Rachel (cf. 29:17). Because of the great love he had for this “son of his old age,” Jacob made him a special garment. The Hebrew words kethoneth passim translated “a tunic of many colors” (Gen. 37:3) literally refers to a long-sleeved garment, or a coat of many pieces. The coat is significant as the garment of the heir. His brothers would have worn sleeveless garments as sleeves interfered with their responsibilities in the field. A long-sleeved garment signified Jacob was exempting Joseph from the usual work of a son in the field and also designated him as the heir of the household. His brothers were understandably negative. In selecting Joseph for this honor, Jacob rejected his ten older sons who would generally have had a prior claim. There is some evidence the boys may have already been involved in the domestic dispute between the two principal wives in the family (cf. 30:14-16). The coat only aggravated the situation. There was a third factor in the dispute between Joseph and his older brothers: it was the dreams of Joseph. Joseph had related to his family that the sun and moon (Jacob and Rachel) and the eleven stars (the brothers) would bow down to him. The meaning of the dreams was
unmistakable. Someday, the rest of the family would honor Joseph and bow down before him. To his brothers who already thought the worst of Joseph, his recounting the dreams must have impressed them as little more than an expression of his arrogance. It was not long before his brothers had a new nickname for their despised brother, “this dreamer” (37:19). While the seventeen-year-old Joseph remained in the camp of his father, his brothers tended the flocks and herds. Because of the prosperity of their father, caring for the animals often meant herding them to another part of the country so as not to exhaust the area supply of feed and yet still fatten the herds and flocks. Normally, such a journey would be taken without much concern on the part of their father, but on at least one occasion, their father was concerned about their safety. Two reasons have been suggested for Jacob’s decision to send Joseph to check on his brothers at Shechem. There was a marked difference in the character of Joseph and his older brothers (cf. v. 2). Some commentators argue Jacob sent his son to learn of the evil deeds of the brothers. A more probable reason for sending Joseph was the father’s concern for their safety. It was at Shechem two of Jacob’s sons had killed all the men of the city prompting Jacob to flee the area (34:1-31). Knowing his sons had returned to the area would naturally cause him some degree of anxiety. This may also explain why the boys themselves moved on to Dothan after arriving in Shechem (37:14-17). As Joseph found and approached the camp of his brothers, they realized they had an opportunity to deal with Joseph once and for all. They conspired to kill him. Had Reuben not spoken on Joseph’s behalf, it is probable the others would have done it. Reuben convinced them to throw Joseph in a pit. He probably hoped to later rescue him. Twenty years later, the brothers were still haunted by the memories of Joseph’s anguish as he was cast into the pit (42:21). Christians are sometimes guilty of determining the will of God largely by extenuating circumstances, but sometimes circumstances can result in opportunities for evil men as well as saints. As the brothers ate their food, the opportunity of a lifetime arose. A caravan of Midianites (Ishmaelite merchants) passed by their camp on their way to Egypt. Seizing the opportunity, the brothers sold their brother as a slave for twenty pieces of silver. Based on mid-twentieth century exchange rates, the net profit to each brother in the sale was $1.28 U.S. In selling their brother to the traders, they thought they were getting rid of Joseph once and for all. What they failed to understand at the time was that God was sending Joseph to Egypt to prepare for the family’s migration in fulfillment of the covenant to Abraham. The family of Abraham was beginning to adopt some of the evil values of their neighbors, the Canaanites. This was about to become very evident in the life of Joseph’s oldest brother, Judah (38:1-30). God moved the family out of Canaan so they would not degenerate and fall under the severest judgment of God. Also, God would allow the course of sin to run its natural course in the inhabitants of the land before He judged them (15:13-14). Like their father Jacob before them, the brothers were masters of deceit. They kept Joseph’s coat, staining it with the blood of an animal. Later they showed it to Jacob without explanation. Immediately Jacob jumped to the conclusion, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces” (37:33). Jacob the deceiver was selfdeceived. The family went immediately into mourning. Despite the efforts of others in the family, Jacob continued to mourn and did so for fifteen years (45:27). And as Jacob mourned the death of his son, Joseph was alive and being sold as a slave to a man named Potiphar, a leading officer of the Pharaoh.
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<strong>The</strong> Dreamer<br />
(Genesis 37:1-50; 26)<br />
Though the Book of Genesis records the lives of several great men, none is described<br />
more completely than Joseph. Because he was one of the youngest sons of Jacob, the firstborn by<br />
Rachel, he was the favorite of his father. But favoritism creates unique problems. Joseph had ten<br />
older brothers who resented the special relationship that existed between Jacob and Joseph, and it<br />
resulted in their selling him into slavery. In the course of his life, Joseph was an honored son, a<br />
common slave, a trusted prisoner, and a leading minister in the government of the Egyptian<br />
Pharaoh.<br />
Joseph was a man with a special ability to interpret dreams. This ability manifested itself<br />
early in life. But it also aggravated an already tense situation in his own family. His ability to<br />
interpret dreams was not only a factor in his being sold as a slave in Egypt, it was the primary<br />
factor in his eventual exaltation as the prime minister of that land. <strong>Through</strong>out his widely varied<br />
experiences of life, Joseph discovered God was faithful in accomplishing His purpose in the<br />
world through Joseph. Despite the unfortunate experiences of his life, a key phrase from the<br />
mouth of Joseph explains, “God meant it for good” (50:20).<br />
But perhaps the most unique feature of Joseph’s life is the quality of his life itself. While<br />
the Bible never makes a claim that Joseph was sinless, it is interesting to note it also never<br />
identifies sin in his life. This is one of the reasons that several commentators view him as a type<br />
of Christ. Ironically, several generations later, another “Joseph, son of Jacob” would be the<br />
adopted human father of Jesus.<br />
JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY IN CANAAN<br />
(Gen. 37:1-38:30)<br />
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, probably born within a few years prior to the<br />
family’s departure from Haran. Though little is known about the boy’s earlier childhood, he was<br />
apparently his father’s favorite son. This attraction was probably due in a large part to the<br />
preference of Jacob to Rachel, and Joseph’s similarity in appearance to his mother. <strong>The</strong> Hebrew<br />
phrase yepheh-tho’ar wipheh mare’eh translated “handsome in form and appearance” (Gen.<br />
39:6) describing the physical appearance of Joseph is only used of one other person in Genesis,<br />
his mother Rachel (cf. 29:17).<br />
Because of the great love he had for this “son of his old age,” Jacob made him a special<br />
garment. <strong>The</strong> Hebrew words kethoneth passim translated “a tunic of many colors” (Gen. 37:3)<br />
literally refers to a long-sleeved garment, or a coat of many pieces. <strong>The</strong> coat is significant as the<br />
garment of the heir. His brothers would have worn sleeveless garments as sleeves interfered with<br />
their responsibilities in the field. A long-sleeved garment signified Jacob was exempting Joseph<br />
from the usual work of a son in the field and also designated him as the heir of the household.<br />
His brothers were understandably negative. In selecting Joseph for this honor, Jacob<br />
rejected his ten older sons who would generally have had a prior claim. <strong>The</strong>re is some evidence<br />
the boys may have already been involved in the domestic dispute between the two principal<br />
wives in the family (cf. 30:14-16). <strong>The</strong> coat only aggravated the situation.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a third factor in the dispute between Joseph and his older brothers: it was the<br />
dreams of Joseph. Joseph had related to his family that the sun and moon (Jacob and Rachel) and<br />
the eleven stars (the brothers) would bow down to him. <strong>The</strong> meaning of the dreams was