March 1, 2013
A HOUSE DIVIDED . . .
Genesis 37:1-17
Jeff Ward
Central Truth
God is at work even in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances. He is an expert in shaping us, molding us, and freeing us to be all that He intended.
Key Verse | Genesis 37:3–4
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. (Genesis 37:3-4)
Genesis 37:1-17
Joseph's Dreams
1 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
2 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. 3 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. 1 37:3 See Septuagint, Vulgate; or (with Syriac) a robe with long sleeves. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain; also verses 23, 32 4 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.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 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.” 8 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.
9 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.” 10 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?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
Footnotes
[1] 37:3 See Septuagint, Vulgate; or (with Syriac) a robe with long sleeves. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain; also verses 23, 32Dive Deeper | Genesis 37:1-17
Even though Joseph was only 17, God had selected him to ultimately lead a powerful nation and save his family from famine. God even chose to reveal this to the young, impetuous Joseph, who immediately shared this tidbit with his older brothers. Our first impression of Joseph is less than stellar. Of course, his brothers didn't respond well, as you can imagine, nor did his dad. His brothers clearly hated Joseph (Have you ever seen the word hate so many times in Scripture?) and resented the most favored status that their father placed on him. The brothers also didn't like the reports about them that he gave to their father, and they were bent on doing something about it. If ever there was a house divided, this was it! Did you know that Watermark Films has retold this story in a modern way? Watch the trailer for Seasons of Gray at http://www.seasonsofgray.com/.
Have you ever felt this way in your own family -- sibling rivalry, pride, jealousy, competition, and even hatred? If we're honest, it shows up in every family in different ways. It does in mine. It might be in the form of bragging, not being a good sport, wanting your way or the highway, having the final word, or having a "me-first" attitude. The truth is that we are all prideful and selfish at times. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is desperately sick.
The beauty of this passage is that it gives us an honest picture into the family of Joseph and gives us tremendous hope that God is not done with us yet. As the story progresses, we see Joseph molded through betrayal, dashed hopes, false accusations, and prison. We see how God used these circumstances to build character and depth of faith that ultimately helped Joseph become the leader that God intended. We also see how God brought about repentance in the hearts of Joseph's brothers. And we learn that if God can take Joseph's divided house and redeem it, He can do it in our homes, too!
Discussion Questions
1. Looking back, can you see how God has used difficult circumstances in your family to shape you and mold your faith?
2. What can you thank God for in the midst of your current difficulties?
3. How can you use the story of Joseph to encourage others who are struggling with family division?