Genesis 37
Joseph and His Brothers
Overview
Joseph's dreams and his father's favouritism provoke jealousy. His brothers sell him into slavery, beginning his journey to Egypt.
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Introduction
Genesis 37 begins the Joseph narrative, showing how family dysfunction, jealousy, and betrayal become the unlikely means by which God preserves His people. Joseph's story demonstrates that God can use even evil actions to accomplish His sovereign purposes.
The Circumstances Leading to Egypt
Joseph was brought to Egypt after his jealous brothers sold him into slavery:
- Family Jealousy: [3-4] Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob, who gifted him a coat of many colours.
- Prophetic Dreams: [5-11] Joseph dreamed his brothers' sheaves and the stars bowed to him, exacerbating their envy.
- Betrayal: [18-28] His brothers originally planned to kill him but decided to sell him to Ishmaelite merchants travelling to Egypt for twenty pieces of silver.
- The Deception: [31-35] The brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat's blood and deceived their father into thinking Joseph was dead.
The Dreams
[5-11] Joseph had two prophetic dreams:
- The Sheaves: [7] "We were binding sheaves of grain... when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."
- The Sun, Moon, and Stars: [9] "The sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
- The Brothers' Response: [8, 11] They hated him all the more because of his dreams.
The Betrayal
[12-36] The brothers' jealousy leads to action:
- [18] They saw Joseph coming and conspired to kill him.
- [21-22] Reuben tried to save him, suggesting they throw him in a cistern.
- [26-28] Judah suggested selling him to the Ishmaelites instead of killing him.
- [36] The Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
Patterns of Deception
The story continues the theme of deception in Jacob's family:
- Jacob deceived Isaac using goatskins (Genesis 27).
- Jacob's sons deceive him using goat's blood on Joseph's robe.
- The Deceiver Is Deceived: This "poetic justice" shows that sin has consequences that ripple through generations.
Key Takeaways
- Favouritism Causes Division: Jacob's preferential treatment of Joseph created jealousy.
- God's Sovereignty Over Evil: The brothers' evil action becomes the means of salvation for the family.
- Dreams and Providence: Joseph's dreams were truly prophetic, fulfilled years later in Egypt.
- Sin's Generational Effects: The pattern of deception continues from Jacob to his sons.
Reflection Questions
- How do you handle it when others are jealous of you?
- Can you see how God has used difficult circumstances for good in your life?
- What patterns—positive or negative—have you inherited from your family?