Here we are again today and I hope that I finally get to write about Joseph. Each day I sit down to write about him and God has me put something else down on the paper! I love reading God’s word because every time I do, my eyes are opened to something I did not ever see or think about before. One time I had a very dear person tell me that her mother was amazed because I knew all of the Bible. Her mother did not know or understand any of the Bible at that time so my little knowledge seemed so much to her. I explained that there is a vast amount to learn in the Bible and that I by far did not know everything that was in it but it is a journey we go on as we learn and grow through the word. Much like the suitcase of Mary Poppins, she kept pulling things out of it , when you thought everything had to be out, she pulls out a lamp stand! God’s word is so much more amazing than that but it was the best illustration could come up with!
First of all I want to review who Joseph is. He is the son of Jacob who God has renamed Israel. Remember, Jacob is the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham. God promised Abraham many descendents, more than the stars in the sky and he also promised him that they would dwell in the land that He had given to them. That land is now called, Israel. If you read my post earlier this week, you will know that Jacob was deceived and married the sister Leah his true love Rachel. He then had to work an extended time for their father in order to have the hand of Rachel, his true love. So now, two sisters are married to the same guy. I don’t think that would go over very well these days! Leah had several sons but it took Rachel some time and then she had a son and his name was Joseph. She later died while birthing another son, whom she named Ben-Oni before she died. Israel name him Benjamin. Now if you are reading this and think you have come from or are in a dysfunctional family, you will be amazed how God works in this family. This had to be the most dysfunctional family that ever existed yet it was a family that God chose to carry on His work. There are no acceptable excuses when God ask you to carry on His work. We saw that with Moses and the burning bush!
As you might imagine Israel (Jacob) had a favorite son, after all, we know he had a favorite wife. Remember, he would have been happy with only one wife but was tricked into marrying her sister instead, you can read about that in Genesis 29. At least he was faithful to his promise once it was made even if he was deceived.. Joseph was his favored son, the first born of his favored wife. The Bible says he was his favorite because he was born in his later years. This is much the same as his father who was born in the later years to his grandparents. Rachel even made the mistake that Sarai did in giving her husband her maidservant to bear him a child from her (Genesis 30: 1 - 6). But back to Joseph. Israel (Jacob) gave Joseph a coat nothing like any of his other sons coats. It must have been beautiful and very special because this coat brought about jealousy and strife and was used to hurt their father very deeply. The Bible tells us that it was greatly ornamented and you may have heard it called, “the coat of many colors.”
Looking in Genesis 37:2 we find that Joseph was not afraid to let his father know what his brothers had been doing while tending flock with them. It tells us that he was 17 when he gave a bad report to his father concerning his brothers but it does not mention any other details. Then it goes on to say in verse 3 that his father loved him more than any of the others. Combine tattle tale with favorite child and that equals jealousy, then add into that the next few verses where Joseph precedes to tell his brothers of his dreams where he would rule over all of them and that equals disaster. The brothers had enough of this kid who was their father’s favorite and now says he will rule over them. He even described a dream where he was ruler of his own parents. They wanted to prove to him that he wasn’t who or what he thought he was and they waited for the opportunity.
One day Israel (Jacob) sent Joseph out to check on his other sons in the field and the opportunity for his brothers to finally teach him a lesson had arrived. The brothers, who were not where they were supposed to be (Genesis 37: 15-16) saw him coming from a distance and plotted to kill him.. Now his oldest ½ brother Reuben heard their plot he convinced them to throw him into the cistern and he planned to come back and rescue him later. The brothers took his robe off and threw him in a dry cistern. Now I am going to end right there for today because I want you to do some thinking.
Have you ever had family or friends strip you of what was rightfully yours and basically throw you away? Maybe it was a job, like it was for me. I thought I could trust people and I thought they liked me as much as I liked them but when push came to shove, I was the one shoved. How does or would that feel when or if it happens to you? For me it hurt tremendously and I felt and still do at times, that I am in the cistern right along with Joseph. The walls are high and I see no way out. How do you think Joseph felt at this time? What was he thinking? Does God provide a way out?
If you haven’t already, I would urge you to read Genesis 37. I have retold a portion of the story above but hope you will read the account of it on your own. If something jumps out at you in the portion that I wrote about today be sure to post it on the blog! Until tomorrow, seek Him and find Him when you seek Him with all your hearts.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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