It is perhaps the most challenging story in the Bible. It is a story of a family. It is a story about favouritism. It is a story about forgiveness. It is a story of how God work's through us to effect reconciliation, with each other and with God. It is a compelling story about ourselves!
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Jacob was the father of twelve sons and one daughter that we know of. Jacob was the younger twin brother of Esau. They both competed for their parent's affections as Jacob was his mother's favourite and Esau was his father's favourite. Jacob and Esau were adversaries, even in their mother's womb, and throughout their life. They really could not live together. Their relationship is a compelling one too. However, it is Joseph, Jacob's favourite son, born in Jacob's old age, who is our focus.
As noted, Joseph was born to Jacob in his old age, and thus was highly favoured by his father, who had twelve sons and one daughter. He was so highly favoured that his father gave him a special "ornate" robe for him to wear. We know that particular robe as "the coat of many colours" although it is better described as the "robe with long sleeves" as the wearer was not expected to work as in rolling up one's sleeves when doing manual labour. Yes, Jospeh was a highly favoured son.
Joseph wasn't expected to work like his older brothers were. In fact he was a bit of a tattle-tale as he would give their father "reports" about them and they were usually bad reports. His brothers hated Joseph with a passion. They hated Joseph so much that they would say a kind word to him!
Joseph was a dreamer, and he had dreams of grandeur and greatness. He was also, as a seventeen year old, quite naive, showing a lack of experience and sensitivity towards his brothers as he shared with them his dreams of greatness. Their response to Joseph's dreams was only to hate him all the more. He also shared his dreams with his father Jacob, and while his jealous brothers hated him
even more, Jacob keep his favoured son's dreams of greatness and the matter in mind.
On one occasion, when Joseph's brothers were tending their father's flock, Jacob sent Joseph to see what they were doing and bring back a report. When his brothers saw him coming they said "Here comes that dreamer." and then plotted among themselves to at first kill Joseph, so great was their hatred for him, but the eldest brother suggested instead that they should sell him which they did to
a passing caravan of traders whose camels were loaded with spices, making their way to Egypt.
They had stripped Joseph of his ornate robe that he was wearing, and threw in in a pit, with the intent to kill him, such was their hatred and jealousy towards Joseph but then on second thoughts, at the urging of the fourth eldesr son, Judah, they made the decision to sell him to some passing traders for a small amount of money. They would have their father believe that Jospeh had been killed by a wild animal as they showed him the blood-soaked ornate robe as eveidence of Joseph's supposed tragic death. Jacob, on hearing this news, was, as you might well imagine inconsolable. Joseph was his father's favourite son. Jospeh was also the son of Jacob's first love the beautiful Rachel.
While Jacob would continue to weep and mourn the death of Joseph, until "he joined his favourite son in the grave." Meanwhile, the traders who bought Joseph as a slave, was sold once again to a man in Egypt, a man by thhe name of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, and also captain of the guard.
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Joseph's family tree and connections make for interesting reflection. He is the son of Jacob and Rachel. The beautiful Rachel was Jacob's first love, but he was tricked into marrying her not-so-beautiful sister Leah. Jacob also had two concubines, and between the four mothers,
Joseph had one full brother, Benjamin and ten half-brothers and one half- sister.
Joseph's great grandparents were Abraham and Sarah, who had a son Isaac, who had a half brother Ismael who mother Hagar was a surrogate mother and that had terrible consequences. Isaac would marry Rebekkah and they would have two sons, twins, Jacob and Esau. Esau was not only the older of the two, but was also Jacob's nemesis as they battled over who would receive their father's blessing, and Jacob, the great deceiver, was successful in obtaining Isaac's blessing through trickery. Esau realized he had been tricked. His response was to promise to kill Jacob at the first opportunity.
Jacob was helped in his act of deceit by his mother Rebekkah as he was his mother's favourite and Esau was his father's favourite and Jacob would continue the family's tradition of destructive favouritism through Joseph and Benjamin, who were both children of Jacob and Rachel.
Favouritism among siblings, especially when that favouritism is openly blatant is destructive to any close relationship between siblings and such was the case between Joseph, his father's favourite son, and the other 10 siblings hated Joseph enough to plot to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave to a passing caravan of traders, who with camels loaded were heading to Egypt with their cargo.
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And so a father weeps and grieves. The aging Jacob believes the story of the brutal and tragic death of his favoured son and the blood soaked ornate robe was the evidence of Joseph's death.
Meanwhile the caravan of traders, with their loaded camels, on arriving in Egypt,
along with selling their spices, balm and myrhh, sold Joseph to a man named Potiphar,
one of Pharoah's (ruler of Egypt) officials, and the captain of the guard.
Joseph "prospered" in the house of Potiphar who could see that the Lord was with his new slave for Joseph enjoyed success in everything he did and even become Potiphar's personal attendant and eventually put Joseph in charge of his household, entrusting to Joseph's care everything that Potiphar owned. The Lord blessed the household of Potiphar and even blessed his fields. He held Joseph in such hight regard that Potiphar did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
But trouble was waiting in the wings. Potiphar's wife found Joseph a young, well built and handsome "toy" and invited Joseph into her bed. Joseph refused. You know that old saying about a woman spurned. She quickly, and with great craftiness, put in place a series of measures to put Joseph where she wanted him, and then accused him of rape. She accused Joseph of coming to her bedroom while she was alseep and, as she told her husband, Potiphar, "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. but as soon as a screamed for help, he elft his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." As you might imagine, Potiphar "burned with anger" and had Joseph thrown in prison.
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But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him, and showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden who put Joseph in charge of all those held in prison,
and he was made responsible for all that was done there. Again, Joseph was so trustworthy
that the prison warden paid no attention to anything that was under Joseph's care.
Once again the Lord was with Joseph
and gave him success in whatever he did.
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Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker offended their master the king of Egypt and they were placed in custody in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph's care. After they had been in custody for some time, they each had a dream on the same night and each dream had a different meaning. Joseph was able to explain their dreams to them to their satisfaction. The cupbearer would be freed in three days but the baker he would be hanged.
Joseph asked the cupbearer to remind Pharoah that he, Joseph was in prison, but when the cupbearer was eventually freed, in three days, in his excitment he promptly forgot all about Joseph's request.
On the third day, the other person, the king's baker, didn't fair so well. It was Pharoah's birthday
so he celebrated by restoring the cupbearer to his original position, but the baker was hanged
and fed to the birds just as Joseph had said when he had interpreted the baker's dream.
Two full years passed and Pharaoh ( king of Egypt) had a troubling dream. He told his dream to his magicans and wise men, but they could not explain or interpret the king's dream. It was then that the cupbearer remembered his shortcomings of how Joseph had interpreted his dream correctly and also the baker's dream corectly so he informed the king who then promptly sent for Joseph.
After Joseph had washed and shaved, he came before Pharaoh who informed Joseph of his dream and that no-one could interpret the dream for him. Joseph replied that he could not do it either, but that God would give Pharaoh the answer he desired. The Lord was with Joseph always.
The meaning of the king's dream meant that there would be a famine in the land, and that the dream was meant to show the king how he and the people would survive this time of famine. So once again, Joseph was restored to being the second most powerful person in the kingdom as Pharoah put Joseph in charge of putting all the needed measures in place so that they would survive this time of famine.
And that is how and why Joseph's brothers came to Egypt. They too were experiencing the terrible effects of the famine and their father, Jacob, had sent them to Egypt to obtain supplies of grain,
so that they "might live and not die." Jacob was afraid and so did not send Joseph's younger
and full brother, Benjamin, (and favoured) in case something harmful happened to him.
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The story of Joseph takes quite a twist at this point. Joseph recognizes his brothers but they do not recognize him. Joseph treats them as spies and challenges them to show proof that they are "honest men" by going home and bring their father's youngest son, Joseph's full brother back. They also had to leave one brother in Egypt and who would be kept in prison to ensure they would be sure to return.
When they do return, with Benjamin, Joseph, upon seeing his younger brother, and asking
about the boy's father, has to leave the room because he is deeply moved and weeping.
The story takes several twists and turns, until Joseph finally reveals who he is to his shocked brothers. He encourages them not to be afraid as it was God's will that they would sell him
as a slave so that he would be in this position to make plans to deal with the famine.
It is a great account of Joseph's understanding of the bad his jealous brothers had fully intended for him, but the Lord, who was with Joseph at every turn in his journey, had used for the good.
The story ends with Jacob, Joseph's father and all his brothers relocating to Egypt and bringing with them their flocks of sheep to settle on land and so be close to Joseph. There is an ominus line in the story though that does not bode well down the road ... "the Egyptians detested shepherds."
.
Jacob was the father of twelve sons and one daughter that we know of. Jacob was the younger twin brother of Esau. They both competed for their parent's affections as Jacob was his mother's favourite and Esau was his father's favourite. Jacob and Esau were adversaries, even in their mother's womb, and throughout their life. They really could not live together. Their relationship is a compelling one too. However, it is Joseph, Jacob's favourite son, born in Jacob's old age, who is our focus.
As noted, Joseph was born to Jacob in his old age, and thus was highly favoured by his father, who had twelve sons and one daughter. He was so highly favoured that his father gave him a special "ornate" robe for him to wear. We know that particular robe as "the coat of many colours" although it is better described as the "robe with long sleeves" as the wearer was not expected to work as in rolling up one's sleeves when doing manual labour. Yes, Jospeh was a highly favoured son.
Joseph wasn't expected to work like his older brothers were. In fact he was a bit of a tattle-tale as he would give their father "reports" about them and they were usually bad reports. His brothers hated Joseph with a passion. They hated Joseph so much that they would say a kind word to him!
Joseph was a dreamer, and he had dreams of grandeur and greatness. He was also, as a seventeen year old, quite naive, showing a lack of experience and sensitivity towards his brothers as he shared with them his dreams of greatness. Their response to Joseph's dreams was only to hate him all the more. He also shared his dreams with his father Jacob, and while his jealous brothers hated him
even more, Jacob keep his favoured son's dreams of greatness and the matter in mind.
On one occasion, when Joseph's brothers were tending their father's flock, Jacob sent Joseph to see what they were doing and bring back a report. When his brothers saw him coming they said "Here comes that dreamer." and then plotted among themselves to at first kill Joseph, so great was their hatred for him, but the eldest brother suggested instead that they should sell him which they did to
a passing caravan of traders whose camels were loaded with spices, making their way to Egypt.
They had stripped Joseph of his ornate robe that he was wearing, and threw in in a pit, with the intent to kill him, such was their hatred and jealousy towards Joseph but then on second thoughts, at the urging of the fourth eldesr son, Judah, they made the decision to sell him to some passing traders for a small amount of money. They would have their father believe that Jospeh had been killed by a wild animal as they showed him the blood-soaked ornate robe as eveidence of Joseph's supposed tragic death. Jacob, on hearing this news, was, as you might well imagine inconsolable. Joseph was his father's favourite son. Jospeh was also the son of Jacob's first love the beautiful Rachel.
While Jacob would continue to weep and mourn the death of Joseph, until "he joined his favourite son in the grave." Meanwhile, the traders who bought Joseph as a slave, was sold once again to a man in Egypt, a man by thhe name of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, and also captain of the guard.
<>
<><>
<>
Joseph's family tree and connections make for interesting reflection. He is the son of Jacob and Rachel. The beautiful Rachel was Jacob's first love, but he was tricked into marrying her not-so-beautiful sister Leah. Jacob also had two concubines, and between the four mothers,
Joseph had one full brother, Benjamin and ten half-brothers and one half- sister.
Joseph's great grandparents were Abraham and Sarah, who had a son Isaac, who had a half brother Ismael who mother Hagar was a surrogate mother and that had terrible consequences. Isaac would marry Rebekkah and they would have two sons, twins, Jacob and Esau. Esau was not only the older of the two, but was also Jacob's nemesis as they battled over who would receive their father's blessing, and Jacob, the great deceiver, was successful in obtaining Isaac's blessing through trickery. Esau realized he had been tricked. His response was to promise to kill Jacob at the first opportunity.
Jacob was helped in his act of deceit by his mother Rebekkah as he was his mother's favourite and Esau was his father's favourite and Jacob would continue the family's tradition of destructive favouritism through Joseph and Benjamin, who were both children of Jacob and Rachel.
Favouritism among siblings, especially when that favouritism is openly blatant is destructive to any close relationship between siblings and such was the case between Joseph, his father's favourite son, and the other 10 siblings hated Joseph enough to plot to kill him, but instead sold him as a slave to a passing caravan of traders, who with camels loaded were heading to Egypt with their cargo.
<>
<><>
<>
And so a father weeps and grieves. The aging Jacob believes the story of the brutal and tragic death of his favoured son and the blood soaked ornate robe was the evidence of Joseph's death.
Meanwhile the caravan of traders, with their loaded camels, on arriving in Egypt,
along with selling their spices, balm and myrhh, sold Joseph to a man named Potiphar,
one of Pharoah's (ruler of Egypt) officials, and the captain of the guard.
Joseph "prospered" in the house of Potiphar who could see that the Lord was with his new slave for Joseph enjoyed success in everything he did and even become Potiphar's personal attendant and eventually put Joseph in charge of his household, entrusting to Joseph's care everything that Potiphar owned. The Lord blessed the household of Potiphar and even blessed his fields. He held Joseph in such hight regard that Potiphar did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
But trouble was waiting in the wings. Potiphar's wife found Joseph a young, well built and handsome "toy" and invited Joseph into her bed. Joseph refused. You know that old saying about a woman spurned. She quickly, and with great craftiness, put in place a series of measures to put Joseph where she wanted him, and then accused him of rape. She accused Joseph of coming to her bedroom while she was alseep and, as she told her husband, Potiphar, "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. but as soon as a screamed for help, he elft his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." As you might imagine, Potiphar "burned with anger" and had Joseph thrown in prison.
<>
<><>
<>
But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him, and showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden who put Joseph in charge of all those held in prison,
and he was made responsible for all that was done there. Again, Joseph was so trustworthy
that the prison warden paid no attention to anything that was under Joseph's care.
Once again the Lord was with Joseph
and gave him success in whatever he did.
<>
Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker offended their master the king of Egypt and they were placed in custody in the same prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph's care. After they had been in custody for some time, they each had a dream on the same night and each dream had a different meaning. Joseph was able to explain their dreams to them to their satisfaction. The cupbearer would be freed in three days but the baker he would be hanged.
Joseph asked the cupbearer to remind Pharoah that he, Joseph was in prison, but when the cupbearer was eventually freed, in three days, in his excitment he promptly forgot all about Joseph's request.
On the third day, the other person, the king's baker, didn't fair so well. It was Pharoah's birthday
so he celebrated by restoring the cupbearer to his original position, but the baker was hanged
and fed to the birds just as Joseph had said when he had interpreted the baker's dream.
Two full years passed and Pharaoh ( king of Egypt) had a troubling dream. He told his dream to his magicans and wise men, but they could not explain or interpret the king's dream. It was then that the cupbearer remembered his shortcomings of how Joseph had interpreted his dream correctly and also the baker's dream corectly so he informed the king who then promptly sent for Joseph.
After Joseph had washed and shaved, he came before Pharaoh who informed Joseph of his dream and that no-one could interpret the dream for him. Joseph replied that he could not do it either, but that God would give Pharaoh the answer he desired. The Lord was with Joseph always.
The meaning of the king's dream meant that there would be a famine in the land, and that the dream was meant to show the king how he and the people would survive this time of famine. So once again, Joseph was restored to being the second most powerful person in the kingdom as Pharoah put Joseph in charge of putting all the needed measures in place so that they would survive this time of famine.
And that is how and why Joseph's brothers came to Egypt. They too were experiencing the terrible effects of the famine and their father, Jacob, had sent them to Egypt to obtain supplies of grain,
so that they "might live and not die." Jacob was afraid and so did not send Joseph's younger
and full brother, Benjamin, (and favoured) in case something harmful happened to him.
<>
The story of Joseph takes quite a twist at this point. Joseph recognizes his brothers but they do not recognize him. Joseph treats them as spies and challenges them to show proof that they are "honest men" by going home and bring their father's youngest son, Joseph's full brother back. They also had to leave one brother in Egypt and who would be kept in prison to ensure they would be sure to return.
When they do return, with Benjamin, Joseph, upon seeing his younger brother, and asking
about the boy's father, has to leave the room because he is deeply moved and weeping.
The story takes several twists and turns, until Joseph finally reveals who he is to his shocked brothers. He encourages them not to be afraid as it was God's will that they would sell him
as a slave so that he would be in this position to make plans to deal with the famine.
It is a great account of Joseph's understanding of the bad his jealous brothers had fully intended for him, but the Lord, who was with Joseph at every turn in his journey, had used for the good.
The story ends with Jacob, Joseph's father and all his brothers relocating to Egypt and bringing with them their flocks of sheep to settle on land and so be close to Joseph. There is an ominus line in the story though that does not bode well down the road ... "the Egyptians detested shepherds."
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