Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Week 2 Day 5- Joseph

Joseph and his coat of many colors.  Many of us know the story well, but why is it so important that we know the history behind the story?  

"We know that Joseph was Jacob's favorite, and so did everyone else, including his bitter brothers.  In fairness, Joseph didn't play it down very well.  He actually made a point of reminding them how special he was.  His dad gave him a robe of many colors to signify his importance, and Joseph strutted around his brothers while wearing it and declaring his position in the family. " (p 55)

According to the Hebrew word used to describe it, the coat was long.  It went to his ankles and had long sleeves to his wrists.  It was clearly not a garment made for the working man but was a message from Jacob that Joseph didn't have to work.

God gave Joseph two dreams.  In one, all of his brothers' sheaves bowed to him- in the second dream the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed to him.  (Gen 37:6-9)
When hearing the dreams, his brothers hated him even more, but his father kept the matter in his mind.

Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem.  When they saw him coming, they plotted to kill him.  Reuben stopped them from killing him and told them to put Joseph in a pit (he planned to rescue him).  

So, his brothers stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him into a pit, then they sat down to eat a meal.  Really? They ate a meal with all of this going on??  We learn later that they saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded for his life, but they had no mercy on their brother. (Gen 42:21)

The brothers sell Joseph into slavery and they take the special coat and dip it in blood to show their father to convince him that his favorite son had been killed.  Jacob is devastated.

Joseph is taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to Potiphar whose wife falsely accuses him of attempted rape and he is thrown into prison.  It would appear that Joseph was not rewarded for saying 'no'.  But God was with him and gave him favor wherever he went.  He became the keeper of the prison.  He interprets dreams for prisoners and eventually for Pharoah.  

The dream he interpreted for Pharaoh involved God warning him of the future.  There would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.  He warned Pharaoh to stock up in the first seven years.  He listened and placed Joseph in charge of preparation for the famine.  He was second in command to Pharaoh.

When the famine occurs, ten of Joseph's brothers come to get food for the family.  Joseph recognizes them, but they do not recognize him.  He questions them and accuses them of being spies.  Joseph asks for their youngest brother to be brought to him.  The brothers plead with him and tell him that their father is protective of the youngest son.  The brothers head back home and tell Jacob what was asked, he isn't happy about it but sends him.

Eventually, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.  The brothers fear for their life and bow before Joseph.  He tells that that "it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Gen 45:8)  He asks for them to bring their father to him, and Jacob and all of his family moves to Egypt.  


This is how the children of Israel end up in Egypt.  They will live there for over 400 years.










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