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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