(This is part of a series profiling the life of Joseph as conveyed in the book of Genesis. You can catch up on the rest of the series by clicking here. The following reflections cover Genesis 37:1-11)
The account of Joseph given in these verses is fascinating for a lot of reasons only some of which will be explored here.
Joseph is a young man in a highly favoured position. That position is based on his father. The position, his actions and his words will incur great jealousy, resentment and bitterness from his older brothers. This account gives us three reasons for their hostility.
Joseph: Strikes One and Two
The first one shared is about how Joseph reports on his brothers when they do wrong to their father. It’s intriguing that the brothers mentioned in particular belong to Zilpah and Bilhah. They’re not the sons of Leah let alone the only two sons born to Rachel. Joseph’s prim and proper reporting to his father places a barrier in their relations.
The second reason shared is not about what Joseph has done, but for what is done to Joseph. It would be no secret already that Jacob preferred Joseph, but the garment specially made for him – in essence making him stand out from his brothers – puts a serious wedge in fraternal relations.
Here were these older brothers who had already shown a bloodthirsty and vengeful side in dealing with the entire city of the man who had raped their sister. They didn’t have a great reputation where purity and integrity were concerned. Now they had to deal with their brother who was already different because of his Mum and now their Dad has to make it plain that this is his favourite. To say it’s galling would be an understatement.
… when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
Genesis 37:4
The dynamic is set. The brothers with the exception of Benjamin are aligned against Joseph. I mean that phrase, could not speak peacefully to him, I mean imagine living in those circumstances. You have the same father, but your siblings despise you. Sure you haven’t helped by letting the Dad know of their misdeeds, but there’s a bulk of this that you carry because of your Dad. Your Dad favours you – it’s not your fault, but you’re the recipient of that favour and with that comes jealousy, hostility and hatred all under the same family.
And in the middle of all that, you have a dream to share.
The Thing About Dreams
Well, there is the dream for sure. That happens. Whether the dream needs to be shared, especially the nature of the dream, especially the implications of the dream. Before getting into the content of the dreams themselves, it’s interesting to note the way the dreams are received. They’re received as though those dreams give an indication of the future. The brothers sense that and that’s why their hatred, which is already bubbling goes to boiling when they hear it. An interesting thing to note, however, is why they behave that way and why although Jacob initially rebukes Joseph for the second dream he actually does not dismiss it but considers it seriously.
Back in Genesis 28, Jacob had a dream of his own. There he’d been sent from his home because of taking the firstborn’s blessing from his brother Esau. As he followed his Mum’s instructions to head to his Uncle Laban, he had a dream that left such an impact on him that when he woke from the dream, he set up a monument to that location as a place where he had an encounter o the divine kind. Such was the impact of that experience that Jacob made a pledge to God. That was a single man fleeing from a furious brother with a blessing and a hope to see it realised.
Here he is now, decades later, no longer a single man, but the head of a large family – a tribe in themselves. They are where they are, in the land promised to his fathers, even as they reside as strangers. They are there because of the blessing and that dream and its impact would remain strong in his memory and surely something that would be passed onto his children. The power of dreams would not be taken lightly by Jacob of all people.
Thus, when Joseph, his favourite, has these two particular dreams, they’re not something he can quickly dismiss. If anyone can relate to the power of dreams and if anyone can relate to a scenario where the younger rules the older then Jacob can relate.
Joseph: Strike Three
The content of the dreams as far as his brothers are concerned, however, are just the thing to send them over the top in their hatred. Bad enough having one and seeing the reaction, to have a second and still tell his brothers, is mystifying. Talk about a red rag to a bull. Getting one dream that patently refers to being the one in charge is tough to take but to get a second dream of a similar nature appears to be the exclamation point.
What’s mystifying to me is why Joseph would go and get the third strike by sharing these dreams with his brothers? While that mystifies me, though, it’s of interest to consider what’s going on in Joseph’s journey. He’s the favoured one of his father and has the special garment to prove it. Now, like his father, he’s had a dream that’s left a big impact on him. There is nothing in the dreams that indicates anything about God, but as the story pans out we’ll see that this is God communicating with Joseph.
Joseph: A Journey in Character
At this stage, Joseph is receiving these things with a focus on himself. He’s at the centre of it all. The sheaves bow to his sheaf. The stars and moon and sun bow to him. It appears to be all about him. He will rule. He will reign. He receives a dream and shares it and aggravates an already bad situation, even gaining the rebuke of his Dad, but it is still his. These dreams clearly indicate something special about him in this family context and he has no qualms about sharing it. What he is yet to discover, however, is just what he needs to be ready for this dream to be realised. One of those things that he needs to be ready for is a journey in character development.
It speaks volumes about how God character and manner of communication that he puts this to Joseph at this stage. It’s only a part of a bigger picture to be worked out, but it’s enough for Joseph to be considering at this stage. God can inform you of something, but that does not necessarily suggest the whole picture. God can tell you something, but it is not to get the impression that it’s all about you and your status as a favoured one for it to be an exercise in ego-boosting.
Joseph, Jesus and Us – Same and Different
As those who get to call Him our Father, we learn that He delights to work through us for His glory. That glory is revealed in lives given in service to others, rather than in looking to be served by others. This is seen in no less an example than Jesus who came to do the will of His Father. In doing that He expressly came to serve and not to be served. Of course, like Joseph, Jesus would be despised by His brothers both in the family sense and the national sense. Yet, Jesus pursued a path of service as the best model.
Meanwhile, the character of the brothers is one not to condemn quickly as though we’re not capable of harbouring jealousy, hostility and hatred to those who appear favoured more than we are. To cultivate and generate that reaction to favour and correction reveals something about us. There is that sense of insecurity and a drive that goes beyond wanting to be loved. There is a need to be valued at the expense or disregard of others. It’s not just a nagging question of why others should get the favour, there’s also the urge that suggests that you should get that favour.
It was not subtle with Joseph’s brothers, but the bitterness, jealousy and resentment can subtly be part of how we behave and in our treatment of others. It can form part of the family dynamic where relations between husband and wife, parents and children and siblings can be soured. That in itself can then influence relations beyond the home.
This is why we could all do with going on a journey of character development to see what really is going on inside and submit ourselves to a loving heavenly Father who created us to reflect His character of grace, mercy, love, peace and righteousness.
Questions from Joseph: Character, Dreams and Family
- Is Joseph doing what is right in sharing his dreams with his brothers and then his Dad as well?
- What does this time in Joseph’s life tell us about how God communicates?
- Why is the response of Jacob to the dream significant? What can we learn from it?
- Brotherly love is a crucial theme of Christian living – why is it so challenging?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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