Bible Study (5) - Joseph and His Brothers: Family Jealousy - Genesis 37:1-34 - November 10, 2024

 

Bible Study (5) – Joseph and His Brothers: Family Jealousy – November 10, 2024

This is part one of a two-part lesson. The second part is for next week.

Our scripture is Gensis 37:1-34:

Forgiveness can lead to family healing and restoration.

When GOD is leading and guiding a person, when that person encounters nudges along life’s path, count it all joy because GOD is positioning that person to be in the exact place HE desires for his/her life and service to HIM. Often, we have to look back over our lives to see GOD’S Hands at work in our lives.

The Apostle James, the half-brother of JESUS wrote in James 1: ² Consider it a great joy, my brothers, and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Such trials, when ordained by GOD, build trust in GOD that HE will take loving care of us as we walk in faith with HIM through faith in JESUS.

In the words of the late Dr. Vance Havner, “we must practice in the dark what we learn in the light.”

When we, as Christians, go through a difficult time (s) in our lives, that is when we grow Spiritually. Is it fun? No! But it is rewarding when we get to the other end of the difficult times in our lives.

The bottom line is, who do we trust during these times?

We have been studying Jacob as he has aged.

Our focus scripture is Genesis 37:1-34:

Side Note: Jacob’s name changed from Jacob to Israel as recorded in

Genesis 32:26-31: But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

²⁷ “What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he replied.

²⁸ “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel^[b] because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

²⁹ Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”

But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

³⁰ Jacob then named the place Peniel,^[c] “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” ³¹ The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel^[d]—limping because of his hip. 

WOW! Have you every struggled with GOD?

Jacob’s name was changed by GOD from Jacob to Israel.

Jacob left with a new heart because he had struggled with GOD. He was on his way to meet Esau to reconcile with his brother after many years of separation. Reconciliation pleases GOD.

Is there someone to whom you need to be reconciled?

Have you ever struggled with GOD? It is an awesome encounter, and I encourage you to do it if you have issues that need to be settled between you and GOD. Let GOD know what your problems or issues are with HIM. Be specific and do not let HIM go until your questions or issues are resolved. Be honest when you approach GOD because HE already knows your thoughts and heart.

Since the passion of JESUS, we have direct access to GOD through faith in JESUS.

Now to our study.

Let’s read Genesis 37:1-36 - Joseph’s Dreams

37:1 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² These are the family records of Jacob. (Genesis 22:22-31.)

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

Oops, siblings do not like tattle tails, especially when the one telling on them is the favored sibling in the family, whom they despise.

³ Now Israel (Jacob – note name changed from Jacob to Israel.) loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe^[a] for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

(You can almost hear them harassing Joseph. Just look at him wearing that special coat of many colors. He struts around like he is something special, etc. – of course this is my speculation.)

I believe most parents can relate to this. But GOD had a mighty plan for Joseph to preserve HIS chosen people and the other people in that part of the world, when a sever famine came to that area.

Trouble in the household is being fueled by jealousy. Jealousy begins slowly and beneath the surface until it festers and spreads to others.

⁵ Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

Joseph had to share his dream because GOD used it as a catalyst to get Joseph to where GOD desired for him to be. Was Joseph aware of GOD’S plan at this time in his life? No. He was just being Joseph.

⁸ “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So, they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.

The more Joseph made these true statements, the more his brothers despised him. Yet, GOD was positioning Joseph to be the savior of many people and countries.

⁹ Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

¹⁰ He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Joseph only shared what he had been dreaming, however his family could not see this taking place in the dreamer.

Often, we witness those we knew as we were growing up, doing mighty things in life as adults and think, “Is this that awkward, snotty nose kid I grew up with, in this position?” But to GOD be the Glory, HIS ways are not our ways, and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts. GOD sees our hearts’ inner most being, potential and faithfulness to be obedient to HIS plans and purpose for our lives.

Just know that as long as we have breath, GOD uses us according to HIS plans and purpose.

Joseph Sold into Slavery

¹² His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. ¹³ Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”

“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

¹⁴ Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing and bring word back to me.” So, he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

¹⁵ A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

¹⁶ “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

Often, GOD has special people positioned to give us direction as we travel life’s path.

¹⁷ “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So, Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

¹⁸ They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!^[b] 20 So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits.^[c] We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.^[d] He said, “Let’s not take his life.” ²² Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. ²⁴ Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.

²⁵ They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

When we journey the path GOD places us upon, HE has those in place to carry out HIS plan for HIS chosen.

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. ²⁸ When Midianite traders passed by his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

As you may recall, Judas betrayed JESUS for thirty pieces of silver. Joseph is a CHRIST-like person GOD chose to save HIS people from physical destruction and reveals to the world how GOD preserves HIS chosen.

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. ³⁰ He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?” ^[e] 31 So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. ³² They sent the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not?”

³³ His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

³⁶ Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards.

This is a beautiful example of GOD’S protection, when HIS chosen journey through life as GOD’S chosen, GOD ordains their steps.

You may recall, Ephesians 1:3-14: The Apostle Paul wrote:

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he^[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] (and daughter ship) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

You were chosen! Have you accepted JESUS as your Savior and made HIM the LORD of your life? If not, why not now?

Dear JESUS, I know that I was chosen by YOU to be born physically. I had no choice in my first conception but YOU have given me a choice in my second conception, which is Spiritual. I choose YOU, JESUS as my Savior and ask YOU to forgive me for my sins and to cleanse me from all my sins and for YOU to come into my heart and make me a new person, through YOUR redeeming blood, through the miracle of being born-again in my spirit. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer, welcome into GOD’S eternal Family. Study GOD’S Word and ask HIM to lead you to a Bible teaching and believing church or fellowship where you can grow Spiritually. Blessings!!!