Genesis 37:1-36
Q.1. Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him? What did Joseph’s dreams signify?
From where did they come? Did his father understand? How did his brothers react? – (Gen.37:1-11)
Joseph was an inexperienced but godly young man who was concerned about the reputation of his father, so he – brought back a bad report about his brothers to their father (Gen.37:2 c.f. Heb.1:9). Because of this, Joseph’s brothers hated him. This animosity increased because – 3 Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms (Gen.37:3-4). Joseph had genuine concern for his brothers and his father. But what really made them angry was Joseph’s report of two dreams that foretold a future time in which they would bow down to him (see Gen.37:5-11). His father rebuked him, because he could see that Joseph was driving a wedge between himself and his brothers. Nevertheless – his father kept the saying in his mind (Gen.37:11). Some people accuse Joseph of arrogance. He may be considered unwise to have shared his personal revelations. However, the visions were predictions from God about his and Israel’s future. Moreover, the visions would have sustained him through his hard times. Nonetheless, these visions had to be conveyed to his brothers, in order to reveal to them that God foretold their future. One day these dreams about Joseph and his brothers would come true, and his brothers would realize that the vision did not originate with Joseph.
Q.2. How diligent was Joseph in fulfilling his father’s mission? Why did his brothers plot to kill him? How did Reuben intervene? What did they do to him? – (Gen.37:12-24)
As was the Lord Jesus, Joseph was fully committed to obeying his father (see Gen.37:13). Indeed, he didn’t give up looking for his brothers, until he located them (see Gen.37:15-17). – When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death (Gen.37:18). What had infuriated them so much? They couldn’t abide his dreams of future authority (see Gen.37:19-20). Reuben courageously saved Joseph. He pleaded with his brothers not to shed innocent blood. He urged them to put him into a pit, intending to rescue him later and restore him to his father (see Gen.37:2-22). Upon Joseph’s arrival – 23 … they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicoloured tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit (Gen.37:23-24). Israel would later treat Jesus with similar hatred and shame.
Q.3. How did Judah add to his shame? How did Reuben react? How did the brothers cover their sin? How did this impact Jacob? What happened to Joseph? – (Gen.37:25-36)
Eventually a caravan of Ishmaelite traders came by on route to Egypt (see Gen.37:25). Judah seized the opportunity and – 26 said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh” (Gen.37:26-27). They sold him for twenty shekels of silver (see Gen.37:28 c.f. Mt.26:15). Reuben was devastated when he discovered what they had done (see Gen.37:29-30). They then took his special coat – and dipped the tunic in blood (Gen.37:31). They gutlessly sent the varicoloured tunic to their father, thus covering up their crime. Jacob, not surprisingly concluded – … “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” (Gen.37:33). He would not be comforted (see Gen.37:35). Meanwhile – the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard (Gen.37:36). [The Ishmaelites dwelt in Midian so were also called Midianites]. This treatment by Joseph’s brothers was a shocking crime. It made a massive impact on Joseph. In time, his guilt-ridden brothers would recall – Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore, this distress has come upon us (Gen.42:21). They were all adult men who bullied and overpowered their younger brother.