Part 1- Revelation 

Joseph’s story begins - Jacob and Rachael are blessed with Joseph after a prolonged time of waiting. The name Joseph means-May Jehovah add or increase. We come across quite a few instances in the Bible of such godly men, who shaped Israel’s history born to their parents after years of waiting- Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist. Although no details of his early childhood are recorded in scripture, the principal events of his life unfold in his teenage years beginning with chapter 37 of Genesis.

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Joseph is the helper to Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher, the sons of Jacob by handmaids of Leah and Rachael, Bilhah and Zilpah respectively. He catches them in a wicked act and brings an unfavorable report of them to their father. Needless to say, they receive a dressing down on account of this complaint and also lose their father’s trust.

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Godly v/s the ungodly – Perhaps some may view Joseph as a tale bearer, but as members of a family, we have a moral obligation to bring such misdeeds of our brothers or sisters to the notice of the head of the house so that their erroneous habits can be promptly remedied. Even as a youth, Joseph displays a moral disposition distinct from his half-brothers. He refuses to side with them in their wrongdoings and is courageous enough to report it to their father despite the possibility of facing adverse repercussions from his older siblings. The spiritual battle between the god-fearing Joseph and his ungodly brothers begins. The Book of wisdom describes the foolish reasoning of the ungodly and their intolerance towards the righteous. Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training (wisdom 2:12)

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Moreover, the brothers also despise Joseph on account of their father’s favoritism. Jacob makes an open display of his affection for Joseph by making him a multi-colored coat. Every time his brothers catch a glimpse of Joseph in that coat, the feelings of hatred get triggered and they cease to speak politely to him (Genesis 37:4)

 

The two dreams - When Joseph is seventeen, he has two dreams which he shares enthusiastically with his family. In the first dream, Joseph and his brothers are binding sheaves. Suddenly his brothers’ sheaves bow down to his sheaf which stands upright. In the second dream the sun, the moon and eleven stars bow down to Joseph. The brothers are enraged at the implications of the dream; that the future entails the possibility of them having to pay obeisance to their younger brother whom they abhor so intensely.

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God’s choice v/s man’s choice- The world has its own criteria of who should be deserving of its esteem and admiration; these norms are often based on seniority, appearances, muscle power, affluence etc. There is a tendency among the stronger ones to belittle the youngsters, treat the weaker people with disdain, consider the feeble too insignificant and avoid giving them opportunities to voice their opinion. But God specializes in choosing weak instruments to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27)

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Joseph has been especially chosen as a future deliverer, although at this moment in time, he is unaware that it is a prophetic dream and hence cannot fathom its meaning. His father Jacob after his initial annoyance keeps pondering on what the dreams could signify. But his brothers’ animosity towards Joseph deepens further with the disclosure of these two dreams.

One day Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers who have gone to graze their flock at Shechem a place where he owns a plot of land (V 33:19). He trusts Joseph better than his other sons. Joseph instantly complies without any excuses.

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Obedience v/s disobedience- No sound of murmuring or protests “why should I go there, father, they dislike me, they mock me, call me a dreamer”. Instead Joseph responds with the words “here I am”, which in Hebrew means ‘Hineni’. The same word is used to describe Abraham’s response when God calls him to sacrifice his son Isaac. ‘Hineni’ does not signify mere physical presence but complete spiritual and emotional obedience to the will of the one issuing the command. As expected, the brothers are at Dothan and not at Shechem where they ought to be which brings to light another striking feature of his brothers – disobedience.

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The plot - Joseph’s brothers are aware that, if Jacob discovers their travel to Dothan, they will be in a tight spot once again. An adverse report concerning them will reach their father’s ears; and so, the plot begins. “Let’s get rid of him, He spills the beans on us, he is responsible for our father distrusting us, we cannot bear his disgusting dreams!!” They throw him in to a nearby waterless pit. One can only imagine how intensely they must have hated Joseph to even consider taking his life. Thanks to the intervention of the eldest brother Reuben, his life is at least spared.

And they sat down to eat as if nothing has happened! They ignore Joseph’s pleas for mercy. How hard-hearted could they have been! Not once do the brothers seek to contemplate the emotional state of their elderly father; how heartbroken would he be on hearing the news of Joseph’s death. The brothers attitude demonstrates a complete lack of godly fear or fatherly concern.

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At Judah’s suggestion, they sell Joseph to the passing Midianite traders. Right in his presence, the deal is struck with the Midianites. They trade him for a mere twenty pieces of silver!! How unsettling must this experience have been for Joseph? “Why is this happening to me? Why has God forsaken me? This can’t be real!” Joseph had to undergo this humiliating and tiring journey from Dothan to Egypt facing the hunger and thirst pangs on account of rationed food portions, enduring the scorching heat of the desert sun and the biting cold of the night for days at a stretch!! Back home, as expected; Jacob is inconsolable and mourns the loss of his beloved son for days. Even then, not one of the brothers has the courage to confess the truth.

 

The all-knowing God has set a time for their lie to be exposed.

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