Genesis 37:1-11 KJV 1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Why tell a story backwards or tell a story of events before the beginning. Yesterdays lesson was on Joseph becoming a ruler in the land of Egypt. The story posted today has to do with what events as a young man. If Joseph could of only had 20/20 vision of what would come looking back would not been so much fun. Yet what we have to know is hindsight also shows the road that leads Joseph to both destruction and truth all at the same time. Truth despite how true it really is, does not always cause a positive reaction or peace by the bearer of the truth. If you read the last verses I posted you see his father did not react the same way as Joseph brothers did to the dreams that Joseph had. If a young person says they want to be president in this day an age, most think little about it. If someone said they want to be a world class minister or a movie star little is thought about it, for children are taught to excel at those things they are passionate about. Yet they are also taught to work hard and not allow people to hold you back. No one thinks anything about someone being famous in years ahead because passion changes. However Joseph is seventeen a grown man. A man who had a dream. A man favored by his father, who was given a prized coat above any other gift given, because it was a coat of many colors. Dyes in clothing rarer then they are today in a time when things dyed were done with much effort. Dyes would of been made probably from plants and any other sources that would stain the cloth once applied by soaking. The process to achieve such a special garment took more time then one that had only one color or maybe even two. The cost would of been greater. Today material has changed in value with the diversity of retail market to mass produce colorful garments that no on thinks about design or the printed material as costing more. Now looking at the story did this valuable garment of many colors cause Joseph head to spin a little so he had a dream where is family bowed to him as if he were a king. One thing to note Joseph was not king of Israel or from even the tribe of Judah which is the kingly line of Israel's kings. Joseph became a ruler in a kingdom not of his family land. Wait for a moment and when you grasp the prophesy of his family and his leadership, it was almost impossible for him to be king in his family. Yet the prophesy had not come concerning the tribe of Judah yet. Yet in Chapter 45 as Jacob was old and dying he spoke blessing over his family and declared Judah being the line of the kings. Yet Joseph he spoke of being a progenitor, or someone that gain their wealth and power by God in a strange land. Stop there for a moment we have prophesy before and prophesy after of ancestory lines. Did Joseph get kicked out of the family by his siblings only to become wealthy and with power over a course of time and by the hand of God that was on Joseph. Why did they throw Joseph out of the family because he said they would bow to him. Because he had exalted himself above them. Now his father had nothing to do with Joseph being outcasted from the family. Yet in the chapter all we see is the problem it cause in the family when Joseph exalted himself. Being unpeaceable would be exalting of one self, but what if God had a purpose for it. Was it still wrong? Who gave Joseph the dream? was the dream of God. Had he lorded over his brothers about the coat. This we do not know. However we know tattling on his brothers probably did not help his situation in the least. Everything he did was wrong in the eyes of his loved ones. Yet God would not only allow Joseph to be sold, but to be taken as a slave to a foreign land. Our comprehension of the disaster that befell Joseph life, is only a reflection that Joseph took his situation and still did the best job he could in every situation despite the evil occurence of his family betrayal. What can we learn from Joseph story, that God take how we use what He speaks to us as a testimony of truth later in our life, and also speak truth to our hearts of how much change we had to learn to get to the palace. His submission and learning servanthood had to be there. See to be a good leader you have to learn to serve the people. Though he served his family, they had no respect for him. They had no respect because of what he prophesized about. When thinking for a moment did Joseph get justice, only by leaving and becoming all God intended for him to be. A choice God perhaps made for Joseph, but what point had Joseph surrender to God we really do not know. We know he had visions from God. These vision were enough to encourage Joseph throughout his life time. He did all he could for he continue by interpreting dreams by the power of God that other's had. Last to hold to what God has promised to you when he speaks to your heart and soul, whether through vision or dreams. One the greatest truth if you want to live peacefully with your fellow man do not lord over them, but demonstrate servanthood to them. Joseph was a young man still learning how to treat people. God would teach him. Dear Heavenly Father, help us to live in peace through example of our occupation chosen by you, not by our declaration. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Genesis 49:26 KJV The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. http://www.turtle30cshell.com