Topic: Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors

There are fourteen chapters in Genesis devoted to how God used Joseph to fulfill His plan to save Jacob (Israel) and deliver Joseph’s eleven brothers along with all their families. Genesis 37 introduces us to Joseph as a 17 year old. He, along with his brother Benjamin, were the sons of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob had other older children by other wives. Joseph was very well-loved by Jacob because he is the first-born son of Rachel, who died in childbirth (Genesis 35). Joseph received special treatment from his father.

Jacob had a special robe made for Joseph. One day, Joseph went to the field to deliver a message to his brothers. Joseph’s brothers became jealous of Joseph upon seeing his special coat given to him by Jacob. Joseph shared with his brothers the dream God have given him:

- Someday all the stalks of wheat will bow down to him. Even the sun, moon and eleven

stars will bow low to Joseph.

The brothers became angry as the recognized the dream referred to them bowing to Jospeh. They wanted to kill Joseph and throw him in a pit. Reuben, the oldest, influenced the others to not kill Joseph. Later, the brothers sold Joseph to the band of Ishmaelite traders who were passing by. It was no accident that Ishmaelite traders were passing by that very moment on their way to Egypt.

While Joseph was sold as a slave heading to Egypt, the brothers took the coat of many colors to make it look as if Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. The brothers agreed to tell their father that they found the coat of many colors in the field.

After this betrayal, Joseph goes through many more life events. Eventually, his brothers come to Egypt to buy food. Joseph was in charge of the sale of grain. Because of his leadership role, his brothers have to bow low before him with their faces to the ground–just as Joseph had seen in his dream. Through this turn of events, Joseph was able to send for and bring his entire family, including his father Jacob, to Egypt. The whole household of Jacob and all twelve children of Jacob were provided for and delivered from the seven years of famine.

Here is the thought: God’s dream is not made void because Joseph was mistreated by his brothers. It may take suffering, slavery, and famine to bring about God’s plan.

The key is to recognize that God’s plan does not revolve around you and your life. God’s plan includes you but revolves around His purpose to redeem humanity from sin. We are most often just a tiny piece of a much bigger purpose–God’s purpose.

See you Sunday,

Dr. Scott Kallem