Today’s reading begins with Genesis 36. This chapter outlines the descendants of Esau, also known as Edom. We can also find this information in I Chron 1:35-54. In verses 2-3 of this chapter, we see that Esau had three wives, two were Canaanite women, not Semites, and one was Ishmael’s daughter. Verses 6-8 tell us that Esau moved away from Jacob as they both had so many livestock and possessions that the land could not support both households living near each other. Esau took his family to Seir, and this is where we find the Edomites living in later Bible accounts. This chapter tells us of many chiefs and rulers descended from Esau.
The Amalekites, in verse 12, were a nation descended from Esau. They were a wandering tribe that attacked the Israelites soon after God brought them out of Egypt. They were also a problem for the Israelites during the book of Judges. We see someone named Jobab, in verse 34, who many think is the man Job in the book by that name. We see Job’s friends, Eliphaz and Teman, from the book of Job, in verses 10-11.
Chapter 37 moves on to the next generation telling us that Jacob continued on living in Canaan, the land of his father and the story then moves to the next generation, his sons. In verse 2, we see Joseph, the eldest of Rachel’s two sons. He is now 17. He is tending sheep with the four brothers who are the sons of his father’s two concubines and he brings his father a bad report about them. Joseph is a tattletale.
Read verses 3-4. Which son is Jacob’s favorite? Why? We know that Joseph is the oldest son of Rachel, the woman that Jacob loved, and that she has died. And we also know that Joseph was born to her very late in the game, well after the other three women had born Jacob many sons, and after Rachel had been barren for a long time, so his birth would have been very meaningful to both Jacob and Rachel. It would have been an answer to a long line of prayers.
The Bible tells us that because he loved this son so much, he made a special robe for him… of many colors (KJV)/ornate (NIV). Bible scholars agree that this robe would have therefore had a special meaning. Its nature would have conveyed status, elevating him above the other brothers. The other brothers were jealous and hated Joseph for it. They were able to see that Joseph was loved more than they were and they were unable to speak to him in a civil manner because of it. We see, once again, a parent’s favoritism causing problems among the children.
What kind of status did this robe convey? Well, remember how Isaac bestowed a special blessing on Jacob, whom he thought was Esau, when he thought he was at the end of his life? This blessing was usually bestowed upon the eldest son, but the brothers probably assumed that Jacob was intending to bestow this blessing upon Joseph instead. Remember, the eldest son, Reuben, had slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah, and Jacob had found out. Simeon and Levi had massacred the whole town of Shechem for the sin of one man against their sister, resulting in the family having to move away. Four of the brothers were sons of his concubines (slaves), not his wives. But Joseph was the firstborn of the only woman Jacob had ever loved, an answer to prayer. And he always got special treatment. It is easy to see how the brothers could have been thinking this.
Read verses 5-8. What did Joseph dream? People at that time believed in dreams foretelling the future and Joseph’s dream foretold his brothers bowing down to him. Joseph bragged about this dream to his brothers and they were very angry when they heard this. Acts 7:9 tells us why the brothers were so angry with Joseph.
Read verses 9-11. What was Joseph’s second dream? In this dream, his father also bowed down to him along with his brothers. When Joseph bragged about this dream, his father rebuked him. However, while his brothers remained angry over this, Jacob held this memory deep in his heart. God was showing Joseph the future through his dreams. He knew that Joseph had some hard times to go through before things got better and wanted him to know what the future held in store. God had great plans for Joseph.
Responding to God: Praise God for His love and His wisdom. Thank Him for His great gifts and His goodness. Ask his forgiveness for any favoritism you may be displaying in your family or for anything you may be doing to create disharmony in the home. Seek His help in putting aside jealousy. Ask for discernment concerning what information you should share with others and how you should share it. Seek forgiveness for any bragging you may have done.
Further Research: Contrast the future of Esau’s descendants with that of Jacob’s descendants (Obadiah 8-21).
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