| Subject: Genesis 37 vss 1-4 Post 176 |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 19:42:06 01/09/12 Mon
CHAPTER 37
Genesis 37:1-4 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.
As we get into Chapter 37 we are introduced to the life of Joseph. Other than his birth (Gen. 30:24-25), his meeting along with his mother of Esau (Gen. 33:2,7) and the mention of him along with his mother and brother Benjamin in 35:24 the Bible has been silent on this "dreamer" (Gen. 37:19).
Joseph is one of the major Patriarchs of Israel. Not only is he a major "player" but, as we shall see, there is much prophecy of our Lord Jesus and future events on the earth bound up in the life of this man. It would be doubtful if any other character in the Bible came close to having events and details of their life foreshadow the life of Jesus. I have read that there are over 150 details given in the life of Joseph that are similar to details in the life of Jesus.
From the beginning we can recognize similarities that are displayed for us. Joseph was a shepherd by trade. He was feeding the flocks with his brothers. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Joseph was Jacobs eyes and ears and reported the mischief of his brothers. Jesus was God's "man on the ground". Daily He was in constant communication and communion with His Father in Heaven. All He saw and heard was discussed with the Father. Notice the ones whom Joseph was bringing an evil report of. It was the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. It does not mention that the sons of Leah was included in this evil report. It was the sons of the concubines. Again we have evidence to the lack of wisdom in following your own desires instead of obeying God. Had Jacob refused these concubines (hand maids of his two legal wives) things might have been different. For one thing Rachel may have had more children and there might not have been the jealousies brought about by the station of the sons of the legal wives as opposed to the sons of the servants. Take note of the result of Abraham having Ishmael at the urging of his wife Sarah. God was never in that union and there has been a sea of blood shed because of that union.
Of all his children Jacob loved Joseph the most. Jesus was beloved of the Father and who could argue that Jesus had a special place before His Father in Heaven that no other man had held. We find that Joseph was the son of his old age. Jesus was the son of the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9,13,22). While time means nothing to God and time did not begin until God created, He lived in eternity past. God the Father was the Ancient of Days long before Jesus was robed with flesh to be born a manchild by the Holy Ghost and the virgin Mary. The birth of Jesus was miraculous in that God intervened in and overshadowed the life of Mary. While not exactly the same Rachel could bare no children until God opened her womb. God intervened in the life of Rachel for Joseph to be born as he did in the life of Mary.
The third thing we see is that Jacob made Joseph a "coat of many colours". The coat signified the position that Jacob intended for Joseph. He was to have the birthright. He was not the firstborn but just as Jacob and Isaac his parents before him he had the number 2 stamped on his life. He was the first son of Jacob's chosen but second wife therefore election is shown in his life. Just as Jesus was the "second man" (1 Cor. 15:47) and the "last Adam" (1 Cor. 15:45). The many colored coat signified nobility and it could be said that with Jacob the Patriarch over Israel Joseph was to be appointed prince. Jesus was a prince. (Isa. 9:6, Dan. 8:25, 9:25, Acts 3:15, 5:31)
In verse 4 we see this mark on the life of Joseph that was predominate throughout all the ministerial life of Jesus: "--when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." No one who ever lived has been more reviled by His own kindred that Jesus. John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. In life they persecuted Him and mocked Him. At his death they chose to release Barabbas instead of our innocent Saviour. They plucked His beard. slapped Him, beat Him with whips, spat on him, stripped Him naked and marched Him up a Calvary's hill with a crown of thorns on His brow to be shamefully put to death. Even in His agony there was no sympathy from the crowds. The word of the day was "crucify Him". Even the two being crucified with him berated Him until one became ashamed and cried to Him. "Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." ( Luke 23:42)
Shadows are at best imperfect images. They are distorted by distance and the surface they are cast upon. Joseph, while thoroughly hated by these brothers, did not come close to the revulsion that Jesus knew. No man ever has!
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