God Gives the Dream

Genesis 37:1–11 CSB

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. These are the family records of Jacob. At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him. Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

God Point: God is always in control—and He keeps every promise.

From Abraham to

Grow Point: Bitterness follows envy, but faithfulness to God leads to life.

Joseph’s brothers gave in to jealousy because he was favored by their father, chosen by God, and destined to lead. But Joseph chose faithfulness over bitterness. He trusted what God had revealed, even when others didn’t. His obedience led to life—not just for himself, but for his whole family. In the same way, our faithfulness to obey and follow God’s calling impacts more than just us—it can bring glory to God & blessing to others.

The brothers were Jealous because:

Joseph was favored by Jacob (Coat)

He was faithful to his father, giving a report of his brothers to Jacob.

He was loved because he was both faithful and born favored as the son of Jacobs favorite wife.

Most likely he would receive the birth right and inheritance, because Reuben lost it because of his actions. (1 Chr 5:1-2)

Jospeh was chosen by God (Dreams)

He was chosen to lead his family, going before them into Egypt and carrying them through the famine, providing life for them in a foriegn land. Jospeh led the people into Egypt, and Moses would lead them out. (Jesus leads us as a great shepherd, both now in a foreign land, and later in eternity.)

His brothers were called to

Gauge Question:

Believers- Are you trusting God’s purpose, or letting envy and pride of others steal your focus?

Unbelievers- Are you trusting God’s plan through Jesus, or trying to take control yourself?