Part 1: Setting the Stage

Genesis 37:2–11 (ESV)

2 These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Introduction

Joseph, the Patriarch, is by far one my favorite people in the Bible. He is definitely in my top 5. Chuck Swindoll says it best, “Joseph’s biography is found in the single most astounding book ever written—the Bible. No life recorded there is either unimportant or forgettable.” There are so many things I love about this story. It is a story of history—we see God using a man to save nations. It is a story of leadership and work ethic—whether he is at home, in a pit, or in prison, Joseph always has ‘A’ game and rises to the top. It is story of God’s Sovereignty—we learn that God’s plans will always succeed no matter what. In fact, God is able to use the sinful actions of man to fulfill his purposes.

This is also a story about family.