A Coat Of Many Colors - #2 Black Series

This is a series of sermons on the coat of many colors – Free Power point is available through E-Mail retssi@bellsouth.net

Several Illustrations, points, and the main idea for this series of sermons dealing with the coat of many colors was from James May’s sermon, “A Coat Of Many Colors.” Also Several Illustrations and points came from John Hamby’s sermon, “Remodeling - Dealing with an Imperfect Family,” and many other sources were used to help compile this series!

A Coat of Many Colors #2 Black (May Take Two Weeks To Teach This One)

Genesis 37:1-3 (KJV) 1 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.

More than anything else, I want you to remember that Jacob loved Joseph.

Jacob had big dreams for Joseph. His hopes and concerns for his son I believe was manifested in this special coat that he made.

Even though that coat became the focal point of hatred that Joseph’s brothers had for him, that coat I believe still presented a message to Joseph.

What, is so significant about a coat of many colors?

A coat of many colors carries a special meaning.

It was more than just a gift to show a love that a father has for his son. It was more than just an ordinary coat.

Last week we saw the color Amber which represented God’s Presence and Glory in the life of Joseph.

Today I want us to look at the color Black!

What was Jacob trying to tell his son with that color?

For most of us, when we think of the color black, we associate it with mostly the negative side of life.

Black has always been a symbol of death, disease, famine and sorrow. The only time in the Bible where the color black is spoken of in a positive manner is when there is a mention of black hair, meaning healthy hair.

Last week we learned that Israel, by giving Joseph this coat, was trying to tell his son that He could enjoy the presence and glory of God.

Now tonight with the color BLACK we will find are two theories of thought that we should look at.

1. First of all that there would be days of darkness that he would have to face.

I believe that those dark days started right after he was given the coat.

You see Joseph came from a highly dysfunctional family. Today, we might it call it a “blended” family (the 12 brothers were born of 4 different mothers), and the brothers always seemed to be fighting.

About the only thing that united his brothers was their hatred of him.

And because his brothers hated him,

• Joseph ended up thrown into a pit,

• sold into slavery,

• and ultimately accused of a crime he didn’t commit and then he was thrown into prison.

Talk about depression and sorrow in your life.

Joseph’s brothers had actually planned to kill him, but their greed overcame their hatred long enough for them say: Genesis 37:26-27 (KJV) 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then they soaked Joseph’s cherished coat in goat’s blood and brought it back to their father and watched callously as their father cried out in anguish, tore his garments and mourned for days.

With brothers like that, Joseph didn’t need enemies.

John 3:19 (KJV) 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Psalm 143:3 (KJV) 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Isaiah 5:20 (KJV) 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

So – in Genesis 39 - we find Joseph now in Egypt. Egypt had already become a great nation before Joseph had been born. They’d already built their famous pyramids, the sphinx, and the temple at Luxor. In those days – as now – Egypt was a tourist paradise