THE DREAMER
TEXT: Genesis 37: 1-36 W. Max Alderman
Chapter 37 introduces a long section of Bible study that has to do with Joseph. “Joseph, being seventeen years old”: Thus begins one of the most remarkable life stories of the Bible and all literature. “He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the one-hundred-and-ten-year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public. He was a truly great man.” (Boice) In this chapter Joseph is sold into slavery after offending his brothers with his dreams. His brothers were also jealous of Joseph being favored by their father Israel, yet he went on trusting the Lord.
Enoch shows the walk of faith, Noah shows the perseverance of faith, Abraham shows the obedience of faith, Isaac shows the power of faith, and Jacob shows the discipline of faith. Along these lines we could say that Joseph shows the triumph of faith. Joseph never complained and he never compromised (Guzik). As we study the life characteristics of this great man, may we be challenged to be like him…
I. THE DREAMING OF JOSEPH (Vv. 1-7)
Nearly everyone dreams. Today we usually do not take dreams seriously. Joseph’s dreams, however, were from the Lord for the purpose of revealing prophetic truth. His dreams were revealed to his brother. This caused jealously and other troubles to develop.
A. The dreamer was a Faithful son. (Vv. 1-2)
Joseph told Israel of his brother’s evil doings. He was faithful to reveal rather than conceal the matter. Certainly it took a great deal of courage to do what he did. The exercising of that courage showed forth faithfulness. He also was faithful to his job requirements. There is no indication that he was just a tale-bearer, but instead he is seen to have a sensitive spirit to that which is wrong and most likely told the evil report with the hopes that his father could deal with it to the son’s good. Yet, we will find that this was to be added to those things that would cost Joseph for doing right. Time will prove that God will honor him for doing right.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As it did with Joseph, it may cost you to do right. Yet, it may also be said, “That it pays to do right.” When doing right and facing criticism for having done so, you may be tempted to “back off” from doing right. Like the Book of Hebrews, we should heed what Hebrews 10:35 says: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward”. The Lord will reward us when we do right.
When I was in the sixth grade, I reported a theft of fifty cents from the “snack box”. Ann and I had been given the responsibility of taking care of the store. I turned my back and then quickly turned back around and saw that the fifty cent piece had been stolen. I went home after I saw that she had taken the money and told my mother. My mother then told me that I needed to tell my sixth grade school teacher. I went the next day and told my teacher that I had something private to tell her. We stepped out into the hall and then I told her. She went and told the principle. Instead of the principle removing or disciplining the one who had taken the money, he removed us both. That nearly crushed me, because it made me look guilty, also. It bothered me for many years when I thought about it. Over twenty-five years later, I walked into a funeral home to preach a funeral and saw my sixth grade school teacher. The first thing that she said was, “Max, I won’t ever get over what that principle did to you. You were doing right in reporting the theft of that money and he treated you just as though you had taken it.” I had never mentioned this incident to my sixth grade teacher and had wondered if she thought that I had taken some money, but when she told me that, I felt a sense of relief in knowing that she knew that I had done right… That made my day. I think of how when we do right and feel that it is not being rewarded, that just as it was with my teacher, one day the truth will come forth.
Some of you hearing this may have faced trial or persecution for just doing right. Just wait. One day the truth will come out…
B. The dreamer was a Favorite son. (Vv. 3-7)
The Bible tells us that Joseph was loved more than all his children because he was the son of his old age. When Joseph’s brethren saw that he was loved more than they were, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him. The coat of many colors reminded the brothers that Joseph enjoyed a favored position. This signified a position of favor, princely standing, and birthright. It was a dramatic way of saying he was the son to receive the birthright. This favorite son dreamed and explained his dreams causing more hatred to develop.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: I am not sure if Israel was wise in showing the partiality that he had towards Joseph or not. Even with him doing so, that did not justify the brothers having the hatred that they did for Joseph. I know that as parents that we should show the same love to each of our children. There may be a human tendency to give preferential treatment to one child over the other. This can be readily detected by the other siblings. There also can be a tendency for showing partiality in a class room. Most of us have heard the expression: “She or he is the teacher’s pet.”
II. THE DESPISING OF JOSEPH (Vv. 8-27)
It seems that everything that Joseph did only intensified the animosity and the hatred that his brethren had for him. When he was commissioned by his father to check on them, they recognized him from a distance and said, “Behold, this dreamer cometh”. This was said in a very sarcastic and demeaning manner. They did not like the way that he had interpreted the dream to show that his family would one day be under his ruler ship. Joseph however was not to be faulted; this was God’s doings. He certainly has that right as the Sovereign.
A. Joseph was despised because of his Birth. (cf. V. 3)
He was born a favored son when he was born to Rachel. It also was not Joseph’s fault that he was being despised because of who he was born to, and also when he was born.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We are only born once, physically and all have the opportunity to be born the second time spiritually. The way that we are born the first time and to whom we are born is unique to only ourselves. We are individuals with different character traits. None of us are the same. Some are given many talents; some are given only a few. Yet, God rewards the faithful use of these talents. If you take and live your life selfishly, without any consideration towards the Lord, you will forfeit many blessings that could have been yours. You either may be envied for who you are, or you may be despised for who you are. Just remember that God has given each of us the same opportunity to exercise faithfulness back to him. If you find yourself as Joseph did, in difficult circumstances, please be faithful where you are and just wait for God to exalt you in due time. He will one day reward your faithfulness.
B. Joseph was despised because of his Behavior.
(Vv. 8-11)
Joseph was despised not for doing evil but for doing good. Joseph typifies the Lord in many ways. Sidlow Baxter observes that he was the beloved son, that he was the rejected servant, and also the exalted Savior. The way that he was despised for doing well certainly pictures the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Jealousy is made up of the word lousy. Jealousy certainly is lousy… I see jealousy and selfishness almost as being “first cousins”. They are words that are so much alike to be different. A jealous person is probably a self-centered person. He envies someone else; because he thinks whatever is happening to someone else should be happening to him. I remember when I was a boy a man came to take pictures of me and my brother and he put my brother on the horse and I had to stay on the ground. No matter what the man tried to do to get me to smile, I would not. After we got the pictures back, I tore them in two after which my dad “tore me in two”. I was probably five years old but remember it as though it were yesterday.
This same terrible plague can invade our churches with members becoming jealous of someone that they should not be jealous of. We should have such a heart that we will commend those who excel or benefit in areas that we do not; we should learn from the Lord not to be jealous.
C. Joseph was despised by his Brethren. (Vv. 12-27)
Joseph was called upon by his father to locate his brethren and report their disposition. Joseph finally located his brethren in Dothan. When his brethren saw him afar off they conspired to kill him. Rueben, the elder, spoke against that plan and offered the plan that they should cast him in the pit instead of killing him. After they put him in the pit, while they were eating, they saw a company of Ishmeelites coming from Gilead. Judah, in Reuben’s absence, suggested that Joseph be sold to the Ishmeelites. Before Joseph’s brothers could sell him, a company of Midianites merchantmen found him and sold him to the Ishmeelites. The Ishmeelites bought Joseph for twenty pieces of silver.
III. THE DELIVERANCE OF JOSEPH (Vv. 28-35)
The deliverance of Joseph seemed anything but deliverance while these events were taking place. The reason that it seemed this way was that Joseph was to go through adversity before he was to enjoy prosperity. He went to the place of the pit, first and then to the place of prominence, later. He experienced humiliation before he experienced exaltation.
A. Joseph’s deliverance showed God’s Protection. (V. 28a)
God spared Joseph’s life, and through these adverse circumstances, that are recorded in our text, God is overseeing his safety. This is the sovereign purpose of God at work. The Midianites and the Ishmeelites only saw Joseph as a business opportunity when he was sold for twenty pieces of silver. Once the transition was made, Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold by the Ishmeelites and bought by Potiphar. God meant it all for good. This was all within the scope of God’s protective providence.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As believers, we must be mindful that we fit into the scheme of things and that things are happening that seems to have no rhyme or reason, yet God is certainly working behind the scenes. There are many things that will happen according to the programmed laws of God that He has already organized and put into effect only for each of those events to take place without Him either orchestrating or immediately causing those events to happen. For example, He does not have to “crank up” every rain shower, because He has already given laws of nature to take care of that. That was all put into His original design at creation. Yet, when people pray who are underneath His blessings, He can bring together the clouds necessary for rain in answer to their prayer. Likewise, He can work in the affairs of men within a person’s environment to bring about certain conditions to serve His ultimate purpose.
B. Joseph’s deliverance showed God’s Providence.
(Vv. 28b-35)
Once again we note the providence of God at work. Providentially Joseph is being put into position to further the work of the Lord, to fulfill the promises of God and to be in position to aid his family during the time of famine.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION: (refer to III. A above)
IV. THE DESTINY OF JOSEPH (V. 36)
Joseph is now in position to see his destiny fixed, in the most humble of beginnings, as a servant in the house of Potiphar. Joseph will demonstrate the Biblical truth, “He that is faithful over few things, I will make thee ruler over many things”. This verse will also introduce what is to take place in chapter 39.
Closing Remarks – This chapter opens the door to a rich and fruitful study of the life of Joseph. More pages will be given to this man than any other person in the book of Genesis.
