Summary: This is study about the different color’s that could have been used in Joseph’s coat. Hopefully through this study, we can get a better understanding of the message Jacob (Israel) was imparting to Joseph.

This is a series of messages 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 Preachers Outline And Sermon Bible. Many other sources were used to help compile this series!

A Coat of Many Colors #6 Crimson

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.

What, have we learned so far about this coat of many colors?

The First week we looked at the color of Amber which represented God’s Presence and Glory in the life of Joseph.Then we took a glance at the color Black which could have represented two ideas. The first thought was that there would be days of darkness that he would have to face. The second thought, had to do with the future of the Famine in the land that was still to come into his life. And also we have learned that it was a possibility that Jacob gave this coat of many colors to Joseph and put Dark Blue into it to signify that he wanted his son to continue to Worship God! But second idea with the color Blue in mind would be that someday Joseph would make Heaven his home. So the color could have been Sky Blue or Light Blue. Last week, Jacob might have put GREEN into that coat to represent Spiritual Growth.

The next color that we will look at is CRIMSON.

You could also call it RED, or SCARLET.

Why would Jacob put some red into the coat of many colors?

First of all, I believe that he wanted the red in that coat to remind his son of the lessons that he had taught him at a early age.

It was God who required a sacrifice of blood for the sin that would come into Joseph’s life.

All the way back to Adam and Eve the blood had been shed for sins.

This lesson that God taught Adam and Eve in the clothing of skins was passed down to their sons. But Cain does not listen nor does He obey and now his offering is rejected.

The way of Cain as Jude 11 mentions involved worshiping God on his own terms, doing the work of his own hands, and being selfish in his reasoning.

But Abel offers a firstling of his flock which would require the shedding of blood. And God Accepts!

Jacob was showing his son Joseph, that there would come a day when the blood would be needed to wash his sin away, not the blood of bulls and goats, but the blood of the Messiah, the Deliverer that God would surely send.

He already knew what we have learned by reading in Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

They were taught to look to the cross like we look back. Adam and eve were promised a redeemer.

Remember Genesis 3:15 (KJV) 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Jacob had no way of knowing, other than by divine revelation, that Joseph would one day be a ruler in Egypt that would save his people from death due to the famine in the land.

He also could not have known that one day, after several generations had passed, that the red in Joseph’s coat would be a symbol of the blood of the lamb that was sprinkled upon the doorposts of each house when the death angel swept through Egypt.

Exodus 12:13 (KJV) 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

John Phillips said, “Today many look with revulsion on the shedding of blood that formed such an essential feature of the Old Testament religion. They consider with equal horror the New Testament’s teaching concerning Christ’s blood. They shudder with abhorrence at many of the gospel hymns that emphasize the efficacy of the blood of Christ. Those who thus scorn the shed blood have their eyes blinded both to God’s blazing holiness and to the dreadful, …nature of sin. Sin is a radical and terrible reality that calls for a radical and terrible cure.” [John Philips. Exploring Hebrews. (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1992) p. 118]

The world may not like to think or hear about blood, but the writer of Hebrews 9:22 tells us that it is only the blood of Christ that can cleanse us from our sins.

The word Blood is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible and it is essential to the doctrine of Jesus’ for the blood is to be the only atonement for our sin.

The shed blood of the Son of God is the heart of the Gospel, for it is through His blood that we have hope today.

Not very many preachers are preaching about the blood of Christ anymore. If we quit preaching the blood; or if we fail to talk about the blood; or if we take the blood of Jesus for granted then we have lost the true purpose of the church and we have become nothing more than sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.

I like the old songs about the blood! The hymns about the blood are the best.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

A. It is through the blood that we have redemption for the sinner.

Romans 5:9 (KJV) 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Revelation 5:9 (KJV) 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

1. The shedding of blood was and always will be a necessity for redemption.

Think with me just for a moment about Israel and the last plague!

The blood was to be placed on the two side post and on the header of the door post. Exodus 12:7 (KJV) 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

This promised them protection from the death angel that night.

Now what do you think would have happened if Moses had taken the position that some do today?

What if we just nail the dead lamb to the door!

What if we just paint it with red paint!

What if I hang my church membership certificate on the door!

That angel was looking for only one thing – “The Blood” –of the Slain Lamb.

Nothing else would have Sufficed. “IT HAD TO BE THE BLOOD!”

You can be like Cain or many others who have followed him, you can believe the devil and his lies, but it will not change the truth. Nothing else would be accepted!

2. It had to be Innocent Blood.

Exodus 12:5 (KJV) 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Genesis 4:4 (KJV) 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Remember what Judas Said; Matthew 27:4 (KJV) 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

God would not accept a blemished Sacrifice!

Since Jesus had no earthly father, and His conception was divine, that means that His blood was innocent blood.

When conception takes place the blood comes from the father and not the mother.

Dr. DeHaan, in his book, The Chemistry Of The Blood, goes on to explain about the origin of the blood in the fetus.

It is now definitely known that the blood which flows in an unborn babe’s arteries and veins is not derived from the mother but the father.

He further states, that not a single drop of the mothers blood mixes with the babies while attached through the umbilical cord.

You see it had to be incorruptible blood!

1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV) 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

B. It is through the blood that we have cleansing from sin for the believer.

Jacob could have also understood that the color Red signified sin.

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:20 (KJV) 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

1 John 1:7 (KJV) 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

R. A. Torry said this, “The blood of Christ has the power to cleanse the believer from all sin. It continually cleanseth, is cleansing, and is keeping him clean every day and every hour and every minute.”

Thank God His Blood wash away all stains of sin!

Isaiah 1:18-20 (KJV) 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

It is better that Clorox!

Now, I want you to see this a little differently Turn to Matthew 27:28 (KJV) 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

They stripped Christ and put a scarlet robe on Him, He was stripped naked and shamed and made to appear ridiculous by being clad with a royal robe.

Sin made man naked and shamed him (Genesis 3:7). We are naked before Him who is to judge the world.

Christ was stripped naked and shamed that He might secure clothing that is white and pure for us (that is, righteousness).

Christ wore (bore) the scarlet robe for us. The scarlet robe symbolized that He was to bear our sins.

1) Because He wore the scarlet robe of our sins, our sins can be as white as snow.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).

2) Because He wore the scarlet robe of our sins, we can wash our robes in the blood of the lamb.

"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14).

C. It is through the blood that we can overcome SATAN!

Maybe Jacob also added some red to ever remind his son that there is an adversary out there whose full intent is to kill, steal and destroy Joseph at the first opportunity.

John saw the devil in the Book of Revelation and this is how he described him. Revelation 12:3 (KJV) 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Every time Joseph would put that coat on, he would be reminded that the devil was out to destroy him. It would be a constant reminder to for him stay close to God and not stray far from the presence of God lest he fall into the hands of the powers of hell.

1 John 4:4 (KJV) 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Romans 8:35-39 (KJV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Oliver B. Green Said, “Before I was saved, I cursed, drank, gambled, did everything the devil ever wanted me to do except murder – and I did that in my heart; but since the day God saved me I have not been a cursing man, neither do I drink nor do I gamble. I still pass the pool rooms, I pass the beer shops; but I have no trouble staying out of those places. There is no longer a temptation for me to go inside; I have no desire for such things because II have a new heart.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Somehow through giving Joseph this coat of many colors that included the color Red, Israel was saying to his son the same thing that the Prophet Isaiah would speak to the people many years later, and the same thing that we must tell our children today.

Isaiah 1:18-20 (KJV) 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.