Three Coats

THREE COATS

GENESIS 37:3-4

INTRODUCTION: Throughout the Bible coats are mentioned a number of times. God made Adam and Eve coats of skins after their fall in the garden. Elisha desired the mantle or coat of Elijah, which was used in performing many miracles. The Roman soldiers gambled for the robe or outer coat of Christ. Probably the most familiar coat was Joseph¡¦s coat of many colors. But this was just one of three coats that had significance in the life of Joseph. Let us consider Joseph¡¦s three coats.

I. THE COAT OF CONFERMENT AND CONTENTION (Genesis 37:3-4)

A. God distinguished His grace to Joseph separating him from his brothers in a number of ways.

1. In his character, his communications, and in the events of his life.

2. In his father¡¦s affection

„h Genesis 37:3 "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 colors."

B. The Coat of Conferment.

1. A Tunic with long sleeves and reaching down to the ankles ¡V worn by children of the upper ranks and by those who were in positions of authority or oversight. It was not a work garment but that of a superior.

2. In conferring this distinction Jacob marked Joseph as the heir to whom the forfeited birthright of Reuben was to be transferred.

3. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 "Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. [2] For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)"

C. A Coat of Contention.

1. The result of the conferment of the coat was that Joseph¡¦s brothers hated him.

„h Genesis 37:4 "And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."

2. They hated him so much that they could not address him in a civil manner, wish him well or offer him the customary salutation ¡§Shalom¡¨.

3. They envied him intensifying their hatred for him.

4. Joseph added fuel to the fire by relating, in a somewhat arrogant manner, his dreams to his brothers and to his father that they would do homage to Joseph. Note Jacob¡¦s reaction in verse 10 "And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked (Hebrew ga¡¦arI ¡V literally to scream at) him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?"

5. What was to be a blessing became a point of contention.

D. The Believer¡¦s privileged Position and Chosenness.

1. Christ has chosen you as the object of His love and grace.

„h John 15:16-19 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you¡K¡¨

„h You ought to celebrate your chosenness constantly. This means saying "thank you" to God for having chosen you, and "thank you" to all who remind you of your chosenness. Realize that you are not an "accident," but a divine choice.

2. Christ has made you His heirs of grace

„h Romans 8:15-17 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

3. He has given you His coat of righteousness

„h 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

E. The world hates you for your chosenness

1. John 15:19 " If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

2. John 17:14 "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

E. Many unwisely add fuel to the fire by false pride and arrogance.

1. Some people get so caught up in their own holiness that they look at the Trinity for a possible vacancy. ¡V (John MacArthur, Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 2.)

2. There is a false boldness for Christ that only comes from pride. A man may rashly expose himself to the world’s dislike and even deliberately provoke its displeasure out of nothing more than his pride and arrogance.