Enslaved and Forgotten - Pt 2

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 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.” 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. (Genesis 37:5-8 ESV).

Remember the story yesterday? Joseph is the central character of our study, but the study is inspired by our dog, Teddy. Like the teddy bear in our picture today, I hope he didn’t feel forgotten while being boarded by our veterinarian. Let’s go back to Abram and make the progression to Joseph. Abram has a son Isaac. Isaac has a son Jacob (whose other name is Israel), and Jacob has twelve sons who become the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. One of Jacob’s twelve sons, Joseph, has two dreams. In both of them, his eleven brothers and his parents bow down to him. His brothers hated him for these dreams. The day came when they could vent their rage against their brother. His father sends him to see if it is well with his brothers (cf. Genesis 37:14). They see him coming and the Scripture tells us: Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams (Genesis 37:19-20). Reuben tries to save Joseph, but his attempt is only partly successful when the brothers sell Joseph as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites heading for Egypt (verse 25). They keep his special coat, soak it in animal blood, and his father assumes he was eaten by wild animals. The brothers think that is the end of that. But they have no idea what is happening. They are utterly oblivious to God’s invisible hand in their action. They do not know that in the very effort to destroy this dreamer, they are fulfilling Joseph’s dreams. Oh, how often God works this way. He takes the very sins of the destroyers and makes them the means of the destroyers’ deliverance. Even though this is just the beginning of God’s plan, it is important to recognize two things. First, Joseph had no part of this terrible fate. This was not a consequence for his sin. It was not a judgment against him. It was God’s perfect plan for good in his life. Second, even with this first truth, it didn’t feel or appear good. God’s providence often looks strange and counter to our understanding. We will see that even more as the story continues. However, we will also see that God’s will cannot be changed by men, even men who mean us evil. Whatever you may be facing today, rest in that sure promise of God. He will work all things to your good (cf. Romans 8:28).