Genesis 37:3-11 (ESV)
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 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.” 8 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.
9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
I love the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). It is a story of conflict, division, faith, forgiveness and reconciliation. Following yesterday’s sermon on reconciliation, we will use Joseph’s story to see what that might look like throughout this week. In this first passage the conflict has already begun. Joseph’s father, Jacob, loves him more than his other sons. Then Joseph dreams he will rule over his brothers and father. This creates anger, jealousy and hatred. Maybe Joseph was arrogant and used his favored status against his brothers, but that is not clear. What is clear is that the things that were said and done created conflict, anger, and jealousy. As we look at this story throughout this week, examine things that others have done to you to create these same feelings. What
things might you have done or said to create them in others? These things can cause years of pain, but God loves to transform and renew!