Getting The Shepherd’s Goat
Genesis 37:1-11

Now we begin a section dealing with the testing of Joseph. It lasts 2 chapters and is probably one of the more interesting segments in the Bible.

The events in this chapter take place quite a few years before Isaac’s death as recorded in Genesis 35:29 but the record of Isaac’s death and the parenthetical reference to Esau’s descendants seem to have been the concluding events in the record kept and transmitted by Jacob.

The story of Joseph’s life was probably written down by Jacob’s sons, particularly by Joseph. This might be seen in ex. 1:1 terminating the account to “The names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt.” This is a standard formula of writing similar to saying “Now these are the generations of the children of Israel. This section, though, more than any other has been subject to Moses editorial changes in view of his more immediate connection with it. So he modifies the standard formula to indicate that this record was not gotten directly from the writers, the son of Israel, as were those of the earlier records.

At this time Jacob and his family were living near Isaac in Hebron(Gen 35:27 37:14). In fact this narrative begins within about 2 years after they reached Hebron, since Joseph was 17 years old at the time(Gen 37:2), and he was about 15 at the time of His mother’s death shortly before they reached Hebron.

And Jacob Dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.(2)These are the generations of Jacob. This is the concluding statement or signature of Jacob’s long record, beginning with Genesis 25:19b.

Though he had trusted God ‘s promise that he would inherit the land for many years, the same as God had promised Abraham and Isaac, he, like they continued to be a stranger or a foreigner in the land of Canaan. They didn’t own the land yet. Only certain very small portions had been purchased by them but God had blessed them materially with massive possessions and they believed the promises would be fulfilled in God’s own time.

Heb 11: 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:..... 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Now look at chapter 37 verses 2b-4 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.
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.
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.

Here begins the story of Joseph. I like some things about Joseph, He is a good model when he finally arrives in captivity and he truly is an example of trust in God. But even though he was a great man, he hardly attained the spiritual stature of his ancestors, Abraham Isaac and Jacob. God never actually appeared to Joseph, as he had to them and the covenant promises were not given to him in any special way. In fact of the sons of Jacob it was Judah, not Joseph through whom God would fulfill the coming of the savior in future days.

Joseph had a purity of character that was commendable, but also a spiritual pride that angered his brothers. He, like many of us, tended to spout off his knowledge at inopportune times and we will see the consequences of this as this tale unfolds.

Many commentators consider Joseph a TYPE or prefigure of Christ. Now there are some interesting parallels, but the New Testament NEVER speaks of Joseph as a pre figure of Christ.

Because it is dangerous to allegorize scripture it is safest to avoid that practice except where the Bible states that it is so. since that is not the case with Joseph, it is best not to read things in to this narrative that are not there. His story is intensely interesting and instructive with out that kind of embellishment.

Joseph is used by God to begin the fulfillment of the word of God to Abraham back in 15:13 that Israel would be under foreign domination for 400 years until the cup of the Amorites iniquity was full. It is the rivalries between the brothers that leads them into captivity.

Joseph grew to be a wise leader of Egypt. He demonstrates the goodness of God over the long haul, He is a great example of endurance as he suffers through enslavement,prison and injustice still trusting his God. He also is one who sees divine earthly retribution. He is one, and it does not always happen, whose circumstances are bettered on earth.

Now lets dig in to this character and see how to trust God, and also when to keep your mouth closed.

Joseph was angry at those brothers. They flaunted their evil deeds in his face a lot and almost DARED him to tell Father. Well he would. He’d fix them good. He wished the older boys were around more, maybe they’d like him better than these sons of serving women. It seemed that they put on airs sometimes as if God would use them in making the nation. HE was a son of the true wife. HIS mother was LOVED by Father. He was tired of being the gopher for the ten older boys and he was going to tell Father.

Now , the tale had been told and the sons of Bilhah, and Zilpah were angry. This little “Abba’s Pet” with his arrogant ways brought them to a fury that was uncontrollable. BUT they’d fix him someday.

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.

The word translated many colors actually means “to the palm, or long sleeved. This term is used only one other place in scripture and it describes there in 2 Sam 13:18 the garment worn by daughters of the kings. Other cuneiform writings may let a little light in on the significance of this coat. The Hebrew word for those who want to know is Kitonet pasim and in the cuneiform there is a coat described by the term kitu pisanu and it is a ceremonial robe draped about the statue of a goddess with various gold ornaments sewn on it. It is seen as a technical term denoting a costly vest or coat.

Dad , the one who had been a victim of favoritism in his own home now plays favorites in a big way. He gets the other boys clothes from Good-W ill and Joseph's from an exclusive men’s shoppe’.

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.

It is a natural occurrence that favoritism breeds bitterness.
I remember the Smothers brothers comedic routine in which Tommy Smothers frequently began by saying “Mom always liked you best.” It was humorous but it made light of a serious problem .

The bible speaks about favoritism in James 2:1-4 Here it is in the assembly or church but the same applies to any relationship.¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Pr 24:23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

Ro 2:11* For there is no respect of persons with God.

God also calls it partiality and notes that it is not part of God’s good gifts and wisdom.
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1Ti 5:21 I charge [thee] before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

So Jacob was in error by playing favorites here. I know that it is easy to like one child more than another at a given time, but here Jacob showed outright favoritism and gave Joseph the biggest piece if cake every time.

This caused another sin on Jacob’s part as well as on the part of the brothers. eph 4: 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Jacob was guilty by his overt partiality toward Joseph of PROVOKING his children to wrath. Now this does not excuse their actions and attitude, but it dies indicate that Dad could perhaps have kept the peace if he had been on his toes.

Then beginning in verse 5 Joseph himself puts the icing on the cake and in effect seals his doom.

¶ Now Joseph had a dream, and he gave his brothers an account of it, which made their hate greater than ever. And he said to them, Let me give you the story of my dream. We were in the field, getting the grain stems together, and my grain kept upright, and yours came round and went down on the earth before mine. And his brothers said to him, Are you to be our king? will you have authority over us? And because of his dream and his words, their hate for him became greater than ever. Then he had another dream, and gave his brothers an account of it, saying, I have had another dream: the sun and the moon and eleven stars gave honor to me. And he gave word of it to his father and his brothers; but his father protesting said, What sort of a dream is this? am I and your mother and your brothers to go down on our faces to the earth before you?
And his brothers were full of envy; but his father kept his words in mind.

Can we talk? Many of us are given varied gifts and talents. We are at different times blessed with positions of honor and power to some degree. But let me caution us all. IF you happen to have a dream that says you will be a ruler over others, for heaven’s sake keep it to yourself. I have people tell me that they had this or that great experience and I like to say, when I remember well, I’ll be watching you to see how it improves your godliness and holiness and love for others.

It is foolish to brag on things that God gives you. Instead brag on God and be quiet about your own gifts. I have a problem like all humans do, I like to be recognized. But sometimes it can get out of hand.

Joseph let things out of his mouth that he ought to have kept to himself. were they prophetic? Yes. Were they true? Yes, but get this and learn it it will save you trouble. They were not convenient or proper as public information. It was one more stick on the fire of the brothers bitter hatred and envy.

Joseph may have been displaying here a very common trait among children of God, the trait of prideful arrogance. That is one of the marks of a false teacher did you know that? They may start off humbly and meekly, but success in the work often goes to their heads as they veer away from the truth.

Steve Brown said this:
When you are good at something, or in the public eye you can often get an inflated view of how good and wonderful you are. It starts as you see the man in the pulpit and you call him pastor or reverend, and he is so wonderful, and he says in his heart :they just don’t know me-” Then the thought starts “Maybe I am all of that.” And the people say “What a great pastor and teacher you are. And inside the voice says “well, I;m not God but, hey I’m close” And after a while if this trend of thought were to continue the man in the pulpit would think he was the final word and stop taking advice and stop listening to others because he after all is the direct pipeline to God.
Do you recall the story about Tom Brokaw right after he began the Today show which was his big break? He was in Bloomingdales in New York and the ratings wee up and the Today show was doing very well ad he was known by everyone....and he was in Bloomingdales and he noticed a man looking at him. And Brokaw saw the man coming toward him and the man said ...aren't you...aren’t you Tom Brokaw? and Tom said (peacock feathers flying in the breeze) Well, yes, I am. And then he said Aren’t you that Tom Brokaw who used to do the news at KNTV in Omaha Neb? Tom said “Yes.” Then the man said “Whatever happened to you.”

Oh how quickly we all can become inflated by pride. If you see a person who will not submit to others and will not be accountable to others then you better beware. Spiritual arrogance is a danger to the body and to the individual.

Joseph was in danger of this if he went unchecked. By the way, he was checked hard and we’ll see later on who gets the credit for his dream interpretation.

But spiritual arrogance is a deadly thing.

I will stop here in a moment, but I wanted to point out that the master desires that Phil. 2 “Others esteemed better than self” mind set. And Joseph was young an needed to be taught.
He was quick to boast of his upcoming victories without ever having been to battle.

I will close with the payer of Pauline Peters and she calls this the Supervisors prayer. I want you to listen carefully to this and meditate on it:

Lord, when I’m wrong make me willing to change. When I’m right make me easy to live with. So strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank.

Now think on that...Amen