GENESIS
CHAPTER
37
1. Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 1 and 2)
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 1 and 2)
From the very beginning of this chapter, the biblical author makes a special emphasis, that this chapter is going to focus on the character of Joseph. Important details are given to us about him. Of the most important details is the fact, that Joseph was still young both in age and in status which was that of a helper. This means that he was not yet a fully fledged shepherd. He was still getting hold of the ropes during this period of formation. However it seems, that Joseph was very intelligent, for he had the ability to discern the good behaviour of a shepherd from that of the bad and negative shepherd.
As Christians in our spiritual lives we may still be trainees or novices or not fully fledged Christians, or even human beings. However although we are still in the beginning of our walk with God we still can discern good from evil or bad practises as in the case of Joseph. Like Joseph we are also amongst the herds of God on earth. The Church of Jesus is one big fold with many shepherds, however the leader of all the shepherds is the Holy Spirit of the Almighty God who leads us in our ways, takes care of us during our every-day life and protects us from the wolves, who try to kill our souls or endanger it.
3. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 3 to 4)
It seems that Jacob did not learn from the mistakes that his father did in the past when, Isaac preferred Esau over himself. When we do so, there are many negative side effects such as jealousy, that can easily become hatred, if not healed. When a person becomes jealous the latter's behaviour completely changes, to the extent that it cannot even stand the presence of the so called 'good person'. This is why the Devil hates us so much that he is angry and irritated when God protects us from his ways. He becomes so angry that he tries to find another person whom to possess instead of the one under God's protection. His ideal choice is that of the angry or jealous person, who in this negative state will not be in a state of grace and therefore is prone to sin.
5. Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream that I dreamed. 7 There we were binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 5 to 8)
On reflecting one would not blame Joseph's brothers for being angry at him on sharing with them such a dream of grandeur and majesty. However on the other hand, what they may have not considered in the given situation was the possibility, that God may have had been talking to them and even to us, by means of the same circumstances. When God intervened in my life it was also be means of a dream, in which God told me to leave everything I had and follow Him. On sharing my dream with others even people in the Church I was not given credibility, however today I am still obeying God's call and following His ways according to His Holy Will.
9. He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, "Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 9)
I can imagine the animosity and jealousy of Joseph's brothers on hearing his second dream. For a particular reason God gave Joseph the talent of dream interpretation, which was to cause him both benefits and liabilities. It was according to God's plan for our salvation that Joseph was given this character of a dreamer. At times we may turn on ourselves and even on God and ask Him why he made us in this or that way, or maybe why He did not give us the same skills or talents like Joe or Bessy. God will lovingly look back at us and say. 'Love yourself as much as I love you, accept yourself for what and who you are" and moreover He would also tell us that He created us in this way for a purpose that only He knows, that fits in His plan for our salvation and for that of the world. Therefore we are always to thank God for making us as we are even though we may not understand God's reasons for doing so at the time in question.
10. But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you? 11 So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 10 to 11)
On sharing this second dream Joseph was not believed or understood. Moreover in the given circumstances the sharing of his dreams was adding more fuel to the flame that had gradually become a bonfire that was ready to consume him, in the sense that his brothers had become more angry and jealous than ever before. However his father Jacob or Israel as he was now called kept on thinking about the message of the dreams. This means that although he did not believe the dream, however Jacob did not totally eliminate the possibility of its becoming fulfilled in some way or another. With God it is the same story. He reveals to us many messages through many circumstances. We may not always understand them at the time, but this does not mean that we are to completely forget them. In time God may give us a more detailed explanation about His revelation to us and then we would be able to perceive the situation in a more holistic way. When I received my call I did not understand what God had told me. I thought He wanted me to be a priest, however after having spent two years living in a convent where I was going to be prepared for Holy Orders, God showed me that this is not what he wanted from me.
12. Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come I will send you to them." He answered "Here I am." 14 So he said to him, "Go now see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 12 to 14)
For some reason Jacob or Israel was prompted to send Joseph to see if his brothers and the flocks were all safe and sound. It could be that Jacob had sent them pasturing and they had taken more time than he had calculated and he became concerned about them. Moreover the delay could have been according to God's will so that Joseph would need to be sent to enquire on the situation. At times we find ourselves in places, without ever having planned to be there. God may have tailored the situation with the intention for us to meet a particular person who may be in need of your support, or maybe a person who is ready to offer us a one time job opportunity. As in the case of the fisherman who has to be at the right spot and at the right time to make a good catch, God permits us to go and be at the perfect spot, so that His plan for us and the world can actually unfold.
He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, "What are you seeking?" 16 " I am seeking my brothers," he said; " tell me please, where they are pasturing the flock." 17 The man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.' So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 15 to 17)
Apparently it seems that Joseph's brothers had indeed changed their original route. At times we make decisions that take us in a direction that far beyond what God has planned for us.
18. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him.
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 18)
Even before Joseph had reached his destination, the devil had already prompted his brothers to kill him. We can observe that evil is swift in giving us ideas and even very creative in a negative way. Satan gives us plans, however he makes us estranged from the negative consequences that await us, once we have executed our evil plans.
19. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 19 to 20)
The devil had already prompted Joseph's brothers to kill him, and even given them the perfect plan in order to make their alibi credible.
21. But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." 22 Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him" - that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 21 to 22)
As in the case of Judas Iscariot in the New Testament he agreed to sell Jesus to the Pharisees, so that they could maybe show him that showing love to enemies according to the logic of the world did not make sense. Maybe the Pharisees could threaten him and Jesus would change the course of the mission given to Him by His father. Judas did not aim for the destruction of Jesus. After the local authorities would have shaken Jesus up Judas would have gone to bail Jesus out of their hands as in the case of Reuben who did not want his brothers to kill Joseph.
23. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 23 to 24)
On reflecting the source of all the trouble had been the preferential treatment that Jacob or Israel had given to Joseph, the robe symbolised Joseph's dignity and authority over his brothers. Therefore when stripping Joseph of his robe, was removing his dignity as a human and treating him as a slave or a worthless object that was worthy to be disposed off as in the case of the empty pit.
When we sin, the same thing happens to us, we are stripped of our dignity as sons and daughters of God and we become fearful and insecure.
25. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers agreed.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 25 to 27)
The first signs of a guilty conscience were already showing. The idea, that they had decided to kill their brother was already causing them to experience discomfort, therefore in order to compensate for these feelings they decided to sell him instead of shedding his blood. During such times the second option may appear to be as practical as the first. Instead of filing for a separation a man might decide to make the life of his wife a living hell so that she would be compelled to leave the matrimonial household instead of having to throw her our himself or fight her in court. The devil stops at nothing when tempting us to sin against God and each other.
28. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 28)
As in the case of Jesus, Joseph was sold at a price. At times we may also be tempted to sell Jesus. Typical examples when we sell Jesus, is when we decide on choosing the pleasures of the world, such as a night out instead of going to mass or somewhere that is spiritually healthy. When choosing the ways of the world we it is as if we are involved in a transaction that forsakes the will of God for that of the world.
29. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes. 30 He returned to his brothers, and said, "The boy is gone; and I, where can I turn?" 31 Then they took Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They had the long robe with sleeves taken to their father, and they said, "This we have found, see now whether it is your son's robe or not."
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 29 to 32)
Apparently it seems that Reuben was the eldest of the brothers and thus responsible for their well being. On realising that Joseph was missing from the pit, that he had planned to save him from he ripped his clothes in desperation and instantly found himself in a state of anxiety over the consequences of the possibility of his brother's death. However the devil was still giving them ideas and the problem was solved by a forged lie with the consent of all the brothers. Thus by faking the evidence the brothers created an alibi to prove their brothers death. At times we also try to find reasons to justify our negative acts. However it is one sin compensating or covering up for another, thus making the second sin worse than the first.
33. He recognized it, and said, "It is my son's robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces." 34 Then Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and his daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, "No I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father bewailed him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar one of the Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 33 to 36)
Without knowing the whole truth of the situation, Jacob jumped to the conclusion that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal. Jacob started mourning his son Joseph without being hundred percent sure that his son was really dead or wounded.
At times we do the same mistake. We tend to believe in God or anything about God without stopping to consider if our belief is based on faith or on the knowledge forwarded to us by others who could easily be mistaken. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God because this is what the Roman Catholic Church by means of the Word of God has taught us, however on making a peak experience of God ourselves, the teachings of the Church start making more sense in our lives, because they will be backed up by our own experience.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Thank You God for treating us equally in your eyes and not showing discrimination in favour of some over the others. Please make me aware of this mistake if and when I happen to fall into this dangerous trap. Further more please protect me from the sin of jealousy that causes us to commit one sin after another. Protect us with Your Almighty Blood from the traps of the Devil who is always ready to persuade us to act against Your Will.
3. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 3 to 4)
It seems that Jacob did not learn from the mistakes that his father did in the past when, Isaac preferred Esau over himself. When we do so, there are many negative side effects such as jealousy, that can easily become hatred, if not healed. When a person becomes jealous the latter's behaviour completely changes, to the extent that it cannot even stand the presence of the so called 'good person'. This is why the Devil hates us so much that he is angry and irritated when God protects us from his ways. He becomes so angry that he tries to find another person whom to possess instead of the one under God's protection. His ideal choice is that of the angry or jealous person, who in this negative state will not be in a state of grace and therefore is prone to sin.
5. Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream that I dreamed. 7 There we were binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 5 to 8)
On reflecting one would not blame Joseph's brothers for being angry at him on sharing with them such a dream of grandeur and majesty. However on the other hand, what they may have not considered in the given situation was the possibility, that God may have had been talking to them and even to us, by means of the same circumstances. When God intervened in my life it was also be means of a dream, in which God told me to leave everything I had and follow Him. On sharing my dream with others even people in the Church I was not given credibility, however today I am still obeying God's call and following His ways according to His Holy Will.
9. He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, "Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 9)
I can imagine the animosity and jealousy of Joseph's brothers on hearing his second dream. For a particular reason God gave Joseph the talent of dream interpretation, which was to cause him both benefits and liabilities. It was according to God's plan for our salvation that Joseph was given this character of a dreamer. At times we may turn on ourselves and even on God and ask Him why he made us in this or that way, or maybe why He did not give us the same skills or talents like Joe or Bessy. God will lovingly look back at us and say. 'Love yourself as much as I love you, accept yourself for what and who you are" and moreover He would also tell us that He created us in this way for a purpose that only He knows, that fits in His plan for our salvation and for that of the world. Therefore we are always to thank God for making us as we are even though we may not understand God's reasons for doing so at the time in question.
10. But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you? 11 So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 10 to 11)
On sharing this second dream Joseph was not believed or understood. Moreover in the given circumstances the sharing of his dreams was adding more fuel to the flame that had gradually become a bonfire that was ready to consume him, in the sense that his brothers had become more angry and jealous than ever before. However his father Jacob or Israel as he was now called kept on thinking about the message of the dreams. This means that although he did not believe the dream, however Jacob did not totally eliminate the possibility of its becoming fulfilled in some way or another. With God it is the same story. He reveals to us many messages through many circumstances. We may not always understand them at the time, but this does not mean that we are to completely forget them. In time God may give us a more detailed explanation about His revelation to us and then we would be able to perceive the situation in a more holistic way. When I received my call I did not understand what God had told me. I thought He wanted me to be a priest, however after having spent two years living in a convent where I was going to be prepared for Holy Orders, God showed me that this is not what he wanted from me.
12. Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come I will send you to them." He answered "Here I am." 14 So he said to him, "Go now see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 12 to 14)
For some reason Jacob or Israel was prompted to send Joseph to see if his brothers and the flocks were all safe and sound. It could be that Jacob had sent them pasturing and they had taken more time than he had calculated and he became concerned about them. Moreover the delay could have been according to God's will so that Joseph would need to be sent to enquire on the situation. At times we find ourselves in places, without ever having planned to be there. God may have tailored the situation with the intention for us to meet a particular person who may be in need of your support, or maybe a person who is ready to offer us a one time job opportunity. As in the case of the fisherman who has to be at the right spot and at the right time to make a good catch, God permits us to go and be at the perfect spot, so that His plan for us and the world can actually unfold.
He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, "What are you seeking?" 16 " I am seeking my brothers," he said; " tell me please, where they are pasturing the flock." 17 The man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.' So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 15 to 17)
Apparently it seems that Joseph's brothers had indeed changed their original route. At times we make decisions that take us in a direction that far beyond what God has planned for us.
18. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him.
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 18)
Even before Joseph had reached his destination, the devil had already prompted his brothers to kill him. We can observe that evil is swift in giving us ideas and even very creative in a negative way. Satan gives us plans, however he makes us estranged from the negative consequences that await us, once we have executed our evil plans.
19. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 19 to 20)
The devil had already prompted Joseph's brothers to kill him, and even given them the perfect plan in order to make their alibi credible.
21. But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." 22 Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him" - that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 21 to 22)
As in the case of Judas Iscariot in the New Testament he agreed to sell Jesus to the Pharisees, so that they could maybe show him that showing love to enemies according to the logic of the world did not make sense. Maybe the Pharisees could threaten him and Jesus would change the course of the mission given to Him by His father. Judas did not aim for the destruction of Jesus. After the local authorities would have shaken Jesus up Judas would have gone to bail Jesus out of their hands as in the case of Reuben who did not want his brothers to kill Joseph.
23. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 23 to 24)
On reflecting the source of all the trouble had been the preferential treatment that Jacob or Israel had given to Joseph, the robe symbolised Joseph's dignity and authority over his brothers. Therefore when stripping Joseph of his robe, was removing his dignity as a human and treating him as a slave or a worthless object that was worthy to be disposed off as in the case of the empty pit.
When we sin, the same thing happens to us, we are stripped of our dignity as sons and daughters of God and we become fearful and insecure.
25. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers agreed.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 25 to 27)
The first signs of a guilty conscience were already showing. The idea, that they had decided to kill their brother was already causing them to experience discomfort, therefore in order to compensate for these feelings they decided to sell him instead of shedding his blood. During such times the second option may appear to be as practical as the first. Instead of filing for a separation a man might decide to make the life of his wife a living hell so that she would be compelled to leave the matrimonial household instead of having to throw her our himself or fight her in court. The devil stops at nothing when tempting us to sin against God and each other.
28. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 37 verse 28)
As in the case of Jesus, Joseph was sold at a price. At times we may also be tempted to sell Jesus. Typical examples when we sell Jesus, is when we decide on choosing the pleasures of the world, such as a night out instead of going to mass or somewhere that is spiritually healthy. When choosing the ways of the world we it is as if we are involved in a transaction that forsakes the will of God for that of the world.
29. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes. 30 He returned to his brothers, and said, "The boy is gone; and I, where can I turn?" 31 Then they took Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They had the long robe with sleeves taken to their father, and they said, "This we have found, see now whether it is your son's robe or not."
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 29 to 32)
Apparently it seems that Reuben was the eldest of the brothers and thus responsible for their well being. On realising that Joseph was missing from the pit, that he had planned to save him from he ripped his clothes in desperation and instantly found himself in a state of anxiety over the consequences of the possibility of his brother's death. However the devil was still giving them ideas and the problem was solved by a forged lie with the consent of all the brothers. Thus by faking the evidence the brothers created an alibi to prove their brothers death. At times we also try to find reasons to justify our negative acts. However it is one sin compensating or covering up for another, thus making the second sin worse than the first.
33. He recognized it, and said, "It is my son's robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces." 34 Then Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and his daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, "No I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father bewailed him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar one of the Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.
(Genesis chapter 37 verses 33 to 36)
Without knowing the whole truth of the situation, Jacob jumped to the conclusion that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal. Jacob started mourning his son Joseph without being hundred percent sure that his son was really dead or wounded.
At times we do the same mistake. We tend to believe in God or anything about God without stopping to consider if our belief is based on faith or on the knowledge forwarded to us by others who could easily be mistaken. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God because this is what the Roman Catholic Church by means of the Word of God has taught us, however on making a peak experience of God ourselves, the teachings of the Church start making more sense in our lives, because they will be backed up by our own experience.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Thank You God for treating us equally in your eyes and not showing discrimination in favour of some over the others. Please make me aware of this mistake if and when I happen to fall into this dangerous trap. Further more please protect me from the sin of jealousy that causes us to commit one sin after another. Protect us with Your Almighty Blood from the traps of the Devil who is always ready to persuade us to act against Your Will.
Thank You God
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