Text: Genesis 37
In the early stages of his (Joseph) life, he undoubtedly enjoyed the love of his father more than any of his other 11 brothers. His father was Jacob, son of Isaac and he obviously did not do quite a good job at parenting since his open favoritism of Joseph above his brothers was very evident for all to see to the extent that Joseph had to flaunt this to their face.
This lopsided fatherly love made Joseph insensitive, undiscerning and immature. This is evidenced by the way He shared the dream He had with a company of brothers who already did not really like Him. His dream, even though God-given and true, suggested to his brothers that He (Joseph) regarded them as inferior.
This created serious friction in the family. Jacob by elevating him to a special status in the family had created a sleeping volcano that would eventually erupt one day.
His brothers plotted his fall, faked his death and sold Him to the Midianites who further sold him to a man named Portiphar, a captain of the guard in Egypt. But God was with Joseph because it was God’s plan for him to be in Egypt.
First, the dream Joseph had typified that of a Leader, but at that stage Joseph had no leadership qualities. He was immature, insensitive to others and in fact he was not discerning because if he was, he would have recognized the imbalance in his family.
Consequently, there was the need for him to learn these leadership qualities which apparently would have been difficult for him to learn in a favoured environment.
This was all God’s Orchestration. He had to refine Joseph for His use.
LESSONS
To be a tool in the hand of God, we need to learn:
1) Discernment
2) Sensitivity
3) Love.
All these God is teaching us through His word – THE BIBLE