Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. A complex history of Jacob

a. Four wives

b. Twelve sons

c. One daughter

2. Focus on Joseph

a. The rest of the book of Genesis

b. The underlying features had already been told

BROTHERS WORKING TOGETHER

1. The sons of Bilhah (maidservant of Rachel)

a) Dan

b) Naphtali Genesis 35:25

2. The sons of Zilpah (maidservant of Leah)

a. Gad

b. Asher Genesis 35:26

3. A bad report

a) A bad report was made to Jacob

b) This was brought by Joseph who was 17 years old Genesis 37:2

4. A bad relationship
a) Not specifically stated
b) But an obvious result

THE FAVOURITE SON

1. Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children Genesis 37:3a

2. Reason given: “He was the son of his old age” Genesis 37:3b

3. Favouritism evidenced

“Also he made him a tunic of many colours”

Genesis 37:3c

A QUICK EVALUATION OF THE OTHER SONS

1. Not Simeon and Levi

a) Vicious

b) Wicked

c) Murderous

2. Not Reuben

a) He may have been the firstborn

b) But he lay with Bilhah, the maidservant of Rachel Genesis 35:22

3. The others

a) They were also idolatrous Genesis 35:4

b) The relationship with their father was not well-established

HATRED OF JOSEPH

1. They saw the love of Jacob lavished on Joseph Genesis 37:4a

2. They hated Joseph Genesis 37:4b

3. They could not speak peaceably to him Genesis 37:4c

THE FIRST DREAM OF JOSEPH

1. This was shared with his brothers Genesis 37:5a

2. They hated him even more Genesis 37:5b

3. Contents of this dream

a) The brothers were working together binding sheaves

b) The sheaf of Joseph stood upright

c) The sheaves of the brothers bowed to him

4. Consequences of sharing this dream

a) Rejection of this dream Genesis 37:8a

b) Increase of hatred of Joseph Genesis 37:8b

i) For his dream

ii) For his words

THE SECOND DREAM OF JOSEPH

1. The sun, moon and the 11 stars bowed to Joseph Genesis 37:9

2. This dream was shared with Jacob and the brothers

3. Jacob had to rebuke Joseph

a) How could the father bow to the son? Genesis 37:10

b) But he kept the matter in mind Genesis 37:11b

4. The brothers

a) They envied him Genesis 37:11a

b) They could not share any dream

DREAMS IN THE ANCIENT DAYS

1. God spoke to people in this special way

a) A dream given to Abram in a deep sleep Genesis 15:12

b) Dream of Jacob at Bethel Genesis 28:12

2. Joseph

a) He did not understand the dream given to him

b) He shared but without much understanding

CONCLUSION

1. God plans for the future

But we are not able to see the future

2. Where our future may be obscure

a) Because of sin in us

b) Because we have not dealt with our sins

3. Dangers that we must address:

a) Hatred

b) Envy

c) Poor character