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Genesis 37:5-11: Timing is everything.

^“5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. ⁶ He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ we were binding sheaves of corn out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered round mine and bowed down to it.’ ⁸ His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. ⁹ Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ ¹⁰ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?’ ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” NIV

‘Joseph had a great deal of trouble before him, and therefore God gave him betimes this prospect of his advancement, to support and comfort him under the long and grievous troubles with which he was to be exercised. Thus Christ had a joy set before him, and so have Christians.’ Matthew Henry.

It has been said that if a word of knowledge gives you information about a person or a situation you could not naturally have learned, the word of wisdom shows you what to do with it. Knowing how much his brothers hated him, I’m not sure it was wise for Joseph to talk freely with them about this revelation. It is said that ‘timing is everything.’ If that is the case, I wonder if this was the right time?

‘Joseph was more of a prophet than a politician, else he would have kept this to himself, when he could not but know that his brethren did already hate him and that this would but the more exasperate them.’ Matthew Henry. It may have been just naïveté on the young man’s part.

Still, Jacob knew enough about young Joseph to not dismiss his words (see Luke 2:51). Maybe in later years, when all was fulfilled, he called it well to mind.

Genesis 37:1-5: Favouritism.

“Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.⁵ Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.”

Jacob did not help Joseph, or his brothers, when he made it clear who his favourite was. I don’t excuse it, but I’m not surprised they were hurt and hated him. Jacob may not have said, ‘’I love Joseph more than you other lads’, but he showed it. People often know what we’re saying even when we’re not speaking. I know we can sometimes get things wrong, and misunderstand, but we often do see quite plainly what others think or feel about us. We send so many non-verbal messages, even when we don’t want to. It’s not difficult to read when you’re being excluded; when you’re not wanted. You know when you’re not part of the ‘in-crowd’. When you’re in a bustling room you can tell when the person you’re in conversation with is actually scanning around for someone ‘more important’ to talk to.

Joseph’s richly ornamented robe marked him out as noble and princely. No wonder his brothers seethed. That coat was just asking to get blood-stained, and it did (31).

Genesis 37: 1-2: Youth work

“Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.” NIV

As the major part of Joseph’s story opens, he is just 17 years old. We know that he knows that he is a person of destiny. He is aware of it it even at such a young age. He may not always handle this information wisely. We can’t expect him to be as mature as he’s going to be one day. But the Hand of God is on him. Let’s pray fervently, and with faith, for the teens in our families and in our churches. Who knows what God may do through them?

We may feel that Joseph, the beloved of his father, was a tell-tale. That may be the case. But it could also be that he was asked to fulfil a watching brief. We know these brothers were not the best behaved bunch in the world. They had something of a ‘track record’, we might say. It could also be the case that what they were doing did require reporting. There are some things we should never turn a blind eye to, even if we are accused of telling tales.

Jesus said: ‘’This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds may be exposed’’ (John 3:19,20). That may well be a commentary on today’s short passage.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to shine brightly in this dark world, but I realise it will not make me popular if I do, So please strengthen me to be your witness,

Genesis 36: 31-43: The ultimate statistic.

^“31 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:³² Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.³³ When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.³⁴ When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.³⁵ When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.³⁶ When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.³⁷ When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.³⁸ When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king. ³⁹ When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad  succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. ⁴⁰ These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, ⁴¹ Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.” NIV

‘Death lays its icy hand on kings;

Sceptre and crown must tumble down,

And in the dust be equal made

With the poor crooked scythe and spade.’

Someone said that death is the ultimate statistic – one out of one dies! I heard a preacher say that God remembers we are dust, but we don’t always remember. At any moment He can say, ‘’Return to dust, O sons of men’’ (Psalm 90:3). But when we feel fit and strong and healthy we are prone to forget this.

There is a sobering thought repeated throughout the passage concerning the rulers of Edom: it is that when one king dies, another succeeds him. Again and again we read that someone who is in authority is replaced by another. All leaders are eventually replaced.

But this doesn’t apply only to leaders. Sooner or later, we will all die. Someone else will live in the house we regarded as ours; someone else will use (or waste!) the money we so carefully gathered; someone else will do the work we did. We don’t need to be morbid, but it is foolish to not live with a sobering sense of our own mortality. We are only ready to live when we are ready to die.

Just one other thought about this chapter before we move on, and it comes from Warren Wiersbe: ‘Esau’s family tree is much more imposing than Jacob’s, but this is the last we hear of it. Despite their failures, the sons of Israel are the chosen instruments to accomplish God’s will on earth.’ ‘With the Word’, p.40.

Genesis 36: Who do you think you are?

“This is the account of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom). ² Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite – ³ also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth. ⁴ Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel, ⁵ and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan. ⁶ Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. ⁷ Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. ⁸ So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir…………………….    ³¹ These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:³² Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.³³ When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.³⁴ When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king. ³⁵ When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith. ³⁶ When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king. ³⁷ When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king. ³⁸ When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king. ³⁹ When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. ⁴⁰ These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, ⁴¹ Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied. This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.” NIV (36 abridged)

Genealogies were regarded as extremely important in the ancient world. That said, there has been a modern resurgence of interest in the whole subject of lineage. Whenever we find a long list such as this one in the Bible, we should remember that God knows people by name and they all matter to Him. He loves them, and Christ died for them.

‘Who do you think you are?’ However you answer this question, positively or negatively, the truth is you are a person of great worth, created in the image of God.

Genesis 35:21-26: Jacob and sons.

^“21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. ²² While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons: ²³ The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. ²⁴ The sons of Rachel:Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁵ The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah:Dan and Naphtali.²⁶ The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah:Gad and Asher.These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.”NIV

Jacob was blessed with ‘’twelve sons’’, but at times they were a cause of grief to him. Mind you, he was not always a good example to them. But how he must have been wounded by what ‘’Reuben’’ did (22). It was an insult to his father, ‘’and Israel heard of it.’’ They say ‘truth will out.’ It has a tendency of doing so. We may sin in private, but we cannot sin secretly, for God knows, and there is a good chance other people will find out too.

This quote from Warren Wiersbe sheds further light on a sad episode:

‘For a son to take a father’s wife in this manner was a declaration that he was now the head of the family. When Abner took King Saul’s concubine, Saul’s son and heir Ishbosheth protested because it meant Abner was usurping the crown (2 Sam. 3:6-11). When David succeeded Saul as king, he was given Saul’s wives as his own (2 Sam. 12:8). Rebellious Absalom declared himself ruler by taking his father’s concubines (2 Sam. 16:20-23), and Adonijah’s request to have Abishag as his wife was the same as challenging Solomon’s rights to the throne (1 Kings 2:13-25). It would appear, then, that Reuben’s purpose was to take over the leadership of the family, which made his deed only that much more vile…………………………………………………………………………………………

Jacob did nothing immediately, but surely his heart was broken by what his son had done. Reuben showed some character in protecting Joseph from death, but he wasn’t able to save him from slavery (Gen. 37:20-30). Though Reuben was the firstborn, his brothers didn’t seem to respect his leadership. In his old age, Jacob exposed Reuben’s sin and deprived him of the rights of the firstborn, giving them to Joseph (48:1-14; 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1-2).

Those who teach that our dedication to the Lord automatically protects us from troubles and tears need to read this chapter carefully. Certainly God had forgiven Jacob, and certainly Jacob was walking with the Lord in faith and obedience. Nevertheless, he still had his share of trials.’

Genesis 35:11-15: God talks

¹¹ And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. ¹² The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.’ ¹³ Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.¹⁴ Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. ¹⁵ Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.” NIV

It is a precious thing to make time each day to speak with God. Selwyn Hughes observed that if we want to meet the Lord everywhere we must meet Him somewhere, and if we want to find Him all the time we must find Him some time. That’s a point well made.

But I would add that it is even more wonderful when God talks to you (13,15). As I have got older, I have found it essential (for me) to begin the day with a time of silence. It isn’t a long period – not as long as I might like it to be. But I get out of bed, make a cup of tea, sit in a familiar chair and say, ‘Speak Lord in the stillness, while I wait on you’, (or something similar). Please understand, I’m not trying to make my pattern a template for anyone else. I do, though, want to emphasis the importance of listening to God.

 ‘There is hardly ever a complete silence in our soul. God is whispering to us wellnigh incessantly. Whenever the sounds of the world die out in the soul, or sink low, then we hear these whisperings of God. He is always whispering to us, only we do not always hear, because of the noise, hurry, and distraction which life causes as it rushes on.’ F.W.Faber.

Genesis 35:9-10/21: God’s decrees.

^“9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. ¹⁰ God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. ” So he named him Israel.”……….^“21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.”

God is Sovereign. What He decrees must come to pass. If He says ‘’Let there be light’’ there will be light; if He says Jacob should be re-named ‘’Israel’’ then that’s what he will be called. God’s Word is His work and this understanding should encourage every preacher.

‘’He confirmed the change of his name, Gen. 35:10. It was done before by the angel that wrestled with him (Gen. 32:28), and here it was ratified by the divine Majesty, or Shechinah, that appeared to him. There it was to encourage him against the fear of Esau, here against the fear of the Canaanites. Who can be too hard for Israel, a prince with God? It is below those who are thus dignified to droop and despond.’’ Matthew Henry.

It has been suggested that Jacob is called ‘’Israel’’ in (21) because, in the loss of his beloved Rachel, he showed himself to be ‘a prince with God’. He had such dignity – such governance, rule over his own spirit. Whether or not it is a correct interpretation, it is an engaging thought.

Genesis 35:16-19/27-28: Loss.

“Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. ¹⁷ And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t despair, for you have another son.” ¹⁸ As she breathed her last—for she was dying—she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

“²⁷ Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. ²⁸ Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. ” NIV

‘Human life begins with sorrow, and the roses of its joy are surrounded with thorns.’ Matthew Henry.

Walking in the will of God, as it seems Jacob was now doing, may bring blessings of many kinds, and most of all a wonderful experience with God. But it will not prevent the inevitable brushes with death, grief and loss. We all must face these at some time or other. Bereavement comes to us all. ‘Death is the ultimate statistic,’ someone said. ‘One out of one dies.’ There is a time to be born and a time to die. God does not promise to shield us from these harsh realities, but we know that He will walk with us through them. In a chapter which is full of blessings, we note these significant losses for Jacob: the deaths of Deborah, Rachel and Isaac.

I believe C.S. Lewis said something like this: ‘The pain of grief we feel after losing someone is a part of the price we pay for loving.’ We want to know the joy, but not the sorrow. This is understandable, but the truth is that however abundantly we are blessed by God, death will intrude into our lives at some point. We will lose loved ones; we ourselves must die. However, we can take heart from knowing that Jesus died and rose again. In and through Him we conquer death, and, finally, all will be well.

‘Lest Jacob should be lifted up with the visions of the Almighty with which he was honoured, this was sent as a thorn in the flesh to humble him. Those that enjoy the favours peculiar to the children of God must yet expect the troubles that are common to the children of men.’ Matthew Henry