Joseph’s Dreams

Genesis 36:1-37

Wow! Talk about family issues! This is one messed up group of brothers! Do we take offense in this manner when someone says something to us? I had a dream…yeah so? Oh, but we know something about dreams, don’t we? We have heard (to us just yesterday) about Jacob’s dreams, and meeting the Lord in a dream. Should we pay attention to this dream?

Instead, his brother’s are all ready to take offense. This is indeed a snare of the evil one. I have heard this story before, both the story of Joseph and his many colored coat, and yes the story of jealousy in families. As we read this, though, we might ask what manner of dream is this. Why wheat? Who turns into food? How is it that Joseph turns into tall food and why would his brothers come to him in obeisance? This is something to consider as we read the remainder of this passage.

Jacob sends his son off to gather word of his brother’s, we can see that it isn’t as if they were in the back 40, they are pasturing in far off lands. These are not lands fenced in and defined. Joseph ends up going from one area to another wandering and asking directions in order to find them, so he might bring word to their father. But, what do his brothers do? They seize a chance to get back at him. Only Reuben doesn’t agree, but he doesn’t stop them either. They don’t kill their brother, but instead sell him into slavery. When poor Reuben finds this out (apparently they realized his heart wasn’t in it since they did this without him) they kill a goat in order to make their story believable.

I remember God said to Noah that the covenant was with all living things; that man could kill the beasts for food, but this is not for food, this is to cover their own tracks. This is not of God. Now, with this made-up story they must go and tell their father. Poor Jacob cannot be consoled. They have made his heart hurt. He is ready to go down to die.

Now wait, how is this to be reconciled? How does this fit in with the dream Joseph had? We read that Jacob “kept the saying in mind.” Is it that he too has forgotten the dream? Has this burden made him forget the promise of God, if it was a promise of God? Is he questioning the promise, or is he questioning God? Or is he just stuck in the pain of losing his son?

Today, I wait to see what tomorrow brings. I pray that I might take heed of the promises of God, even when things look dim.

See you tomorrow

-maggie