January 2007
Thursday, January 25th – Genesis 37: 12-14
The Bible tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord (Ps. 127,128). It may not always be readily apparent that this is so. Isaac and Rebekah were deprived of children for many years, and then they had only two sons, only one of whom was godly. Jacob had many sons, but 10 of the 12 of his sons were hateful murderers and deceivers. Yet even wicked or otherwise defective children serve to bless their parents by driving them more vitally and consistently to the Lord, whereas godly children draw their parents gratefully to the Lord. In these and following verses, we shall learn how wicked most of Jacob’s sons were, and yet how God graciously used what they intended for evil to bring about much good for many. The blessings of God can often appear for many years to be curses.
Friday, January 26th – Genesis 37: 12-14
In these verses, we begin to learn that Joseph was not only a dreamer, but he was also a young man devoted to his father and to his brothers. The divine revelation he had through the two dreams of his exaltation did not puff him up with pride, but rather filled him with humbling gratitude. Therefore, when his father orders him on a mission to serve his brothers, he does not arrogantly refuse, claiming that he is above such lowly work. Rather, the son destined for high exaltation stoops to serve his father and his brethren. We, too, who are destined to reign with Christ forever in glory, should humble ourselves to serve others out of gratitude to and for the glory of our exalting God.
Saturday, January 27th - Genesis 37: 12-14
Shechem is located about 50 miles north of where Jacob and his family resided at Horeb (Gen. 35:1). It had been the scene of Simeon and Levi’s deception and mass murder of the men of Shechem, and therefore was a place of possible danger for the sons of Jacob who may have been targets for revenge. Naturally, Jacob would have been concerned for his sons’ welfare in such a place, and he desired to learn, through his sending Joseph to Shechem, how his other sons were doing. Though Joseph was but 17, his father entrusted him with a mission that called for courage and discretion. Though Joseph was the most beloved son of his father, yet his father did not spare him but gave him up for a time to learn the truth regarding the situation of the other sons whom he also loved. Joseph did not claim incompetence due to his youth, nor did he plead his beloved status so that his father might spare him from this mission. Instead, he willingly placed himself at his father’s disposal and went on a mission to inquire into the welfare of his brothers, though the mission would prove exceedingly costly to Joseph and Jacob in terms of the loss of Joseph’s liberty for decades and the hazarding of his life. Such costly undertaking points to the Father who did not spare His only begotten Son, but gave Him up for unworthy sinners.
Sunday, January 28th - Genesis 37: 12-14
Jacob sent his beloved son to see about the welfare of his other sons. Joseph willingly undertook this mission. However, it would not be Joseph reporting back to Jacob, but rather Joseph’s brothers returning to tell their father of the death of Joseph (which report they concocted to cover their having wickedly sold Joseph to Midianite traders). Joseph’s obedience to his father would place his life in jeopardy, not from Shechemites, but from his own brothers. It would plunge him into decades of tribulation and daily deaths. To Jacob, Joseph would be practically dead for decades. It is well that Joseph’s last act before his long departure from his father was one of devoted obedience. He would have the comfort of knowing that his sufferings resulted not from his sin, but from his righteous obedience to his father. May our testimony of trusting obedience to our Father ever comfort us in our trials that come upon us because of our desire to live lives of godly devotion to Him (2 Tim. 3:12).
Monday, January 29th - Genesis 37: 14-17
Joseph did not merely render eye-service to his father, leaving him in apparent obedience, only to make slight efforts to succeed in his mission. The young, beloved son of Jacob employed all diligence and resourcefulness necessary to reach his appointed destination. Upon his arrival at Shechem, he did not find his brothers. Rather than regard his responsibility as having been fulfilled by his merely having reaching the appointed place, Joseph reveals his driving and caring concern when he replies to the man who found him that he was looking not for a place but for specific persons, namely, his brothers. Such fraternal care and quest for his brothers’ welfare here and forever hereafter characterizes the life of Joseph. May we, too, regard not our own interests, but even more so the interests of our brethren in Christ (Phil. 2:3,4).
Tuesday, January 30th - Genesis 37: 14-17
Once Joseph reached Shechem he did not find his brothers, but was himself found by a man who gave Joseph a report that indicated the movement of Jacob’s sons to Dothan, a further 15 miles north of Shechem. Joseph did not hesitate to go more than an extra mile to find his brothers whom he loved, unworthy though his brothers would prove themselves to be of such care. The fact was that Joseph and his brothers were separated by something greater than mere physical distance. Whereas Joseph loved his brothers because he himself was conscious of the love of God, his brothers hated him because they had no regard for the God who is love. Joseph would soon find his brothers, and they would repay his loving concern for their lives by plunging him into many years of manifold deaths.
Wednesday, January 31st - Genesis 37: 18
While Joseph was making diligent search for his brothers, being prompted in his quest by his love for them and for his father who also loved them, his brothers prove themselves to be a brood of vipers who determined to kill Joseph when they saw him approaching from afar. Because Joseph’s brothers refused to mortify their sin of hatred for their young brother, that sin quickly ripened into the bitter fruit of murderous intention. If we do not kill sin in us, it will kill us and others with us. Sin is not static but dynamically destructive.
Thursday, February 1st - Genesis 37: 19, 20
When the sons of Jacob see Joseph approaching them, they do not refer to him as our brother, but rather as this dreamer. It is part of the rapid fruition of their hatred of Joseph that they should so vilify him. By such vilification, they are preparing the way to vent their full rage against him by killing him. When one contemplates killing his brother, it eases the murderer’s conscience when he convinces himself that his brother is a babbling boaster deserving harsh treatment. Jesus warns anyone who calls his brother a fool of his being in danger of hell (Mt. 5:22). Our minimizing others is a prelude to our murdering them.
Friday, February 2nd - Genesis 37: 19, 20
The focus of the hatred of Joseph’s brothers was the dreams Joseph had shared with them. They were deeply enraged at the prospect that Joseph should be, even in his own imagination, exalted over them. They refused to regard that prospect as divine revelation, but determined to regard it as the nocturnal fabrication of a boy who nurtured a wishful fancy to attain superiority over them. Far removed from their consideration was the truth that Joseph would die many deaths prior to his exaltation, and that it would be through their hated brother’s exaltation that they themselves would be saved.
Saturday, February 3rd - Genesis 37: 19, 20
It was likely the case that Joseph’s brothers thought their brother’s dreams issued from his wishful concoction rather than from the revelation of God. In their thinking, the heinousness of their sin is revealed. Should a boy be murdered for his thoughts of ascendancy? They were also badly mistaken. Their sinful jealousy and hatred blinded them to the true divine source and consequent divine authority of Joseph’s dreams. Thus, they held in contempt not just Joseph and his dreams, but also the Lord who spoke to Joseph through those dreams. Their transgression was that they derided and sought to destroy not only their brother, but also their heavenly Father. Though men do not regard the Lord when they sin against other men, all sin is ultimately God murder.
Sunday, February 4th - Genesis 37: 19, 20
What Joseph’s brothers hated about him with a murderous hatred was the claim, asserted through the vehicle of dreams, that Joseph would be exalted above them. They should have joined Joseph in marveling over these prophetic communications and rejoicing that God would so exalt their brother. For by his exaltation, the Lord would save and, indeed, sanctify their lives. But they were blinded by their hatred to this wonder of divine grace. We should understand from this the power of sin that blinds unbelievers to the beauty and vital saving power of the gospel we possess and proclaim. We should further brace ourselves for the deep hatred unbelievers have for those who appear to them to be supremely and insufferably arrogant in the belief and testimony that by God’s grace they would not only inherit the earth, but also be exalted to reign with Christ in eternal glory.
Monday, February 5th - Genesis 37: 19, 20
The brothers of Joseph proceed with astonishing speed from their deriding Joseph (v.19) to their determination to destroy him (v.20). They who had sinfully whet their swords on the men of Shechem in a cause they conceived to be just reaction to the outrage of sinners, now demonstrate a facility for employing their swords against their brother who had not in any way sinned against them, but had only loved them. As with their sin against the Shechemites, that was compounded of deceit and murder, so here they with shocking ease determine to commit the same compound sin against their brother. Yet in this case, they will murder first (in violation of the Sixth Commandment), then seek to employ deceit to cover the deed (in violation of the Ninth Commandment). If men do not repent of and take effective steps to mortify their sins, those sins will break out of them at some future time in more sinister form against those who may well be closer to them and relatively more innocent than ones against whom their previous sins were committed.
Tuesday, February 6th - Genesis 37: 20
Joseph’s brothers determine not only to destroy Joseph, but also to destroy his dreams. With titanic arrogance borne of their greater age, experience, and numbers than what the solitary Joseph possessed, they smugly sneer: Let us see what will become of his dreams. They will live to see what becomes of their despised brother’s dreams, and will do so to their shock, to their shame, and to their salvation. It is infinitely better for a man submissively to accept the revelation of God, however foolish and despicable it may at first appear to him, than it would be for him to resist the revelation that comes from the God who rules prevailing over all things.
Wednesday, February 7th - Genesis 37: 21, 22
Though there is a consensus amongst Joseph’s brothers that he should be killed, there is a voice of dissent raised. Reuben, the oldest of Jacob’s sons and the most likely one to take offense at Joseph’s prophesied exaltation, votes for sparing Joseph’s life. Perhaps Reuben had been humbled and softened by his previous sin with his father’s concubine. Whatever his motive, it is clear that Reuben desires to save Joseph’s life and to spare his father the grief that Joseph’s death would inflict upon Jacob. As Matthew Henry rightly observes: God can raise up helps for His people even amongst their enemies.
Thursday, February 8th - Genesis 37: 21, 22
Reuben’s determination is different from that of his brothers, but not greatly so. He proposes that they throw Joseph into a pit so that there he might be killed by beasts or die from lack of food and water, and not be killed directly by their hands. Yet, while his proposal seems but a small step removed from the intention of his brothers, we learn that Reuben’s motive was to rescue Joseph and restore him to Jacob. The pit proposal is, in fact, a deceptive device used by Reuben to counter his brothers’ murderous design. Such deception appears to be a strong family trait in Jacob and his sons. Reuben is therefore not a pure man who has the courage of his convictions, but he is morally weak. Yet he is sufficiently disturbed in his conscience to raise a feeble yet loving cry that does prove sufficient to save Joseph from death at his brothers’ hands. Our faithful, even if feeble, crying out can accomplish more good than we may realize.
Friday, February 9th - Genesis 37: 23
This verse tersely describes the brutish reception Joseph received from his brothers. He who was beloved of his father was roughly stripped of the token of that love. He who lovingly obeyed his father and was on this mission by his father’s will and authority, and by his own loving determination to see to the welfare of his brothers, is treated by his brothers as a criminal to be stripped of all his rights and possessions. Yet, whereas these hateful men could tear from Joseph the token of his father’s love, they could never remove from him the essence of that paternal affection. Neither can men nor devils ever separate us from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8:38,39).
Saturday, February 10th - Genesis 37: 23, 24
Joseph’s brothers tear his possessions from him. Then they disposed of his person in a pit, where Joseph was virtually entombed alive, and yet without any resources to sustain his life. We read that these thuggish brothers threw Joseph into the pit, by which we should understand that they vented their hatred, casting Joseph down with violence that could have injured or killed him. But while these men and the earth itself that imprisoned him were all against Joseph, the Lord was with and for the man that He would not only preserve but also exalt and employ as an instrument of His salvation.
Sunday, February 11th - Genesis 37: 25
With cold callousness these brothers, whose hearts were emptied of love, sat down near the pit into which they had thrown Joseph and proceeded to fill their bellies. Their ears also were filled with the appealing cries of their younger brother whom they were so badly abusing (Gen. 42:21). Yet, they stopped their ears to his cries for common fraternal affection. Hence these sons of Jacob are at this point acting more like profane Esau, who valued a full stomach above his family blessings. The demonic depths to which even covenant people can fall at times can be shocking. These brothers were, in fact, in a more awful moral pit than the earthly one into which they had thrown Joseph.
Monday, February 12th - Genesis 37: 25
Joseph’s brothers were not only filling their bellies with food and having their ears filled with the anguished cries of the brother they were so badly abusing. Their eyes also were filled with the sight of a passing caravan of traders, and their minds were quickly filled with a way not only to punish Joseph but also to profit themselves through such traders. When men’s hearts turn from godly love and righteousness, all of their faculties quickly become pervertedly ingenious and cunning in the way of wickedness.
Tuesday, February 13th - Genesis 37: 25-27
From their murderous plot the brothers of Joseph are turned to a proposal for sinful profit. Judah seizes upon the idea that he and his wicked fraternal confederates could gain more by their selling Joseph than by their slaying him. Thus they would not only rid themselves of a pain, but also bring to themselves material profit. Meanwhile, we see how the sinful and heartless selfishness of the wicked magnify in degree and increase in number the pains of the righteous. It is an amazing wonder of God’s grace and preserving power that Joseph was not bitterly set on revenge because of his being served such manifold abuse. May we cry to our gracious Lord, asking that He preserve us from the harm of our sinful retaliation, if not from the pains of those who sin against us.
Wednesday, February 14th - Genesis 37: 25-28
Here we see soberingly how sons of the covenant who had been trained in the faith can be ensnared in the sin they do not lay aside. The sons of Jacob throw off their training in righteousness and quickly learn from and use the godless men of the world to do their dirty work. Their sight of the Ishmaelites planted the seed of their selling their brother into slavery. By the time they saw another caravan of Midianite traders, the seed of wickedness had grown into the fruit of action. Sin is not static, but it is a dynamic force. Its force does not weaken and die on its own; it must be put to death or it will lead to action that is deadly to others, especially to those whom we should love.
Thursday, February 15th - Genesis 37: 28
Joseph was dragged from a hole in the inhospitable ground and delivered as a slave into the hands of the godless. All things appear to be orchestrated against this godly young man. There is no sign of any person or power being with or for him. Yet, we are told that by these evil machinations Joseph was brought into Egypt, which is precisely where the Lord, by His holy design and sovereign power, would exalt him and make him to be the instrument of his gracious salvation for Joseph’s exceedingly unworthy brothers. When God is for us, even though all things appear to be against us, they are truly being orchestrated to work for us as well.
Friday, February 16th - Genesis 37: 28
The profit Joseph’s brothers received from their selling him was 20 shekels of silver. That would have worked out to an individual profit of two shekels per man (12 sons of Jacob, less Joseph and Benjamin, Reuben, not being in on this deal, apparently had a share reserved for him). They gained so little from this heinous sin. The irony is that they would receive their true profit decades later when Joseph, no longer a slave but a ruler in Egypt, would graciously save them from starvation and settle them securely in the land he ruled. The sinning sons of the covenant will settle for trivial gains, but God graciously determines to use their evil deeds to bring great good, even upon their own unworthy heads.
Saturday, February 17th - Genesis 37: 29, 30
These verses record Reuben’s discovery of the empty pit and his consequent lament over the supposed killing of Joseph. Apparently, Reuben was not in on the plan to sell Joseph, and he therefore assumed that during his absence from his other brothers, those brothers had a change of heart and decided to kill Joseph, instead of waiting for him to die in the pit. Here we note how men of relatively good intentions, who weakly pursue a good course, can be ineffectual in their accomplishments and fearfully inclined to assume the worst in all things. Those of little faith must endure many fears, weaknesses, and frustrations.
Sunday, February 18th - Genesis 37: 31, 32
Sin is rarely, if ever, simple. It breeds from itself a complex system of sinful aggravations. We have seen Joseph being sinfully hated by his brothers, abused by them, and delivered into slavery by them. Now that their brother was so dispatched by them, it remained for them to deceive their father. How cunning sin makes men, enabling them to anticipate the necessity and employ the means to cover their guilty tracks. How insensitive sin makes these men to be, blinding them to their growing guilt before the God who sees all things and cannot be deceived. Their sin also made them callously insensitive to the painful misery they had already brought upon their brother and were about to bring upon their father. It is no wonder that our Lord directs us ruthlessly to mortify our sin.
Monday, February 19th - Genesis 37: 31, 32
The callous sons of Jacob have heinously frustrated the loving plans of their father, who had sent Joseph to inquire into their welfare and report back to him. Instead, the sons for whom Jacob had so lovingly cared and after whose welfare he had made provision, return themselves, bringing a crushingly painful report to their father regarding Joseph. Their monstrous deed and cunning deception are bad enough. Yet, by the way they give their report they add insult to injury. They speak in a manner devoid of sympathy or affectionate consideration. They do not refer to Joseph as their brother nor to Jacob as their father, but curtly show their father the bloody tunic and ask: is this your son’s tunic or not? Sin had transformed these brothers into beasts who tore at Joseph and tortured Jacob.
Tuesday, February 20th - Genesis 37: 33
This verse records Jacob’s assessment of the evidence presented to him by his sons. In this assessment, Jacob is misled by appearance and draws a most wretched but wrong conclusion. Here we see that many years after his having deceived his own father and injured his brother, Esau, Jacob is deceived by his sons, who had greatly injured their brother. Those who practice deceit are most easily deceived, even years after they have repented of their misleading ways. Jacob’s sons perceived this credulity in their father and therefore they did not need to interpret the evidence they presented, but left their father to do that and make his own mistake and misery.
Wednesday, February 21st - Genesis 37: 33
The callousness with which Jacob’s sons deliver the evidence of Joseph’s bloody tunic was unnecessary to their deceiving design. Why then were they so unsympathetic toward their father at this point? The answer is likely that as they were jealously hateful toward Joseph, who declared himself destined to be exalted over them, so they resented Joseph’s father, whose special love for their younger brother practically had begun to exalt Joseph over them. But behind Joseph’s declaration and Jacob’s devotion to Joseph was the sovereign, electing grace of God, by which Joseph would be exalted not to oppress his brothers but to save them. All who resent the favorable providences of God in the lives of others do well to recognize that they resent the God who alone dispenses such providences for His glory and for the good of many, even for those who foolishly resent the ways of the Lord.
Thursday, February 22nd - Genesis 37: 34, 35
These verses indicate to us the painful grief that Jacob endured as a consequence of his erroneous interpretation of the evidence his sinful sons had presented him. The father’s grief was inconsolable. He refused the comforting attempts of all his other children. Some would fault him for this, saying that his grief became excessive and without godly hope. Yet, we do well to consider the towering hypocrisy which Jacob’s ten sinful sons were practicing in their display of comforting concern, when they themselves had caused this deep wound in their father. Jacob did not yet know the depth of the sinning of those sons, but he was aware of their jealousy toward Joseph, and their resentment toward the father who had a special love for that godly son. Accordingly, Jacob rebukes his jealous and resentful brood, declaring that he would rather be dead with the one godly Joseph than to remain alive with Joseph’s ten older brothers. Who among us would not rather be in a furnace of affliction with one so like the Son of Man as was Joseph, than to be out of it with a host of false and fawning brethren?
Friday, February 23rd - Genesis 37: 36
Jacob wept for Joseph, whom he believed to be dead. This verse reminds us how wrong the reckonings even of a godly man can be. Our God is always providing better blessing for us than we ever realize. Joseph is in fact alive. True, he has been sold as a slave in Egypt, but he is bought by one who serves near to Pharaoh. There is a hint of Joseph’s exaltation in this providence, though many deaths would yet be died by Jacob’s beloved son before he reached his highest and final exaltation in this life. These tokens of exaltation should suffice for the faithful to reckon rightly that God can preserve His servants from death or through death, and that He can bring blessing out of curses, light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, life out of death, and exaltation out of humiliation. Let us learn from this to trust and obediently to follow our God wherever He may lead us.