God Shelters His Children

God Shelters Those That Choose Him

Text: Genesis 36-38

Focus Genesis 37:2-10, 23, 24, 28-36.

Almost all the remaining chapters in the Book of Genesis are about Joseph the eleventh son of Jacob. This will be about one fourth of the Book of Genesis. In other words God wants us to know that the time of Joseph has real importance to the nation of Israel and also to the Church. The first of two sons by Rachel, the wife Jacob had worked fourteen years to have as his wife. What we will see in these words of Genesis is that again in "typology" Joseph is a marvelous "type" of Christ. He is rejected because of his testimony to his brethren, he is sent by the Father on a mission of love, he is cast into a pit, he is sold to Gentiles, and the Gentiles are blessed through him. There is much more. We can also see a type of "Christian". How all that call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ should strive to be like him.

1.) Like Joseph, Jesus is loved by the Father.
2.) Like Joseph, Jesus is obedient to His Father.
3.) Like Joseph, Jesus is hated by His brethren.
4.) Like Joseph, Jesus was sold at slave value.
5.) Like Joseph, Jesus was given up for dead.
6.) Like Joseph, Jesus "Rose" up to be the savour of His family.
7.) Like Joseph, Jesus served "to reveal the sin that was in the hearts of His family.

We also will see that in life as we know it, it is still God that sits on the throne!

The Bible says:

Psa 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

Psa 47:8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Jesus said of those given to Him by the Father:

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: [I pray not for the world], but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, [but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil].
Joh 17:16 [They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world].

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, [but for them also which shall believe on me through their word];

The Rapture:

Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: [but for the elect's sake, (whom he hath chosen), he hath shortened the days].

Before we begin with Joseph, we saw in chapter 36 an account of Esau's death and his descendants recorded. This essentially closed the record of the Esau line, because it is the Jacob line that will carry the covenant forward.. Esau became the father of the Edomite nation and he also became wealthy.

This also was a part of the fulfillment of a promise to Abraham.

If Israel represents the children of God in "type", then Esau will represent the children of the world in "type".

Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of [many nations] have I made thee.

*****Our Text:

Gen 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

To make it clear let's revue the sons of Jacob/Israel:

By Leah: 1.) Reuben
2.) Simeon
3.) Levi
4.) Judah
5.) Issachar
6.) Zebulun

By Bilhah: 1.) Dan
2.) Naphtali

By Zilpah: 1.) Gad
2.) Asher

By Rachel: 1.) Joseph
2.) Benjamin

The word "generations" in verse two indicates another division in the Book of Genesis. It is also believed that Jacob has now taken over the inheritance of his father Isaac since he is located in Hebron. As God prefers, He has put a great distance between Israel and Esau. Esau is in Edom, on the other side of the Jordan River.

You know God wants us to also put some distance between us and the world.

The Bible says:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We have already seen on many occasions that Israel/Jacob has loved Rachel and her sons more than those of Leah and the others. We now see in verse four he even shows it in other ways:

The coat of many colors:

As to the coat of many colors itself, the most common outer garment of this type was nothing more than a long cloth with a hole in its middle. After drapping the long cloth over the shoulders, a rope or a belt was fastened around the waist. Some argue that this particular coat was especially valued because sleeves were sewn into the garment. Others believe the coat was ornamented by many colors. The real issue, of course, has nothing to do with colors or sleeves. Jacob presented the special coat to Joseph as a sign that he was esteemed above his brothers. The coat signified Joseph as being Jacob’s choice as the future head of the clan, an honor normally bestowed upon the firstborn son.

Just so we can see the "type" Jesus Christ our Lord also was adorned with coats of many colors:

Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
Mat 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

Mar 15:16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
Mar 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
Mar 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

We can see after this his brothers could no longer speak peaceably with Joseph.

There are basically three reasons for their hatred:

1.) Joseph had reported to his father some bad things that these brothers were doing(the evil report).
2.) Israel/Jacob had made Joseph this special coat.
3.) Because of the strange dreams of Joseph.

But even at this young age Joseph had the sense of right and wrong and he showed that he could do right, regardless of the consequences.

*****Our Text:

Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Joseph the dreamer:

God reveals Himself to us in many ways. In Biblical truth "revelation" means God revealing to man something that man would not other wise know. If we contrast "revelation" with "inspiration" we would see that "revelation" refers to the material God would have us know and "inspiration" would refer to the method God chooses.

Inspiration is taken from the word "theopneustos" meaning "God breathed".

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The "breath of God" in His scripture is another symbol of God's mighty power.

God channels His "revelation" through the Holy Spirit!

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

God reveals Himself in many ways in the Old Testament:

1.) The "spoken" Word:

Abraham:

Gen 18:13 [And the LORD said unto Abraham], Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

Moses:

Exo 19:9 [And the LORD said unto Moses], Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.

2.) Visions:

Keep in mind another word for "prophet" was "seer".

Abraham:

Gen 15:1 After these things [the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision], saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Daniel:

Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar [a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel], after that which appeared unto me at the first.

It was the prophets that normally received the visions.

3.) Theophanies:

An Old Testament "theophany" was a manifestation of God in a physical sense.

Theophany comes from the Greek words "Theos" (God) and "phanein" (to appear). It is an appearance of God.

This was normally reserved for persons of high spiritual maturity.

4.) God also used "dreams".

It was a privilege to to communicate with God face to face, so God used the dream to communicate His will to unbelievers and heathen and sometimes to those of low spirituality.

A "revelation" by the dream found the receiver in a passive, unconscienced state. A dream could be called "a vision while being in an unconscious state". The dream worked well for those of no spiritual discernment.

We will now take time to look at Joseph the dreamer.

We already know that Joseph's brothers hated him and these dreams caused them to hate him even more.

1.) The first dream:

"we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf".

It does not say that Joseph made any explanation of his dream but his brothers interpreted this dream for him. As it turns out they were pretty accurate, though they could not have known what was going to happen.

Remember what God had told Abram:

Gen 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Gen 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
Gen 15:15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
Gen 15:16 [But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full].

The Word of God will be fulfilled just as it is written:

The Bible says:

Gen 42:6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

2.) The second dream:

"Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."

Gen 47:1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

Gen 47:27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

What we can learn from this dream is that it represents the Nation of Israel.

a.) The sun, Israel/Jacob
b.) The moon, Leah/Rachel
c.) The eleven stars, The eleven brothers of Joseph

Knowing this when we get to the Book of Revelation:

Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

We know that this verse is referring to the nation of Israel. When you add Joseph back in, you have the twelve stars.

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The man child would be Jesus, the Son of God in the flesh. It is He that will rule all nations.

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

The Nation of Israel will be cared for and protected of God the last half of the tribulation period.

This is not the Church but the Nation of Israel.

Our text:

Gen 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
Gen 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Gen 37:29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
Gen 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
Gen 37:31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
Gen 37:32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
Gen 37:33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
Gen 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Gen 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
Gen 37:36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

We may not know how long this family endured this hatred and resentment but we can read what happened. The favoritism of Jacob and the hatred of his brothers came to a head at Dothan.

This was a very vicious thing and it is hard to understand. Remember earlier we saw Simeon and Levi slaying the Hivites. God does not hide these things from us. We are all just dirt, and full of sin. Without Jesus Christ we would never stand a chance living after the death of this flesh.

Thank God for our Redeemer!

The Bible says:

Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

But Through Jesus:

Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Job said:

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

I know that this is true for every child of God.

Notice also that this is brother causing harm to brother. This is happening now in the world we live in and will continue until the Rapture, even getting worse.

The Bible says:

Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We see that there are ten brothers of Joseph that are involved in this conspiracy.

As far as Reuben is concerned he wanted to stop a murder. As far as Judah was concerned he wanted Joseph out of the way as he felt he would be the recipient of the blessing of his father Jacob/Israel. We can also see a sign of greed as it was possible to make a profit from the sell of Joseph and very little chance to ever see of him again.

You see just as there is no way to destroy the purpose of God in this instance, no way to destroy Israel and there is no means of the World to destroy the Church. God's will and purpose for the Church and for Israel will be accomplished just as He says.

Verse 27 tells us that these brothers were content with the evil that they had done. They were content in ungodliness, hatred, rebellion and prejudice. Do we not see how the World is returning to this frame of mind. It's not only the terrorists of this World but there are things happening in every nation. That shows this to be true.

The Bible says:

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; [having their conscience seared with a hot iron];

If your conscience is seared with a hot iron, YOU WILL NOT HAVE ONE!

Reuben may not have liked what went on but he sure did not do anything about it. He went along with these things to his father Jacob.

Jacob refused to be comforted. I believe he realized how he also had been apart of these things through his favoritism of Joseph.

Abraham is called the father of the faithful, we can see that the early beginnings of this nation of Israel got off to a rocky start.

God was not finished with Jacob, with these brothers nor with Joseph.

God was working behind the scenes in the life of Joseph and this new nation of Israel. What his brothers meant for evil God meant for good.

The Bible says:

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Thank God that it is His plan that will be true and not any of the things we do will change the Will of God.

We cannot save ourselves! We never could! We need a Savour!

Thank you Jesus for saving us!

Let's pray!