Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." Psalm 105:5
Text: Genesis 37:1-36
AN INTRIGUING PERSPECTIVE
The Book of Psalms is more than just a collection of prayers and hymns. Though couched in Hebrew poetic form, the contents of some of the psalms amaze even astute scholars.Psalm 105 is one such psalm. The psalmist (author unknown) reflected on how the Lord had dealt with Israel as a nation. He traced His hand of blessing all the way back to Abraham, and gave important insights concerning Joseph not found in the Book of Genesis. If we read the life of Joseph from the psalmist’s perspective, we would be able to appreciate God’s hand in his life even more!
THE SHARING OF A DREAM
Joseph may not have been able to fully appreciate the significance of the dreams that he was having. He probably did not entirely comprehend that God was intimating to him the glorious future that awaited him. In his excitement and innocence he shared with his brothers a special dream he had. The details of the dream had not faded upon waking up, and thus he was able to share as he did.
“So he said to them, ‘Please hear this dream which
I have dreamed:
“There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold,
my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves
stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” ‘ “ GENESIS 37:6-7
Did Joseph guess the meaning and significance of this dream? Perhaps. The obvious meaning was not hard to interpret! But how could that be? Even if Joseph was made the head of the clan, it was not in their custom to bow before the head of the clan. The brothers certainly did not bow themselves to their father, Israel! They even dared to retort when they were confronted by Israel as to why they massacred the Shechemites (Cf. Genesis 34:30-31).
AN ANGRY REACTION
The reaction of the brothers was as expected. They already hated him because he was the favourite son. Joseph’s dream was served as a terrible irritant.
“And his brothers said to him,
‘Shall you indeed reign over us?
Or shall you have dominion over us?’
So they hated him even more for his dreams
and for his words.” GENESIS 37:8
The thought of having Joseph reigning over them was just unbearable! How could he “reign” over them? Israel, their father, did not reign over them! How dare Joseph imagine that he would have “dominion” over them! His dreams (there were others) were impossible to accept! Little did they know that God was behind those dreams!