The story of Joseph begins with strife and foreshadowing. “Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons” (Genesis 37:3) – this is never going to be a recipe for happy family life, if a parent shows obvious favor for one of the children: and it was obvious, because Jacob “had a coat with long sleeves made for him” (37:3) – the coat of many colors, as the King James Version translated it.

And Joseph had vivid dreams. He was not always thoughtful about the way he shared these dreams with others: he told this dream to his brothers: “We were binding sheaves in the countryside; and my sheaf, it seemed, rose up and stood upright; then I saw your sheaves gather round and bow to my sheaf” (37:7). His brothers were not impressed; and, as brothers sometimes will do, they hated him because he was the favored child, and because of his dreams (37:4, 8, 11).

<A brief note about chronology>

They might have ignored him, or mocked him, or beaten him up; but they decided to kill him in the wilderness (37:18-20). Reuben counseled against shedding his blood (37:21-22); better to just leave him in a pit to die (or to be rescued later by Reuben). Judah counseled against killing him as well; better to sell him as a slave (37:26-27): and that’s what happened.

So Joseph was carried off to Egypt (37:28), apparently never to be heard from again; and his father Jacob mourned and mourned, and refused to be comforted, despite all the efforts of his sons and daughters (37:33-35).

* * * * *

None of these characters seems like much of a prize, O Lord: and none of us do either. Yet somehow you love us, and claim us for your own, and work your saving and transforming will despite all our bad choices. We are so thankful for your astonishing grace.

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