The old man sat alone in his tent. As another day dawned, he was still somewhat troubled by Joseph’s dreams. They were revelations from God, but what was He telling him? Jacob needed to pull himself together, herd his thoughts and get them moving in one direction. He was worn out by all his sons’ bickering. Even more upsetting was the fact that his beloved Joseph was at the center of all their squabbles.
Joseph never gave Jacob a reason to doubt his loyalty. The boy was talented in working with the family flocks and fields. Joseph always did exactly as he was told. This fact alone gave Jacob so much confidence in Rachel’s firstborn son. Joseph caused Jacob to prosper.
The wise patriarch recognized that his other sons were spiritually weak. They held more interest in petty envies and jealousies than in working hard. Were it not for Joseph, they would fight with each other. There actions were so disappointing. His oldest sons did not have Joseph’s character. Rachel’s son stood far above them in every detail. Joseph was honest, thrifty, temperate, physically strong, hardworking and loving. Jacob knew well that though he was young, Joseph was destined to rule over his brothers. Jacob resolved to help his son.
Journey to Shechem
Seeing Jacob deep in thought, Joseph said softly, “Father.” The greeting startled Jacob. He was not aware that Joseph had entered his tent. Seeing his son, he realized that this day was already moving so quickly. He loved his daily meetings with Joseph. The boy was energizing like fresh sunlight at dawn. Jacob enjoyed hearing Joseph’s thoughts and outlook. He smiled broadly at his son. It was time to organize the day’s work.
Jacob instructed Joseph, “Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them” (Genesis 37:13). Jacob could see that the boy focused on his every word. How pleased he was. “I am ready,” Joseph replied (verse 13; Moffatt). Joseph was always quick to follow his father’s orders.
The ancient man continued, “Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again” (verse 14). After all the recent upset, Jacob needed to know whether his sons were doing their job as shepherds. Jacob was deeply concerned about his flocks. The Soncino Commentary shows that Jacob intended Joseph to fix any problems he uncovered. And Joseph was expected to return and give him a true report.
Joseph quickly walked away from Hebron. As he walked, he reflected that Hebron was rich in family history. Abraham had built an altar here (Genesis 13:18). Abraham and Sarah, his great-grandmother, were buried in the cave of Machpelah. Hebron was a special place for him. He felt fully grounded spiritually living along side the historic religious relics of his family’s past. Joseph deeply desired to have the same relationship his great-grandfather held with God.
Shechem was over 50 miles away. Joseph’s journey took several days. He had plenty of time to mull over his relationship with his brothers. He was shocked that his brothers hated him so much (Genesis 37:5, 8). He did not hate them. In fact, he loved them deeply. Joseph struggled to know what to do about them. While he felt fully protected by his father, he believed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel would give him the insight he needed to help his brothers
Prophecy to Abraham Begins
When Joseph arrived in the lush valley, he could not find his brothers. A stranger saw him wandering in the fields. “What seekest thou?” the stranger asked (Genesis 37:15). Joseph quickly replied, “I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks” (verse 16). Knowing the whereabouts of Jacob’s sons, the stranger pointed northwest and said, “They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan” (verse 17).
Jacob’s determined son moved on, asking himself, Why did they move on to Dothan? His stomach turned queasy. Dothan was another full day’s travel north of Shechem. He was concerned for his father’s sheep because his brothers moved them from the lush pastures at Shechem to the hilly country of Dothan. Joseph prepared himself for trouble with them. He needed to find out why they moved far north toward the sea. Yet he was totally unprepared for what they had planned for him.
It is interesting to note that the Soncino Commentary suggests that the man giving Joseph directions to Dothan may have been the angel Gabriel. Study verse 15 carefully. Notice that a “certain man found him.” Joseph was not seeking directions. He was wandering. Had the man not intervened, he may have returned home!
However, God had a great purpose in Joseph meeting his brothers at Dothan that day. Dothan was near a well-traveled trade route to Egypt. Starting at Dothan, Joseph began a journey that would lead him to the depths of despair at the beginning, but then to dizzying heights at journey’s end. As soon as Joseph stepped into Dothan, a great prophecy began.
God’s time had come to fulfill a promise made to Abraham. “And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 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; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance” (Genesis 15:12-14). Joseph’s story holds such great lessons for us. It gives us a glimpse of what God is doing with all of us.
God intervenes in the lives of His people to work out His great plan. Doesn’t it only make sense that an angel may have had to steer Joseph in the direction God desired?
Joseph’s Life Spared
From the heights of Dothan, his wicked brothers saw Joseph coming to meet them. In their dark hearts they plotted against him. “And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him” (Genesis 37:18). They all scorned him and said, “Behold, this dreamer cometh” (verse 19). The word dreamer here is better translated as “master of dreams.” Said out of scorn and contempt, his brothers meant it as an epithet—not as praise. But Joseph’s gift for understanding dreams would shape the futures of many.
Although not specifically named, several brothers spoke up, “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams” (verse 20). A plan was set to destroy Joseph. But in fact, it was a plan to destroy the plan of God! Joseph is a type of Jesus Christ. It was God’s direct plan to use Joseph to save the nation of Israel and Egypt. Jesus Christ came not only to save Israel, but the world as well.
The brothers were in such a dark state of mind that they could not recognize that Satan was behind their evil motivations. Rejecting God’s revelation, they easily became the devil’s puppets.
Joseph was stunned when his brothers violently seized him and stripped his beautiful cloak from him. Fear gripped him like the fangs of a rabid wolf. He struggled for freedom. Freedom never came. He felt doomed. Now there were no hateful words, but agonizing blows—each one deep and excruciating. He screamed out in terror because of their vicious assault.
Reuben, witnessing the murderous tumult, for a split second thought of his father: Joseph’s death would destroy Jacob. He had to take control. He yelled, “Let us not kill him” (verse 21). He pulled Joseph close to protect him. Leah’s firstborn commanded, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him” (verse 22). Reuben knew that if he could calm the hot heads down, he could spare his brother’s life. He gathered his thoughts quickly. If he could safely return Joseph to his father, surely Jacob would appreciate his actions.
Reuben looked at his brothers and said, “Throw him into this empty pit.” Reuben assured himself that he could rescue Joseph from the brutal plot of his jealousy-crazed brothers.