He treasured his nights alone. Nightfall was his escape—peace from the torturous spite of his brothers. He sat solitary in the comfort of darkness and succumbed to deep reflection.

The day had been difficult. He had caught them again. His brothers were more interested in women and evil than in their father’s sheep. The flocks were endangered because of their neglect. Although he could not agree with their immoral actions and corrupt thinking, he still loved Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. In fact, he spent the majority of his time with them (Genesis 37:2). But there was great tension among them. The cause was simple. Though Joseph was younger, his father believed him to be more responsible. He, the 17-year-old, was the true shepherd. Of course, they disagreed; they believed he knew nothing. He was just their father’s favorite.

Joseph had overheard their heated arguments against him. Their talk against him both hurt and haunted him. Even Leah’s six sons often joined in. Although Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were often scalding in their put-down of Bilhah’s and Zilpah’s sons—the handmaids’ boys—the young men were all in agreement about him. They were tightly united in their ill will for him. Why?

Unfortunately it was obvious that Jacob loved him more. That fact was undisputed and caused Joseph much grief (verse 3). Recently, he had faced a grim reality. It was growing ever more difficult to ease the intense pressure mounting against him. His brothers’ increasingly fierce murmurings over him were troubling. While he felt secure in Jacob’s company, Joseph lived uneasily in theirs. He could see that their competition for affection and position was corrupting them. Joseph sensed that evil lurked within their shadows.

Of course Jacob’s recent and finest gift—the skillfully crafted coat—added to his difficulties. It was more than a symbol of favor. It was a sign of position and inheritance. Not one of them liked it. Joseph could see their white-hot jealousy burn to blackened hate.

Joseph sighed deeply. He knew his brothers were capable of mounting all-out war against him (verse 4). He buried his head in his arms and shed tears over the disturbing distance between himself and them. “I love my brothers,” he whispered to himself.

Joseph wanted things to be different. Yet his brothers’ actions proved their father’s observations about them to be true. They were unqualified in character, desire and accomplishment. Just this day Joseph found the sheep wandering alone, hungry for good pasture—again. He was left no choice but to report them to Jacob (verse 2). Bringing Jacob bad reports about them was never easy. Joseph knew that they would find a way to get back at him. He sighed again. Suddenly growing sleepy, he realized he could deal with these matters in the light of day. Joseph was so thankful that sleep never eluded him. Thick blackness covered him like the softest sheepskin. Finally fully relaxed, the weary teenager fell into a deep sleep.

Joseph the Chief

Instantly the darkness turned to light. Joseph found himself out of doors. The sky was royal blue. The sun sparkled bright as diamonds. In slow motion he looked down and saw that he was working in a field overflowing with grain. Suddenly the scene changed. He perspired profusely under the strain of binding a sheaf. Finishing the sheaf he looked up and saw all of his brothers also binding sheaves. Then a strange thing happened. His sheaf came to life and stood up—prominent. His brothers’ sheaves came to life, surrounded his sheaf and bowed before it. Then, like black clouds of a gathering storm, darkness consumed the scene.

Consciousness came quickly. Joseph sat up drenched in sweat. He was amazed at the dream. It was so vivid in detail—momentous in its meaning. His knees were shaking. His hands and arms trembled. He shouted out, “My brothers bowing to me?”

Once fully awake he realized that dawn had come. It seemed like such a short night. Yet, Joseph felt confident and encouraged. He went to Jacob and explained the state of his flocks. Of course his report was not good for his brothers. Jacob reassured his son. He encouraged him to continue working hard and to continue giving him an honest account.

Leaving Jacob, Joseph faced his brothers for another day. He greeted them warmly. But the sentiment was not returned. Not one spoke peaceably unto him.

Joseph became agitated with them. He said, “Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed” (Genesis 37:6). He noticed that he had gotten their attention. He thought to himself, This is good. Yet, lacking wisdom he boldly continued, “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” (verse 7). Joseph understood fully that he was insulting them. He had his father’s backing and they should face it.

But he was unprepared for their strong reaction. In fact, all eyes on him grew narrow and cold. A chill ran up Joseph’s spine. He sensed their dislike for him had moved to a new level. His brothers came back at him, “Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” (verse 8, first part). Joseph’s telling of the dream brought a bad result. His brothers “hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words” (verse 8, last part).

Living with their hatred was not easy, but Joseph endured the pressure. He drew strength from the dream because he knew it came from God.

The Sun Bows

In time, Joseph dreamed another dream. It was stupendous. In the dream, the sun, moon and 11 stars bowed to him. He bolted out of sleep. Waking up, he clearly understood the meaning of the dream. Joseph knew he would rule over all of his brothers and even his beloved father. Let them sneer at me, he thought as he decided to reveal the dream to everyone at a family meeting. I am so tired of all their petty squabbles anyway, Joseph reasoned, wanting to justify his planned offensive.

At the proper moment Joseph stood up and took control of the meeting. Jacob listened intently. “Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me” (Genesis 37:9). Jacob rebuked his beloved son. “What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?” he exclaimed. “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” (verse 10). Jacob was shocked by Joseph’s dream. But he thought deeply about it. In fact, he “kept mind of what he said” (verse 11, Moffatt).

Although upset by his son’s dream, Jacob, himself a dreamer of dreams, knew that God was communicating to his son. Jacob could well remember his own dream of the great ladder reaching into heaven (Genesis 28:11-15). Jacob knew not to disdain the dream, by doing so he would greatly disrespect God. Joseph was an exceptional young man. He knew this son was destined for greatness. Yet Jacob asked himself, “Would his favorite son rule over his father?”

Jacob sadly witnessed his other sons explode into rage. Joseph’s brothers despised the dreams; they were embarrassed by them. His brothers spoke out against him. Some of them reasoned before their father: “We’re older and wiser, and the right to rule belongs to us. Joseph is just a child compared to us—he will always be a child!” they complained. But in their hearts they knew their brother was different. Deep inside they knew he was right. But each one set his heart against Joseph all the more. They looked to Jacob to stop Joseph’s nonsense. Yet he said nothing.

Recognizing that their father did not shame Joseph for his dreams, they feared he would put his faith in them. In an instant, it all became so clear: They were not in line for rule at Jacob’s death. Their hate for Joseph was fueled by greater envy. “Our father has bowed to Joseph,” the brothers murmured among themselves. “We will not bend our knees to that dreamer,” they assured one another.

The meeting ended abruptly. Joseph’s newest revelation sent his brothers running like a whipped pack of dogs. Seeing the tumult, Joseph got a sick feeling in his stomach. He wondered, Did I go too far?