“And Jacob settled where his father had lived as a stranger, in the land of Canaan” (Gen. 37:1).

וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב, בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו–בְּאֶרֶץ, כְּנָעַן

Jacob settled in the Promised Land, but only temporarily, as the series of events unfolding in this portion lead his family to the fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 15:13. Jacob was unsettled and without peace when it appears that Joseph, his beloved son, is lost. We must consider closely the course of events that lead to the Lord’s promise to Abraham being fulfilled.

Joseph is described by his brothers as a בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת, “master of dreams,” (Gen. 37:19). He has dreams involving himself and his family – where it appears that he will somehow rule over the them. He shares these dreams with his brothers without first seeking counsel from Jacob as to their meaning and purpose. Joseph is naïve and perhaps arrogant; his brothers are angry. No one seems to be concerned with the potential validity of the dreams, and how or why these things may come to pass – but they unwittingly walk into the moments that will realize these prophetic dreams.

The initial dreams that Joseph shared are bigger than he is. He is the second youngest son. He has no position that such grandiose ideas should enter his mind. He has no position, and no potential position that would make him the rescuer or leader of his family.

Yet, Jacob covers Joseph with a coat, or tunic, understood from historical sources as an ornately colored, regal robe: the symbol of his chosenness. This covering distinguished Joseph as the chosen heir apparent. The coat revealed arrogance in Joseph, while revealing hatred in his brothers (Gen. 37:3-4).

The coat becomes the turning point in the story of Joseph, and the history of the children of Israel: “The steps of a good man are made firm (ordered) by the Lord when He delights in his way” (Ps. 37:23). The covering of the father over Joseph led to jealousy in his brothers. Jacob favored Joseph because he was the son of his beloved Rachel. Years later, Joseph will recognize that the Lord used the disfunction of the family, his arrogance and his brothers rage to save their family and the known world (Gen. 50:19-20; cf. Ro. 8:28-29). He turned it all for their good, and transformed them in the process.

Joseph’s dreams were correct, yet at his young age, he failed to appreciate the costs or the length of the journey. The journey would humble the arrogant Joseph. The outward symbol of election, or chosenness, would be stripped away while the inward working of election/chosenness (sanctification) reformed him (Ro. 8:28-30). The symbol of his father’s love fanned the flames of his brother’s hatred, as he flaunts it before his brothers, wearing it to check on them in Shekem, where they tend their fathers flocks. Joseph uses the sign of chosenness, and his gift of prophetic dreams for his own glory, for his own ego.

The Lord would position Joseph, at the same time he was being humbled. In Hebrew “humble” is עָנָה, humble, meek, afflicted, and poor. Joseph had to be “humbled” or “bent down low,” in order to learn how to “bend down low.” Messiah tells us, “Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (LK. 14:11).

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin writes of humility, “In truth, humility is not difficult to define (though it is hard to embody). It means not regarding ourselves as more important than other people, including those who have achieved less than we have. And it implies judging ourselves not in comparison with others, but in light of our capabilities, and the tasks we believe God has set for us on earth.” The apostle Paul directs us, “Be sensitive to each other’s needs – don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited” (Ro. 12:16).

Still, there is a corrective lesson in messianic faith, humbling the exalted while lifting up the humbled or lowly. It is one that disciples of Messiah must consider closely. A promise of the New Covenant concerns the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, Peter stood up and spoke the prophecy of Joel 2 to a very segregated society – where women, children, the elderly, and servants did not have standing to be heard – who, like Joseph, had no position. The Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh of those born-again, not just a select few men; but men, women, children and the lowly who have been adopted and will be used of God. Hear Peter’s words:

“And it shall be in the last days,” says God, “that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” … “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” … they have no standing to do so … “your young men shall see visions” … they lack standing to be heard … “and your old men shall dream dreams” … referring to those of unlearned position … “Even on My slaves, male and female, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they shall prophecy” … men and women will speak the words of the Living God.

This prophetic reality now realized (1 Cor. 12, 14; Ro. 12:3-8) angers some older brothers, even while it may cause those so adorned to act arrogantly. The Father in heaven has adorned us in Messiah, covering us in the garments of His righteousness. Still, this grace should not cause a growth in egoism, but service. Josephs covering, and his many gifts were given by God for the service, and ultimate rescue of his family. In his chosenness there was responsibility that he could scarcely appreciate when he was called. With the chosenness, and its responsibility, Joseph learned the difficult depths of correction.

Our example remains Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. He stripped Himself of glory, incarnated in flesh, was humbled as he bent to the lowest point to meet us in order to lift us up. Joseph was corrected in order to listen, setting himself aside in order to hear and then take part in the Lord’s plan revealed in his earlier dreams.

Likewise, as disciples of Messiah were are being reformed by circumstance, experience, difficulty and success. The Lord’s grace working in us the reality of His salvation in order that we are prepared to reach others with the Gospel message, again from Paul, “Be sensitive to each other’s needs – don’t think yourselves better than others, but make humble people your friends. Don’t be conceited” (Ro. 12:16).

The covering of the Father is often accompanied by many tears; but remember, the joy that is to come is still present now.

Be well. Shalom.