Joseph Endured His Trials: Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41

Joseph’s choice to continue to turn to the Lord, in spite of the trials in his life, was the reason why every trial was turned into a blessing for both him and his family.

12 Tribes of Israel (Jacobs sons):

Jacob’s name was changed to Israel so his sons are known as the 12 tribes of Israel.

The birth order of Jacob’s 12 sons:

From Leah (the first wife):

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah

From Bilah (the handmaid of Rachel- considered Rachel’s children):

Dan, Naphtali

From Zilpah (the handmaid of Leah - considered Leah’s children):

Gad, Asher

From Leah:

Issachar, Zebulun, (Dinah- a daughter)

From Rachel (the most loved wife):

Joseph, Benjamin

Birthright:

Under the patriarchal order, the right or inheritance of the firstborn is known as birthright. This generally included a land inheritance as well as the authority to preside. From time to time certain prerogatives, opportunities, and blessings have attended those who were born of a particular lineage. Lineage alone does not guarantee the blessings or spiritual power of the office, but the opportunities are offered to the firstborn of the selected lineage. There are several instances in the scriptures of the one who was the firstborn losing his birthright because of unrighteousness and his office being given to another; such is the case with Esau (Gen. 25:24–34; 27) and Reuben (1 Chr. 5:1–2; Jer. 31:9)

For four generations, we see the birthright not being passed to the eldest son with resulting conflict.

The eldest son of Abraham is Ishmael (born of Sarah’s handmaid). The birthright went to Isaac as the firstborn son of Sarah.

Isaac had twin sons born of his wife Rebekah. Esau was born first but traded his birthright to Jacob as second born.

Jacob’s eldest son was Reuben (born of Leah) Reuben forfeited his birthright and so it was passed to the firstborn son of the second, but most loved, wife Rachel. Joseph was born 11^th of the 12 sons, yet he received the birthright. Reubens portion of the inheritance was also given to Joseph and so he received double portion which in turn went to Joseph’s two sons (adopted by Jacob/Israel as his own) Manasseh was the eldest son of Joseph, but Jacob blessed Ephraim with the birthright. Judah as forth born overcame his older brothers and became the ruler of Israel.

When we read of Jacob giving the coat (of many colours) to Joseph in the scriptures, it is signifying the passing of the birthright to Joseph.

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

The Coat of Many Colours:

There is some question as to what Joseph’s coat actually was. The Hebrew word denotes “a long coat with sleeves … i.e. an upper coat reaching to the wrists and ankles, such as noblemen and kings’ daughters wore” (Keil and Delitzsch,Commentary, 1:1:335) The coat may have been of different colors, but its significance seems to have been far more than its brightness and beauty. One noted scholar suggested that it was “a tunic reaching to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the long tunic with sleeves worn by young men and maidens of the better class; in the case of Joseph,  to have been the badge of the birthright which has been forfeited by Reuben and transferred to Joseph” (Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies,s.v. “colour,” p. 82).

Question of the birthright:

"The birthright may have been in question among the brothers because there were four firstborn sons in Jacob’s family. The following brothers could easily have thought that they should have had the birthright.

Reuben. He was the firstborn of all the sons. Although he had lost the right (Genesis 35:22), he may not have accepted that fact.

Simeon. Since he was the second son of Leah and next in line following Reuben, he could have assumed the birthright would come to him after Reuben lost his right to it.

Judah. He could have argued that not only Reuben had lost the right, but so had Simeon and Levi, through the massacre of the Shechemites (see Genesis 34). The disqualification of these sons would make him the rightful legal heir.

Dan. Because his mother, Bilhah, was considered Rachel’s property, he could argue that he was Rachel’s firstborn, not Joseph, and therefore should have received the birthright when Reuben lost it.

Gad. He was the firstborn son of Zilpah and therefore could easily have thought he should have taken the birthright after Reuben forfeited it."

This fact would explain the intense hostility and jealousy the coat provoked among the other sons of Jacob.

Joseph’s dreams confirming his birthright angered his brothers even more. We find later that these dreams came to pass as a direct result of his brothers jealous actions.

 Genesis 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 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. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers, sold to Midianites and taken to Egypt. He was sold to Potiphar, pharaoh’s captain of the guard. Joseph worked hard and found favor with Potiphar and was made overseer of his house. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and he ran leaving his cloak in her hands. She used the cloak to accuse him and he was throw into prison ( a light sentence- normally a person found in his position would have been killed) In prison he was put in charge of the other prisoners, interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker who were in prison for a short time. When Pharaoh had a dream, the butler remembered and told Pharaoh about Joseph. Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and put him as second in command over all the land. In his position he was able to save the lives of his father and brothers and all their families. The dream he had earlier was fulfilled and every unjust trial he endured ended up working for his good and the good of his family. If he had chosen to be bitter in those trials, he might have missed the opportunities to end up in the position where he could help.

What can I learn from Joseph?

I think the biggest message is to not give up when things seem to be going against you. Trust that Heavenly Father loves us and all these things will be used for good. Joseph could have easily gotten discouraged when he once again found himself unjustly in a prison. He had worked hard to turn being sold into slavery around and then he has to start all over again as he is thrown in prison. I can add my own personal experience to this message. Just today, I had an opportunity to use things I learned in some of my darkest challenges to bless the life of another person and give hope. It was a powerful experience that I never could have had, if I hadn’t gone through the trials of the past. Heavenly Father does love us and guides our lives to make the most out of even those darkest unjust situations we may find ourselves in. Not only will our life be blessed as we turn to him and allow it, but others lives will also be blessed.