Month: November 2021

Joseph was God’s Way Maker; he lived alone in Egypt to make a path to safety for his family in harsh times.

You are
WAY MAKER, miracle worker, PROMISE KEEPER (yesterday’s blog)
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are  (Lyrics by Sinach, Nigerian Gospel Singer)

Joseph’s life puzzled him greatly at times, why had all these things happened to him?

¹⁴ But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. ¹⁵ I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and EVEN HERE I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE BEING PUT IN A DUNGEON.’ Genesis 40

Joseph had finally met his father Jacob and wept for a long time, as all the pent up emotions were released.

³¹ THEN Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, ‘I WILL GO AND SPEAK TO PHARAOH and will say to him, “My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.” Genesis 46

Joseph was going to set scene for his family’s encounter with a foreign head of state, he was Preparing the Way for their meeting. There would have been a natural antipathy between the Egyptians and the shepherds from Canaan as the scriptures declare;

³³ When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, “What is your occupation?” ³⁴ you should answer, “Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.” Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, FOR ALL SHEPHERDS ARE DETESTABLE TO THE EGYPTIANS.’ Genesis 46

Joseph, however, was highly regarded by Pharaoh and his court and they needed his wisdom for the days of famine that still lay ahead. Joseph chose five  (number of Grace) of his brothers to present to Pharaoh and they answered Pharaoh just as Joseph had told them. Pharaoh gave them freedom to settle anywhere in the land. Then Jacob came before Pharaoh to greet/bless him.

⁷ Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, ⁸ Pharaoh asked him, ‘How old are you?’

⁹ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. (Far beyond expected lifespan today) My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.’ ¹⁰ Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.

God’s provision for His people was in place, Joseph’s suffering had opened the way for his family to survive the harsh times. They understood why God had sent him ahead of them, the dreams of long ago were fulfilled.

Do you know any Way Makers in your life, they may be the key for the days ahead. Maybe you have been called to serve others and make a way for them. This may provide help for some who are seeking to know why they have been led in certain ways. God can reveal it all to us in His time.

God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you today.

Remember, El Shaddai (God Almighty) is the promise making and promise keeping God.

God appeared to Jacob at Luz in Canaan, as he was fleeing from his brother. Genesis 48:4

⁴ and (God Almighty, El Shaddai), said to me, “I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.”

Jacob fled to the land of Haran and worked for his uncle Laban for twenty years, building a large family and many livestock. At the end of the twenty years God spoke to him;

^{13 ‘}I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’ Genesis 31

Jacob returned to Canaan and probably hoped that his days of wandering through the Middle East were behind him, but God had a different plan for the family. Joseph, the Dreamer, like his father Israel, also disappeared for twenty years. He reappeared without warning as ruler in Egypt during the famine – God had orchestrated it all.

²⁹ Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Genesis 46

Joseph was a very important and busy man, ruler of a large and powerful nation, but when he met his father the ‘floodgates opened’ and he wept for a long time. He’d probably kept things buried and got on with his life, but now after twenty years his father was before him again.

Israel knew Canaan was his God given land and the land of his children forever! Yet circumstances had taken another unforeseen turn and God had sent them all south to Egypt. (His son Jesus, the Messiah, would later go down to Egypt, also to protect His life). The late Kitty Walden had a wise saying, ‘Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape’. So long as we are in these bodies, we will never fully know where life may take us, but we do know that God’s love and faithfulness never changes. He will always keep His promises to us, His children.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

God spoke only after Israel had moved, the same for us today. Genesis 46:1, 2

We said yesterday that, ‘Sometimes the thing we least want to do or Fear to do is God’s next step for our lives!’

Jacob was very reluctant to let his youngest son, Benjamin, be taken down to Egypt but the famine forced him to agree.

¹³ Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. ¹⁴ And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.’ Genesis 43

The trip went ahead and Joseph arranged the situation so that Benjamin, his full brother would remain with him. Judah interceded for Benjamin, saying he would stay in his place. Joseph could stand it no longer and ordered everyone to leave, except his brothers.

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone leave my presence!’ So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. Genesis 45

It is said that Jesus will also be alone when He reveals Himself to His Jewish brothers some day in the future.

The brothers prepared to return to their father and families to tell them the good news, (like the Gospel) that Joseph was alive and Lord of Egypt for Pharaoh.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘COME CLOSE TO ME.’ (also like Jesus after His resurrection) When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45

²¹ So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. ²² To each of them he gave new clothing, … ²⁴ Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘DON’T QUARREL ON THE WAY!’

Everything was now working out the way God had intended, but Joseph gave his brothers a final word, Don’t Quarrel on the way. Could they have ruined everything by arguing and causing further strife before they returned to their father?

Jacob was told and they packed up to go down to Egypt;

SO ISRAEL SET OUT with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

² AND GOD SPOKE TO ISRAEL IN A VISION AT NIGHT and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

³ ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.’ Genesis 46

NOT UNTIL ISRAEL AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY HAD BEGUN TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT DID GOD SPEAK A WORD OF REASSURANCE. Some of us may also have to step out before God speaks to us.

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²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’

Sometimes the thing we least want to do is God’s next step for our lives!

Joseph’s brothers had gone down to Egypt and bought some grain for the family to survive the famine. Joseph had kept Simeon until they returned with Benjamin, the youngest and his full brother. But now they’d used up all their food and needed more to replace it.

43 Now the famine was still severe in the land. ² So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, ‘Go back and buy us a little more food.’ Genesis 43

Once again hunger was forcing Jacob’s hand to send his sons back to Egypt. Simeon had been left there and the money they’d paid for the food had been returned in each one’s sack.

³ But Judah said to him, ‘The man warned us solemnly, “You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.” ⁴ If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. ⁵ But if you will not send him, we will not go down, 

An impasse, Jacob’s sons refused to leave without Benjamin and poor Jacob had to relent and allow him to go with them.

⁸ Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. ⁹ I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him.

Judah, meaning Praise, was Jacob’s fourth born son and because of the misdemeanours of his elder brothers, he rose to a place of leadership in the family. He took responsibility before his father for the safe return of Benjamin.

¹³ Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. ¹⁴ And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.’

Jacob could hold out no longer, he relented and sent Benjamin with his brothers down to Egypt. This was the key which would unlock the future for all of them and yet it only happened when there was no other way. God can be very good at putting us into situations where there is only one way forward. We need to realise that so long as he is with us, everything will be alright.

They made their second journey and met with Joseph and also Simeon once again. Apparently Simeon didn’t know the truth about Joseph and he was there when they all ate together. Seated in order of their age and Benjamin blessed by a five times larger portion (five is Grace) than the rest of them.

Joseph would eventually reveal himself to them after some further twists and turns, only now he had all the power and control. God may bring us to circumstances where we have nothing to say, we’re completely powerless. That may be His place of safety and blessings for us, when we have to fully submit to Him.

God bless and keep you today.

Our Destiny is tied to us, as we live out the Lord’s leading in our lives.

Joseph lived at least twenty years of his life, away from his father and brothers, a long time to be separated. (Joseph was 17 years old and a shepherd in Canaan Genesis 37:2, he was thirty when he entered Pharaoh’s service, Genesis 41:46 and the seven good years passed. It was two years of famine before he saw his father brothers, Genesis 45:6)

42 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ ² He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’ Genesis 42

Jacob’s hand was forced by the famine, the family had to go to Egypt and buy food to survive. Joseph had no choice in all that happened to him and now God was working on the other end of the line; the family who’d sold Joseph into slavery now had to go down to Egypt. Jacob and his sons were God’s chosen people in the whole earth and it was imperative they went as He led them. Sometimes God’s leadings are non negotiable, we just have to obey.

⁷ As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognised them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. …⁸ Although Joseph recognised his brothers, they did not recognise him. ⁹ THEN HE REMEMBERED HIS DREAMS ABOUT THEM …

THEN, at that moment, he remembered his dreams ‘about them’. He realised that what he’d dreamt was coming to pass before his eyes, as they bowed before him. Genesis 42:6

God used his brothers’ jealousy to send Joseph towards his Destiny. His father Jacob also fled his family home, after he stole his brother’s blessing and also had a dream at Bethel of the angels going up and down the ladder to heaven. God had promised Jacob that he would bring him back to the land of Canaan.

All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. ¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ Genesis 28:15

Both Jacob and Joseph spent long times away from their families during the formative years of their lives, so that God’s will would be accomplished through them.

Don’t be surprised if you have a Call from God on your life and circumstances seem to going a different way. God’s ways are not our ways and may involve personal cost to fulfill in our lives. Joseph dreamed of his brothers, father and mother bowing down before him, but he lived through twenty tough years alone in Egypt before it came to pass. He had to live that out, wondering why such things had happened to him. It may only be with the passing of time that we will understand God’s dealings in our own lives.

God is faithful, may He bless and keep you today.

We can’t wear the Prison Clothes in the King’s presence.

The account of Joseph’s release from prison provides us with important information about palace protocol.

The cupbearer told Pharaoh about Joseph interpreting the dreams and his words coming to pass.

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. WHEN HE HAD SHAVED AND CHANGED HIS CLOTHES, HE CAME BEFORE PHARAOH. Genesis 41

Joseph had to prepare to come before Pharaoh, he didn’t just leave his work and come straight into the King’s presence! Joseph shaved and put on fresh clothes, to allow him an audience with Pharaoh. Before Jesus appeared to Israel, John the Baptiser was sent to prepare the way for Him. The people who went out to him had to repent of known sin and be cleansed in the Jordan. There is no such thing as a casual meeting with a king or ruler, we can’t just drop in, we must be invited and prepare appropriately.

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. HE DRESSED HIM IN ROBES OF FINE LINEN AND PUT A GOLD CHAIN ROUND HIS NECK. ⁴³ He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,  Genesis 41 

Joseph had his work clothes, which he changed out of to come into Pharaoh’s presence but then HE WAS GIVEN a further change of clothes, by the ruler himself and these are the only clothes we know anything about.

Linen symbolises purity and the righteous acts of the saints, the Lord’s bride dressed in fine linen.

⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
⁸ FINE LINEN, BRIGHT AND CLEAN,
    WAS GIVEN HER TO WEAR.’ 

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Revelation 19:8, 9

In order to be recognised as the King’s representative in Egypt, Joseph was given fine white linen clothes and a chain of gold for his neck. There was a large distinction between being cleaned up once to come into the King’s presence and actually representing him in his kingdom.

⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph WENT THROUGHOUT THE LAND of Egypt. Genesis 41

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet in Matthew’s Gospel looks forward to the end of the Age.

⁸ ‘Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. ⁹ Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” ¹⁰ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹² He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless.

¹³ ‘Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹⁴ ‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’ Matthew 22

We can only stand before a Holy God because of Jesus’ sacrifice, but righteous acts will be our covering.

God bless and keep you today.

Four lessons from Joseph’s life so far;

Don’t get Bogged down by Bad Days, in the pit or the prison, God has a bigger and better plan (keep the Big Picture in view, personal prophesies and dreams).

Don’t become twisted or bitter by the unexpected ‘twists and turns of life’. Joseph forgave his brothers and recognised that God’s hand had been been behind everything that had happened to him.

Joseph didn’t complain about the treatment he’d received (wasn’t self-centred or pitying), but focused on Pharaoh’s questions or needs and gave him good counsel.

He introduced God at once into the conversation, saying God had the answers. We can also mention God as we speak and allow Him to direct the outcome. Introducing God’s name into our conversations may be a key for many of us!

What happened next to Joseph was dramatic and crucial to his new life;

⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ ⁴² Then Pharaoh took HIS SIGNET RING from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He DRESSED HIM IN ROBES OF FINE LINEN AND PUT A GOLD CHAIN ROUND HIS NECK. ⁴³ He made him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, ‘Make way!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Genesis 41

Pharaoh knew that anyone newly appointed to be his second in command for the whole land of Egypt had to ‘look the part’, or have a distinguished appearance. The first thing he gave Joseph was his own Signet Ring (Esther’s uncle, Mordecai also received the King of Babylon’s ring once Haman was removed). The ring probably contained Pharaoh’s seal and therefore his authority to command in Egypt. Joseph was dressed to stand in his new role, no one would be in any doubt that he was a ruler in the land.

⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

⁵⁰ Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. ⁵¹ Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’ ⁵² The second son he named Ephraim and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’

Joseph was given a wife, daughter of a priest and they had two sons, given prophetic names byJoseph. So Joseph was well established in Egypt and may have thought he wouldn’t see his family again but the dreams of his boyhood still remained to be fulfilled.

Christians are children of the Most High God and may have lowly positions on earth and yet our voices are heard in heaven. We must remember that we are spiritual beings, created to have fellowship with the Lord, now and for all eternity. That is who we are and what we should live for.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’

Amen, Yes Lord.

We need the Character to Carry the Call, usually takes time!

Two lessons to date from Joseph’s life;

Don’t get Bogged down by Bad Days, in the pit or the prison, God has a bigger and better plan (keep the Big Picture in view, personal prophesies and dreams).

Don’t become twisted or bitter by the unexpected ‘twists and turns of life’. Joseph forgave his brothers and recognised that God’s hand had been been behind everything that had happened to him.

Joseph, like Jesus, was thirty years old when he stepped into his destiny. He was a mature man, shaped by the experiences of life. The man who was to govern the mighty nation of Egypt had been thrown into a pit, sold as a slave to work as a house manager and later as a prison helper. Can we realise how frustrating that must have been for someone with a huge call on his life, but that was God’s chosen training ground for His servant. (Derek Prince, admitted that he had little experience of females, he attended an all boy’s school and then served in the army in WW2. When he left the army he married Lydia and became father to eight adopted girls – God’s new training ground for a successful university academic).

Then Pharaoh had two dreams and he’d never heard of Joseph, but his reinstated cupbearer remembered the young Hebrew who’d interpreted the dreams in prison. God’s hand was again about to work in Joseph’s life and lift him out of the prison into the palace. God works subtly and unseen to bring about His purpose for our lives. Joseph’s dreams were coming to pass.

¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’

¹⁶ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ Genesis 41

Joseph immediately BROUGHT GOD INTO HIS CONVERSATION WITH PHARAOH. Have we thought of quietly introducing something of God into important discussions? I knew a minister in the UK who said he always mentioned something about the Jews or Israel when he spoke in a new venue to gauge people’s reaction.

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and again attributed the meaning to God.

²⁵ Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

²⁸ ‘It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Genesis 41

Joseph didn’t complain nor draw attention to his treatment.

³³ ‘And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Genesis 41

Joseph didn’t promote himself, he left the decision with God and Pharaoh, but nothing could hinder God’s plan for his life or for ours when we keep Him first.

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³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER AND RUNNING OVER, WILL BE POURED INTO YOUR LAP. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6

God is no man’s debtor.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are also available to seek personal words of encouragement and guidance for those who need them. We can provide personal counselling online. Contact our webpage with your request. A donation is normally required for this service.

God bless and keep you today.

We saw yesterday that there was a Bigger Picture or Purpose in Joseph’s life. We should ask God to help us to know something of His ultimate plan for our lives. (Ultimate, infers Final and also Best). We can become absorbed by the day to day situations, which may be difficult, but God is looking towards the final outcome for each of us.

Joseph’s mother, Rachel, was Jacob’s favourite wife but she waited some time to conceive and give birth to their first born son;

²² Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. ²³ She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace.’ ²⁴ She named him Joseph, and said, ‘May the Lord add to me another son.’ Genesis 30

Joseph was born the second youngest brother of the twelve, God had His purpose in the timing of his birth. Joseph was to be a Deliverer for the family, God’s chosen people on the whole earth in that day.

Joseph was born in Aram (present day Syria, SE Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, all North of Israel) but God spoke to his father Jacob;

¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. Genesis 31

So Jacob left Aram with his family and flocks and returned to Canaan. Joseph was raised in Canaan until he was seventeen and sent to look for his brothers by Jacob. As we said yesterday, that was the last time that Jacob and Joseph saw one another for over thirteen years. Jacob believed his son was dead from his blood stained garment. He probably regretted sending him out alone to look for his brothers. We can blame ourselves for things that may not be our fault, that have been destined for our and other’s lives!

Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, into the house of Potiphar and his wife. His next step was wrongful imprisonment after the wife tried to seduce him and then lied about him.

¹⁴ But when all goes well with you (Pharaoh’s cupbearer), remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. ¹⁵ I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon. Genesis 40

Joseph had been a good and honest servant, while in charge of Potiphar’s house, but once again circumstances seemed to go very wrong for him. Joseph’s life had many twists and turns, which he couldn’t understand, but there was a great plan and destiny for his future. Only God knew the plan and He didn’t tell anyone, it had to be walked out. (I’ve often wondered what Nelson Mandela’s prison guards thought when he became President of South Africa? What did Potiphar’s wife think when Joseph became second in all Egypt? Neither seemed to retaliate for the wrongs done to them.)

We may never understand the many twists and turns in our own lives, but if we keep going forward looking to God, He will work it out for good. Joseph never lost faith in God, despite all he’d gone through in life.

⁸ ‘So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Genesis 45

God bless and keep you today.

God can step into a life at any age and immediately begin to work out His plan for our future destiny.

The account of Joseph’s life begins in Genesis 37, where we’re told at once that he was a young man of seventeen. It seems that God takes hold at an early age of someone with a significant call on their life. (For those interested in Biblical Numbers, Jacob also lived for seventeen years in Egypt. Genesis 47:28)

Once Joseph is introduced, we’re told about a series of events that caused friction between him and his older half brothers.

² This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them (told tales on them to their father). Genesis 37

The rift between Joseph and his brothers centred around Jacob, their father.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 

The brothers became very bitter towards the young Joseph.

⁵ Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. ⁶ He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ we were binding sheaves of corn out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered round mine and bowed down to it.’

It seemed like everything Joseph did angered his brothers even more. Dreams were to be a very significant part of his life, but he antagonised his half brothers by sharing his dreams. We need to learn wisdom before sharing anything God gives us.

⁹ Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’

¹⁰ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him… ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Joseph continued to share his dreams and antagonise his brothers.

The next part of the Bible’s account begins with Jacob sending Joseph to see how his brothers were as they grazed the flocks.

¹⁴ So he said to him, ‘Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.’ Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.

That was to be the last time Jacob saw Joseph for at least  thirteen years (Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh Genesis 41:46). He went to find his brothers and was sold into slavery in Egypt.

We could rightly say how unjust and wicked his brothers were to do such a thing, but God’s hand was in the whole affair.