Clothing in the natural may determine how others relate to us. Clothing in the spirit will determine our future and our destiny.
37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line. Genesis 37
Jacob felt a connection with the land where his father had lived in Canaan and settled there. Many times we’re drawn to the familiar and what we know.
Then Joseph appears as a seventeen year old shepherd, working with his half brothers and carrying bad reports to their father about them. Joseph may well have been different in nature to them, rather than vindictive. There’s no criticism of Joseph in the Bible and he’s regarded as a Type of the Messiah, a Saviour.
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. Genesis 37
Joseph’s robe sparked his brothers’ jealousy because it confirmed he was the favourite of their father. He had been given something that set him apart from the rest of the family.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
Peter, speaking to the early Church, told them to clothe themselves with HUMILITY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. It was something they should do in order to walk in the blessing of God.
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.’
Joseph had two dreams, the first about his brothers’ sheaves bowing to his was very much rooted in the earth and was later fulfilled in Egypt. The second dream was set in the heavens and I believe speaks of his Calling and his Destiny as a Ruler chosen by Almighty God.
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 (Very Precise) WERE BOWING DOWN TO ME.’
God gave him two dreams, with striking similarities, implying a certainty that this was going to happen.
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. Genesis 41
Joseph became the leader of the whole land of Egypt, it wasn’t just his brothers who bowed to him. The first thing that Pharaoh did after appointing him was to dress Joseph as a ruler.
God has special adornments for each of us, when we submit to His dealings in our lives. Better to dress in humility and let God lift us up in His time.
12 Whoever exalts themselves shall be humbled; and whoever humbles themselves shall be exalted. Matthew 23
Immanuel, Stay Strong, God is with us.