Speaker: Pastor Neil Lindwall

Additional Resources: Extra readings and details are available and appear on this page indented like this.

ESV Genesis 37:1-3 Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.  

“Generations”: The Hebrew term “Toledot” (תּוֹלְדוֹת) is typically rendered in English as “generations,” “genealogies,” or “accounts.” Linguistically, it stems from the root יָלַד (yalad), meaning “to bear” or “to beget.” In the Hebrew text of Genesis, “Toledot” serves as an organizational signal, marking significant sections or transitions. Many Bible translations note it as “These are the generations of…” or “This is the account of…,” emphasizing lineage, historical narrative, or the unfolding story of key figures and events. The Toledot of Jacob is the 10th & final one in Genesis but it is primarily the story of Jospeh.

Made = āśâ – to do, bring about, perform. may mean prepare, arrange, authorize, etc. – especially to convey God's work in keeping with the particular context. The discerning reader is aware of these options, and translates appropriately. “Made” is written as a “Conjunctive Perfect”. = Information set off as indeed-significant (solemn-and-crucial), i.e. of central (crux) importance to the unified, coherent sense of the passage. The OT (Hebrew) conjunctive perfect underlines information with certain-and-solemn significance in the storyline – data set off as integral (central) to the message of the passage. The pivotal information pops out, giving readers instant, original perspective (frame of reference). As a unifying center-nucleus, guides readers how to weigh in other parts of the passage in their relative importance. – HELPS Lexicon. 

The Coat of Favor. 

Robe “Pas Kuttoneth” = “multi-colored” or "full length" “reaching to hands & feet”. 

The Egyptian fresco at Beni Hasan shows Semitic people of high rank dressed in tunics. They have long sleeves and colored stripes while offering tribute (WB, I, 94, 110-14). It depicts a caravan of nomadic Semitic traders from the Syro-Canaanite region entering Egypt during the Middle Kingdom period of around 1900 BCE. These high-ranking individuals are shown wearing colorful, elaborately woven tunics with vibrant, geometric patterns and striped designs, likely indicating wealth and status. 

Genesis 34: After their sister Dinah was raped by the son of a Shechem's Ruler, Jacob's sons did Great Evil to them. 

• Deceitfully tricked the men of Shechem: Accept the peace treaty only if every male in the city was circumcised. #9
• Used God’s sacred covenant circumcision as an instrument of vengeance: Disgracing the covenant & God’s Name! #3
• Mercilus. Jewish tradition and medical understanding of the time both suggest the third day after circumcision is when fever, inflammation, and pain are at their peak, the men most incapacitated and vulnerable to attack.
• Massacred all the males of the city: Simeon and Levi surprise attacked & killed every male in Shechem. #6
• Plundered the city: After the massacre, the rest of the bro’s looted & took all the wealth, animals, women & kids. #7,8 &10
• Brought trouble and danger upon their own family: Became a "stench" to neighbors & at risk of attack. #5

ESV Genesis 37:5-11 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Reign = “Malach”, to be or become King.

Rule = “Mashal”, to rule, with full administrative control and power

Come = “Bo’ ” (figuratively) enter into a new status or experience.

Summary: Genesis 37:12-36 Jacob Sent Joe to Check Up on His Bros & He Wore the Robe they Hated. 

Christians Carry God’s Call Confidently. Christians Confide Carefully.

Stripped by Hate.  

They Stripped the Robe of Favor & Threw Him In a Pit. 

The Coat of a Slave.  

ESV Genesis 39:1-6a Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.

Summary: Genesis 39:7-20  

Potiphar’s Wife Desired Joseph & Tried to Seduce Him into Adultery. Joe Refused to Betray Potiphar’s Trust & God’s Calling.

ESV Genesis 39:9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 

Stripped Because of Holiness.  

Don’t Let Temporary Pleasure Destroy Your Eternal Purpose. 

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. 

The Coat of a Prisoner  

Genesis 39:21-23 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Summary: Genesis 40:1-23

2 Royal Servants Jailed, Each Had a Dream (*2) Joe Interpreted Them. In 3 Days: Cup Bearer was Restored, Baker was Executed. 40:23 Yet the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph. 

GOD Will Not Forget You!

ESV Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Summary: Genesis 41:1-36

Pharaoh Had Bad *Dream No One Could Decode. Weird, Cows & Grain. Cupbearer Remembered, Joe Called, Shaved & Clothes Changed.

Genesis 41:37-41 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.

The Coat of a Ruler  

God’s Favor Never: Fades, Wears Out, or Goes Out of Style. 

KEEP GOD’S FAVOR ON

NIV Romans 13:14 "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh". 

NIV Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

• Are You Tempted to Doubt?  Keep The Faith!
• Are You Tempted to Compromise?  Guard Your Purity!
• Are You Tempted to Quit?  Wait for The Lord!

NIV Galatians 3:27 "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ". 

NIV Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience". 

NIV Isaiah 61:10 "for he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness".