Anointed by Foolish

Genesis 37

One of the most amazing stories in the entire Bible is the story of Joseph.  He emerges as one of the great leaders of the Old Testament.  But his leadership is not without great cost and severe testing. 

Joseph is one of the few Bible characters about which there is no recorded sin.  The worst we can say about him is that in his youth he did not use wisdom in sharing his dreams. 

In Genesis 37, we find the beginning of difficulties in his life.  He is the second youngest of his eleven brothers.  Only Benjamin is younger than he.  The father of these twelve boys chose Joseph to be his favorite.  At first, this seemed like good news for Joseph, but, in relation to his ten older brothers, it was very bad news.  They grew to hate this little brother. 

Joseph did not help the situation.  He tattled on his brothers when they were loafing on the job.  Perhaps, the biggest stumbling block was that he had a couple of dreams and then told his brothers about them.  The obvious meaning of the dreams was that Joseph would some day rule over his entire family.

When family members begin to war against each other, it can have very vicious consequences.  And so it is here.  When Joseph came to visit his brothers who were far afield with their flocks, they used the opportunity to once and for all rid themselves of this "pain-in-the-neck" little brother.  Out of pure hatred, they sold him into slavery.

Joseph is typical of you and me at times.  If we feel we have gotten a promise from God, we need to know how to handle that promise.  There is nothing better than hearing from God.  But you gotta know how much to tell your friends.  It can sound like bragging.  "Hey, let me tell what God told me yesterday!"  Or it can sound like you're making it up just to get an advantage over someone else.  "God told me you are going to buy me lunch."  We may laugh at these things, but this is pretty close to the way Joseph's brothers perceived Joseph.  And sometimes this is the way people perceive us.  We need to be careful how we talk about how "God told me this" or "God told me that."  If God truly spoke to you, he can bring it off without your help.  So do like Mary.  When God spoke so clearly to her, she hide it in your heart (Luke 2:19).  At the right time and in the right way, you will be able to share what God has truly revealed to you.  And that will be a great time.