INTRODUCTION Joseph is the favored son. The Great grandson of Abraham. Abraham – Isaac – Jacob (Israel) The 11th of 12 sons (heirs of promise). Nation – Land – Blessing – Seed Jacob and Rachel’s firstborn. A founder of biblical faith. Young, trustworthy, God-gifted. Every dream came true! He suffered to “save the world.” TITLE: The Son Rejected Genesis 37 “The Bible talks about life as it really is: petty, messy, full of strained relationships, dysfunctional, unfair, and sometimes even murderously violent. That is what life was like for Joseph growing up in Jacob’s family…” - John Lennox, Joseph: A Story of Love, Hate, Slavery, Power, and Forgiveness. Read chapter 37. Chapter 37 ends with Jacob in grief. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son…” - Genesis 37:35 (NLT) Three reasons Joseph, the favored son, was rejected by his own: 1. Joseph brought a bad report. Genesis 37:2 (NLT), “Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing… 14 ’Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,’ Jacob said. ‘Then come back and bring me a report.’” • While the sons kept an eye on the flocks, Joseph kept an eye on the bothers. • Joseph reported on the brothers and the flock. • We have no reason to believe Joseph was dishonest. • The brothers hated Joseph simply because he told the truth. Sometimes we forget how much the world hates truthtellers. • Jesus said, “The world ... hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil” (John 7:7). 2. Jacob favored Joseph. Genesis 37:3, “Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age….Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.” • Jacob would have been in his 90’s when Joseph was born. • All of the patriarchs were old when they had children – defying their old age, and grateful for God’s miracles. • Jacob favored Joseph with a coat of many colors – a symbol of authority/leadership. • Jacob, of all people, should have known better. • Jacob’s father Isaac favored twin brother Esau! • That led to deception/division to the point where Esau wanted to kill Jacob. • Proverbs 24:23, “It is wrong to show favoritism.” • Favoritism wrecks families, and nearly wrecked God’s family of promise. 3. Joseph had dreams of ruling. Genesis 37:5 “Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever…” Dream 1: “...your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” (7) Dream 2: “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” (9) • Joseph was SO excited to share his dreams. • I think he meant no malice in doing so. • Father Jacob wondered… He was a dreamer too! • Dreams were a big part of the family heritage. Genesis 37:11 sums up the family reaction to Joseph’s dreams, “...while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.” • Abraham and Jacob had dreams from the Lord, so why not Joseph? • God does and can use dreams to move people out of dark situations and into the light of His will and into the light of Christ. • In Muslim lands, like Iran, God often sends dreams to bring people to Christ. • Warning: some (most) dreams and visions are not from God. Be skeptical. • Sometimes a dream from the Lord is met with nothing but trouble and difficulty. But that does not mean the dream was not from the Lord! It just means that the Lord is Lord of the dream, not you. • It will be 23 years until Joseph’s dreams come true. CONCLUSION: We wonder and remember the many parallels between Joseph and Jesus. • Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son, sent on a mission to seek the lost sheep and shepherds like us. He was rejected, hated, stripped of his bloodied robe, and betrayed for silver. • Why? • Because He told the truth, and He said one day everyone will bow to Him – Israel and every nation. • Jesus is God’s prefect King come to rule and reign God’s world. • We know how the story ends… Given up for dead, he rose from the pit to the right hand of power with authority to judge and save the world. That’s Joseph. That’s Jesus. • One final Scripture… John 3:35, The Father loves the Son and has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” CHOOSE JESUS! Our future, our salvation, depends on this one thing, what will we do with God’s beloved Son? Will we bow and believe Jesus? Will we betray Jesus? There is no middle ground. We must decide.