Genesis 37:2-11 "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying."
Israel, who before was called Jacob, had by this point buried his father, Isaac. He has also buried his beloved Rachel who had died giving birth to the youngest son, Benjamin. On the surface, it seems odd that Joseph was referred to as the son of Israel’s “old age.” It is obvious that Joseph was not the baby boy.
Why did Israel love Joseph more than all his children? As we continue to study, we are going to discover that Joseph was wise beyond his years. It appears that he was a dutiful and obedient son in all things. The wrongdoings of his brothers bothered Joseph so much that he confessed these things before his father.
It is perhaps Joseph’s wisdom that caused him to be referred to as the child of Isarel’s old age. His father loved him for his willingness to do his father’s will. Joseph was not led astray by his brother’s bad behavior. Therefore, Israel honored Joseph with a garment that was unlike anything his brothers had.
His father’s love for him made Joseph a target for the wrath of his brothers. They envied him. They despised him because he laid open their sins before his father. Furthermore, he told them through two dreams that he would have dominion over them. While the time would come that they would honor Joseph, that was not the immediate response.
Dear ones, being loved by the Father is not going to make you popular with the children of disobedience. The grace and leadership of the Holy Spirit will cause you to be wiser. You are going to be clothed differently (in the way you live). Others are going to see this.
Do not become proud because of the difference the Father’s love makes in your life. You did not make this difference; He did. But never be turned aside from being a faithful child because of the envy of others. Be wise in the things of the Father, and your life will honor Him.