EXTREME HOME BREAK-UP (44 OF 54)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Genesis 37:2-36
This content is part of a series.
Extreme Home Break-Up (44 of 54)
Series: The Book of Beginnings
Keith Krell
Genesis 37:2-36
A story as intriguing as the one found in Genesis 37 does not need an introduction. Beginning with 37:2a, Moses writes: ''These are the records of the generations of Jacob'' (37:2a). While the next 14 chapters of Genesis include Jacob, the storyline focuses on Jacob's sons. And of his 12 sons, special interest is spent on Joseph. This means ¼ of the book of Genesis is devoted to this one man.
Moses writes, ''Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives'' (37:2b). Notice that Joseph is 17 and is ''still a youth.'' This demonstrates that it's possible to be 17 and godly (1 Tim 4:12). Age is not the determining factor when it comes to godliness. The reality is there are only two classes of people in the church: mature and immature. Teenagers who have a great love and passion for the Lord are putting many adults who have been saved for decades to shame. Thus, we must judge spirituality not by age and knowledge but by maturity and obedience.
Joseph is tending his father's flock ''with his brothers,'' the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (i.e., Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, cf. 35:25-26). He is learning one of the lessons of leadership: You do not become somebody until you become nobody! If you want to become a leader, you must first be a servant. Only then will you follow in Jesus' example and one day become a servant-leader (Mark 10:45; John 13:3-17). This description also prefigures Joseph's later shepherding role in relation to his brothers, after they became dependent on him.
Moses concludes 37:2 with these words: ''And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.'' The reference to the ''bad report'' is not very specific. Elsewhere, the word ''report'' (dibbah) is always used in the negative sense of an untrue r ...
Series: The Book of Beginnings
Keith Krell
Genesis 37:2-36
A story as intriguing as the one found in Genesis 37 does not need an introduction. Beginning with 37:2a, Moses writes: ''These are the records of the generations of Jacob'' (37:2a). While the next 14 chapters of Genesis include Jacob, the storyline focuses on Jacob's sons. And of his 12 sons, special interest is spent on Joseph. This means ¼ of the book of Genesis is devoted to this one man.
Moses writes, ''Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives'' (37:2b). Notice that Joseph is 17 and is ''still a youth.'' This demonstrates that it's possible to be 17 and godly (1 Tim 4:12). Age is not the determining factor when it comes to godliness. The reality is there are only two classes of people in the church: mature and immature. Teenagers who have a great love and passion for the Lord are putting many adults who have been saved for decades to shame. Thus, we must judge spirituality not by age and knowledge but by maturity and obedience.
Joseph is tending his father's flock ''with his brothers,'' the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (i.e., Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, cf. 35:25-26). He is learning one of the lessons of leadership: You do not become somebody until you become nobody! If you want to become a leader, you must first be a servant. Only then will you follow in Jesus' example and one day become a servant-leader (Mark 10:45; John 13:3-17). This description also prefigures Joseph's later shepherding role in relation to his brothers, after they became dependent on him.
Moses concludes 37:2 with these words: ''And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.'' The reference to the ''bad report'' is not very specific. Elsewhere, the word ''report'' (dibbah) is always used in the negative sense of an untrue r ...
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