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Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 

And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.

So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

—From Genesis 37:3–8, 12–13, 19–28, 31–36; 39:1–6 (NKJV)

Meditation

Ah, to be the favored child! Joseph had what Jacob lacked—his father’s favor. He, the youngest of all his brothers and only son of his father’s favorite wife, Rachel, was born already privileged, and a gift from his father only reinforced what his brothers already knew: Joseph was special. His brothers understood what we, in our modern reading, may miss. The gift of a multicolored coat spoke far more than favor.

In Joseph’s day a cloak was one of a man’s most important possessions. It was a covering, a blanket, pillow, shelter from the wind. A cloak was among the items passed down from father to son, and when Jesus was executed on the cross, the guards gambled to see who would take home or sell His cloak. A cloak was not a small gift.

For Joseph, such an extravagant gift was also a sign, a promise.

It promised his father’s blessing and it promised his wealth, his power, a future of Joseph’s dominance over the less-favored brothers. Mix in Joseph’s recurring dreams of his brothers’ bowing down to him, which he was all too eager to share, and the recipe for tragedy has been written.

Imagine Joseph in the midst of his brothers—he had to know he was not their favorite. Did he think his position as favored son would protect him?

His coat was ripped from him, torn, stained with blood. And he was tossed in a pit as sure to die as if he’d been closed in a grave.

And yet his brothers raised him out and ransomed him to Egyptian traders. Neither he nor his brothers could have imagined how God would use their envy and cruelty to accomplish His purpose. They couldn’t know a famine would come to the land, one so severe their lives would rest in the hands of an Egyptian overseer.

Through Joseph’s figurative death and literal enslavement, God used him to save not only the first family of Israel, but many others. As Joseph said to his brothers all those years later, as they sought life-sustaining food, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Gen. 50:20 ESV).

Think back on recent days, to the promise given Abraham, to Isaac, reiterated to Jacob—their family would be a light and a blessing. Joseph is only a glimmer, a foreshadow, of the full fulfillment of that prophecy. The blessing would not be limited to Jacob’s family, nor to the Hebrew people or the nation of Israel. It is a blessing for the whole world—the Word becoming flesh to dwell among us.

Inspiration

Music

Let the lesser-known carol, Adam Lay Ybounden, remind us of God’s grace and mercy—that we can thank Him in all circumstances.

So many Christmas songs tell the rest of Christ’s story. His birth is only the beginning! Think on the true reason for the season as you enjoy Sing Lullaby, The Infant King.

Visit our Joy of Advent YouTube playlist for featured videos, our Ultimate Christmas playlist for all our favorite carols, or our sing-along carols to enjoy karaoke style.

Reflection

Joseph was attacked by his own brothers, thrown in a pit, sold as a slave. In Egypt he was falsely accused and imprisoned. For years. Yet toward the end of his life he’s still able to say, without bitterness, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” In the pit, his brothers above discussing ways to kill him, Joseph couldn’t have known what plans God had for him. Have you ever been surprised by unexpected roadblocks, sorrows, or challenges in your life? Perhaps you too can think of a time when you discovered that something “intended for evil” brought about good for you or others. Perhaps you’re going through a valley of sorrow or hurt right now—if so, reflect on Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (ESV).

Prayer

O God, Who bestows this upon us by Thy grace,
that we should be made righteous instead of ungodly,
blessed instead of miserable;
be present to Thine own gifts;
that they in whom dwells a justifying faith may not lack a strong perseverance;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

(From Ancient Collects, and Other Prayers, William Bright, 1902)

Family Celebration 

In your child’s favorite Children’s Bible, read the story of Joseph’s coat of many colors.

Say: Do you ever ask, “Why?” Joseph might have asked Why many times. Why did his brothers take his coat? Why did they send him away to Egypt? Why did he spend years in prison for doing nothing wrong? At the time these things were happening, Joseph didn’t know that God had a much bigger plan! Joseph would be the Egyptian ruler’s most important assistant, and he would help many people. Our symbol today, Joseph’s colorful coat, reminds us that God can use anything in our lives for His good purpose.

Especially for Toddlers and PreK

Resources

• Did you know that the 12 Tribes of Israel (Jacob, who was renamed Israel’s 12 sons) each have a traditional color? Perhaps Joseph’s coat reflected those colors.

• Enjoy a printable coloring pages of many events in Joseph's life.

• Would you like to make Jesse Tree ornaments to accompany your readings? Find tutorials and ideas from simple to advanced at our Jesse Tree Ornaments Pinterest board.

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