#101 Brotherly Love Genesis 37

Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. 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. So he said to them, "please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." 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. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "what is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37: 1-11 NKJV

It is not clear here whether Joseph was asked to check up on his brothers or that he just felt the need to report their wrong doings. He is the obvious favorite son, and probably looked upon as a tattle tale. His father has made him stand out by making him the favorite; he even wears a special cloak of many colors. Joseph's brothers do not share their father's love of the boy, and have grown quite envious. One could look at this and say that he was arrogant in the telling of his dreams, and he may have been. He is young, and the favoritism from his father, that is so obvious to his brothers, cannot be hidden from him. Joseph probably carries himself around like a little prince, and one could venture, that those who have never served are not yet fit to lead. The dreams are prophetic, but the boy will have his turn as a servant, and paint one of the most beautiful messianic pictures in the Bible. He is treated here as an only begotten son by his father; he is hated by his own. 

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "this is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. Luke 9:34-36 NKJV

Jesus said to them, "have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Now when the chief priests and pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:42-46 NKJV