Genesis:37

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* Verse 1-4 - In Joseph 's history we see something of Christ , who was first humbled and then exalted . It also shows the lot of Christians , who must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom . It is a history that has none like it , for displaying the various workings of the human mind , both good and bad , and the singular providence of God in making use of them for fulfilling his purposes . Though Joseph was his father 's darling , yet he was not bred up in idleness . Those do not truly love their children , who do not use them to business , and labour , and hardships . The fondling of children is with good reason called the spoiling of them . Those who are trained up to do nothing , are likely to be good for nothing . But Jacob made known his love , by dressing Joseph finer than the rest of his children . It is wrong for parents to make a difference between one child and another , unless there is great cause for it , by the children 's dutifulness , or undutifulness . When parents make a difference , children soon notice it , and it leads to quarrels in families . Jacob 's sons did that , when they were from under his eye , which they durst not have done at home with him ; but Joseph gave his father an account of their ill conduct , that he might restrain them . Not as a tale-bearer , to sow discord , but as a faithful brother . * Verse 5-11 - God gave Joseph betimes the prospect of his advancement , to support and comfort him under his long and grievous troubles . Observe , Joseph dreamed of his preferment , but he did not dream of his imprisonment . Thus many young people , when setting out in the world , think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure , and never dream of trouble . His brethren rightly interpreted the dream , though they abhorred the interpretation of it . While they committed crimes in order to defeat it , they were themselves the instruments of accomplishing it . Thus the Jews understood what Christ said of his kingdom . Determined that he should not reign over them , they consulted to put him to death ; and by his crucifixion , made way for the exaltation they designed to prevent . * Verse 12-22 - How readily does Joseph wait his father 's orders ! Those children who are best beloved by their parents , should be the most ready to obey them . See how deliberate Joseph 's brethren were against him . They thought to slay him from malice aforethought , and in cold blood . Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer , 1st John strkjv @3:15 . The sons of Jacob hated their brother because their father loved him . New occasions , as his dreams and the like , drew them on further ; but this laid rankling in their hearts , till they resolved on his death . God has all hearts in his hands . Reuben had most reason to be jealous of Joseph , for he was the first-born ; yet he proves his best friend . God overruled all to serve his own purpose , of making Joseph an instrument to save much people alive . Joseph was a type of Christ ; for though he was the beloved Son of his Father , and hated by a wicked world , yet the Father sent him out of his bosom to visit us in great humility and love . He came from heaven to earth to seek and save us ; yet then malicious plots were laid against him . His own not only received him not , but crucified him . This he submitted to , as a part of his design to redeem and save us . * Verse 23-30 - They threw Joseph into a pit , to perish there with hunger and cold ; so cruel were their tender mercies . They slighted him when he was in distress , and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph , see Amos strkjv @6:6 . for when he was pining in the pit , they sat down to eat bread . They felt no remorse of conscience for the sin . But the wrath of man shall praise God , and the remainder of wrath he will restrain , Psalms strkjv @76:10 . Joseph 's brethren were wonderfully restrained from murdering him , and their selling him as wonderfully turned to God 's praise . * Verse 31-36 - When Satan has taught men to commit one sin , he teaches them to try to conceal it with another ; to hide theft and murder , with lying and false oaths : but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long . Joseph 's brethren kept their own and one another 's counsel for some time ; but their villany came to light at last , and it is here published to the world . To grieve their father , they sent him Joseph 's coat of colours ; and he hastily thought , on seeing the bloody coat , that Joseph was rent in pieces . Let those that know the heart of a parent , suppose the agony of poor Jacob . His sons basely pretended to comfort him , but miserable , hypocritical comforters were they all . Had they really desired to comfort him , they might at once have done it , by telling the truth . The heart is strangely hardened by the deceitfulness of sin . Jacob refused to be comforted . Great affection to any creature prepares for so much the greater affliction , when it is taken from us , or made bitter to us : undue love commonly ends in undue grief . It is the wisdom of parents not to bring up children delicately , they know not to what hardships they may be brought before they die . From the whole of this chapter we see with wonder the ways of Providence . The malignant brothers seem to have gotten their ends ; the merchants , who care not what they deal in so that they gain , have also obtained theirs ; and Potiphar , having got a fine young slave , has obtained his ! But God 's designs are , by these means , in train for execution . This event shall end in Israel 's going down to Egypt ; that ends in their deliverance by Moses ; that in setting up the true religion in the world ; and that in the spread of it among all nations by the gospel . Thus the wrath of man shall praise the Lord , and the remainder thereof will he restrain . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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