The Book of Genesis
Day 335
Ge 37:1 Now Jacob
dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 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.
3 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. 4 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. 5 Now Joseph had a
dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, "Please hear this
dream which I have dreamed: 7
"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." 8 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.
I wonder how
helpful it would be for us to look at the story of Joseph and his brothers as one
that demonstrates the superiority of grace over judgment, of Gospel over
Law. Or looking at Joseph, as a “type” of Christ, vs his brothers, who are a
type of Pharisees.
When his brothers
(Pharisees) saw that their father (God) loved Joseph (Christ) more than them, they hated him!
Twice in the New
Testament we hear the words of the father thunder from the sky concerning His
Son Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, In whom I am well pleased!” The first time
these words were spoken was at His baptism, and the next time at His
transfiguration. Baptism, marking the
beginning of His ministry of grace, and the transfiguration , among other
things, showing us the superiority of Christ over the Law and the Prophets
(Moses and Elijah) At the
transfiguration, the disciples were blinded by the glory of Jesus, whereas
Elijah and Moses were quite ordinary.
And when the dust settled Jesus was found alone with the disciples and
the father said, “This is My beloved Son, hear Him.”
It is important to
note that although Moses and Elijah disappeared, they are in no way done away
with . (Their very appearance with Jesus indicates their eternal character) but
it is clear that grace personified in Jesus is superior. Mercy DOES triumph
over judgment!
Having said all
this, it is easy to see why the Pharisees hated Jesus so. The Father’s favor
was very evidently poured out on Him as He ministered and modeled grace to
others, and it was an indication that the days of the grip of the Law on men
were numbered. The days of the like of the Pharisees were numbered along with
them!
The Pharisees had
a choice. Change their way of thinking (repent) about the Law and accept grace,
OR put an end to grace personified. They chose the latter and sought to put an
end to Jesus by crucifying Him, only to find out, that God wasn’t kidding. He
was so pleased with His Son that He raised Him from the dead, in order for
grace to rule forever.
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