1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: told it to his brothers, and they hated him yet 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: the more Genesis thirty seven five, Heavenly Father, as I 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: greet this new day, I thank you, Lord that I'm 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: growing in blessing and influence. Like Joseph. I thank you 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: for uncommon favor with every one I come in contact with, 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: Like his coat of many colors, I thank you that 8 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: my unique giftings can be seen by all around me. 9 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: And when others around me plot against my future and 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: try to derail the dreams You've given me, I will 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: refuse to become a slave to their bitterness and envy. 12 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: I will not allow fear to make me forget my future. 13 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: I will not abandon my position of power, for I 14 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: know that he who began a good work is faithful 15 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: to comply. I decree and declare that my dreams are 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: still alive, and that they will come to pass in 17 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: Jesus's name. Amen, thank you for making prayer a priority 18 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: in your day. To learn more about the Bible, stay 19 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: tuned for today's story, brought to you by Bible in 20 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: a year dot com. 21 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: The dreams of Joseph before this story. We learned how 22 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 2: Jacob's daughter Dinah was assaulted, raped, and then taken as 23 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: a wife by Sheikham. Out of vengeance, Simon and Levy 24 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,559 Speaker 2: killed every man in the small city and pillaged all 25 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: they had. Jacob fled back to Bethel and settled there 26 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: with his family and God. He assured Jacob of his promise. 27 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: Now we will learn about how Jacob, now called Israel, 28 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: favored his youngest son, Joseph. Joseph's favor from his father 29 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: would bring contempt from his brothers inspired by the Book 30 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: of Genesis. 31 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham of today's episode of the 32 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. Previously, we heard that Jacob 33 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 3: had once again abdicated the role of leadership to which 34 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 3: God had called him, and as a result, there was 35 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 3: a great deal of bloodshed, pain, and trouble that spread 36 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 3: throughout Jacob's family. Eventually, Jacob woke up to the tragedies 37 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 3: and schemes his disobedience created and turned to God for 38 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 3: help and guidance. God, in his love and grace, once 39 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 3: again proved faithful to Jacob and his family, and things 40 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 3: seemed headed in the right direction. But today we will 41 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: see a familiar monster rear its head favoritism. We are 42 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 3: about to see how God's plans endure in spite failings 43 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 3: and jealousy and resentment, pain and hurt. Listen to to 44 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: day's story. 45 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,639 Speaker 2: Jacob, now called Israel, lived in the land promised by 46 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 2: God to Abraham, in the land of Canaan. He dwelt 47 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: with his family, increasing in influence and blessings. The land 48 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: was ripe with green fields and fresh soil. Flocks thrived 49 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: and grew in number, and the sons of Israel all 50 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: worked for their father and began raising families of their own. Joseph, 51 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: who was the youngest brother at seventeen years old, often 52 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: pastured the flock with his brothers. It was not rare 53 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: for Joseph to bring reports back to his father about 54 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: anything his brothers did wrong, for he was Israel's favorite 55 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 2: and he knew it. Israel loved Joseph deeply, not just 56 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: because he was the youngest, but he was also the 57 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 2: son of Rachael, who could not have children before him. 58 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: One day, Israel adorned Joseph with an immaculate robe. It 59 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 2: flowed and glistened in the sun. Its colors beamed with 60 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: regality and clearly represented where Joseph stood among the rest 61 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: of his eleven brothers. It was evident to his brothers 62 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: how much their father loved him. More so they hated 63 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: Joseph for it. It was nearly impossible for them to 64 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: speak to him without contempt in their voices. One evening, 65 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: Joseph tossed and turned in the night from a vivid dream. 66 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: Joseph awoke and immediately went to tell his brothers about 67 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: what he had seen. Hear my dream, he asked, While 68 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 2: they were getting ready to work the fields. We were 69 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: all binding sheaves of wheat in the field, and all 70 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 2: of the sudden my sheaf rose and stood upright. Your 71 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 2: sheaves all gathered around mine and bowed to it. Joseph 72 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: recounted his dream to his brothers, and they all stared 73 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: at him. Irket, so are you to reign and rule 74 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 2: over us, they asked, with disdain. They hated him for 75 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 2: his dreams. Joseph one day would learn how to explain 76 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: dreams with less pride, but for now he reveled in 77 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 2: the idea of his brothers bowing to him. The next night, 78 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: he dreamed another dream, just as vivid as the one before. Again, 79 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: he spoke to his brothers in the morning. Behold the 80 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 2: sun and the moon and eleven stars were all bowing 81 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 2: down to me. He told them. This time it was 82 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 2: not only his brothers, but his mother and father as 83 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: well that bowed to him. This annoyed his brothers as 84 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: well as Israel. Israel rebuked Joseph and said, what kind 85 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: of dreams have you been having? We all fall on 86 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: the ground before you. Though Israel was cross, he pondered 87 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 2: what his son's dreams may have meant. The other brothers, however, 88 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 2: were jealous and teemed with anger more and more every day. 89 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 2: One day, his brothers went to pasture their father's flocks 90 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,279 Speaker 2: near the valley of Shekam. Israel decided to send Joseph 91 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 2: to help and bring word of how they were doing. 92 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 2: Joseph left Hebron and came to Shekam, but could not 93 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: find his brothers anywhere. Joseph found a man wandering the 94 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 2: fields and asked if he had seen his brothers with 95 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 2: the flocks. They have gone away. I heard them say 96 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: they would go to Dothan, the man replied. So Joseph 97 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 2: set out to find his brothers at Dothan. As Joseph 98 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 2: descended down into Dothan. His brothers saw him from afar. 99 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 2: Here comes the dreamer. One of them said, we should 100 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: kill him and throw him in to one of these pits. 101 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: We will see what comes of his dreams when he 102 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: is devoured by a beast. Another said. They laughed, but Reuben, 103 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: the oldest, was not liking where the conversation was headed. 104 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: Ruben did not want his brother dead, but he also 105 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: feared the backlash if he defended Joseph. Let's not take 106 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: his life, Ruben said, Shedding blood is too messy. Instead, 107 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 2: we should just throw him in this pit here and 108 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 2: let him rot. Ruben suggested this so we could come 109 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: by later to rescue Joseph. Joseph finally arrived and greeted 110 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: his brothers. He was met with piercing glares. They had 111 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: looked at him with disdain before, but this time it 112 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: was different. Their eyes portrayed an ancient evil that had 113 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: lurked in the hearts of men since the beginning. All 114 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 2: eleven brothers looked at him with the eyes of Cain. 115 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: Before Joseph could process what was happening, he found himself 116 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 2: trapped under the arms of his older brothers, strong and 117 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: calloused from tilling the fields and harvesting grain year after year. 118 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 2: Their hands clutched his colorful robe and tore it off 119 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 2: his body. A fury of chuckles and blows blurred Joseph's vision. 120 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 2: He was caught in a mob of anger and hate. 121 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 2: Covering his head and face from the fists of his brother's, 122 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: Joseph could barely look up until he found himself in 123 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 2: the air, descending into a deep pit alone. All the 124 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 2: air in Joseph's lungs fled as his back hit the cold, 125 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: damp ground. Lying face up, he slowly opened his eyes 126 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 2: only to see the mocking stairs of his brothers looking 127 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: down on him. Joseph lay there helpless for hours, it 128 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: seemed like days. The only water in the pit fell 129 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 2: from Joseph's eyes. Afraid and alone, Joseph wept. Later that day, 130 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: as they sat down to eat, the brothers saw a 131 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: caravan of ishmaelite merchants heading to Egypt to sell their 132 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,839 Speaker 2: goods and slaves. Judah saw them from Afar and then 133 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 2: turned towards his brothers and said, what does it profit 134 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: us to kill our brother? The only thing we gain 135 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: is having to clean up his blood. Why don't we 136 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 2: sell him to the Ishmaelites. He is our brother, after all. 137 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: The brothers listened intently. Joseph awoke still in the darkness. 138 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: He had huddled into the corner of the pit to 139 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 2: block himself from the piercing sun. Silhouetted from the base 140 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 2: of the pit, Joseph saw a rope fall towards him. Finally, 141 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,559 Speaker 2: his brothers had ceased their cruel joke and rescued him. 142 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: Joseph climbed out of the pit, looked towards his brothers 143 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 2: and was immediately tackled to the floor, shackled and taken 144 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 2: away towards him. He with the sun beginning to set 145 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 2: behind him, Joseph turned his head towards Canaan. Joseph's dreams 146 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: seemed to be more fantasy now than they ever had been. 147 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:17,479 Speaker 2: His heart was tortured by the rejection of his brothers. Joseph, 148 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 2: Israel's prized son, was now a slave. Ruben, who had 149 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 2: left while everything had transpired, finally returned to the pit 150 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 2: to free Joseph. He looked down and saw that Joseph 151 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: was gone. Ruben, frantic and concerned for Joseph, tore his 152 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 2: clothes and raced to his other brothers. He's gone, Ruben shouted. 153 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: Ruben's weak attempt at bravery failed. It was him who 154 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 2: would have to tell his father what happened. The brothers 155 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 2: took Joseph's robe, the only remaining trace of him. They 156 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: slaughtered a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in the blood. 157 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 2: With fake sobs and worried eyes, they went to their 158 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 2: father with the robe, heads held low and perfect theatrics, 159 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: they said, we have found this. Is this your son's robe? Israel, 160 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 2: with tears welling up in his eyes, said it is 161 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,959 Speaker 2: my son's robe. A fierce animal must have devoured him. 162 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: He tore his clothes and mourned for weeks. His sons 163 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: and daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused. 164 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 2: I shall take my grief down to shield. There is 165 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: no returning from this. The approval the brothers once craved 166 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 2: would not be given just because Joseph was gone. More 167 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 2: now than ever, their father was distant. Meanwhile, in the 168 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: hot Egyptian son Joseph stood heat beating down on his face, 169 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 2: back torn apart from whips, and a spirit broken by 170 00:11:56,440 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 2: his brothers. Joseph was put on display to be sold 171 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: the Midnights then sold him to Potiphar, an officer to Pharaoh, 172 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: the captain of the guard. There, Joseph's story would start 173 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 2: to begin. 174 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 3: As we open today's story, Jacob has finally arrived in 175 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 3: the land of his father in Canaan and settled with 176 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 3: his family. But before he arrived, his beloved wife Rachel 177 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 3: had given him one more son, Benjamin. Rachel, however, died 178 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 3: during childbirth. Jacob has left with two sons to remind 179 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 3: him of his late wife, whom he loves so deeply, 180 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 3: and it's the oldest of these two, the young man 181 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 3: named Joseph, on whom Jacob centers his love. Joseph was 182 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 3: Jacob's clear favorite, and everyone knew it. Joseph's older brothers 183 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 3: resent him for Jacob's attitude toward him. Joseph only makes 184 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: matters worse when he returns from the fields to tattle 185 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 3: on them to Jacob. It's salt in an open wound. 186 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 3: Jacob either doesn't notice the division or his family. It 187 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 3: doesn't bother to get involved. Just as when Leah and 188 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 3: Rachel battle for his love, Jacob does nothing to bring 189 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 3: peace to his home. In fact, he throws fuel on 190 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 3: the fire by making a brightly beautifully colored coat to 191 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 3: give to Joseph. Now, certainly there's nothing wrong with giving gifts, 192 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 3: even some extravagant ones at times, to your children. God, 193 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 3: our father, loves to lavish us with blessings and favor, 194 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 3: but he does so without showing favoritism. Not so with Jacob. 195 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 3: He has a clear choice as his favorite, and his sons. 196 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 3: His other sons are so very resentful of Joseph, So 197 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 3: the stage is already set for strife. Then Joseph begins 198 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 3: to have dreams, very strange dreams that he interprets as 199 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: for telling his position of authority over his family. What 200 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 3: he says is true, but it's not said with wisdom 201 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 3: or tact or even humility. It is a special gift 202 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 3: from God, this ability to interpret dreams. It's a gift 203 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 3: God will use for greater purposes one day. But Joseph 204 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 3: is still a prideful young man of seventeen years of age, 205 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 3: and rather than seeking God's wisdom as to how to 206 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 3: process these dreams and share them with others, he tells 207 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 3: his brothers openly, pridefully about them. They were understandably incensed 208 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 3: at their younger brother who was telling them that they 209 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 3: would one day bow before him. One day, Joseph goes 210 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 3: out to find them in the fields, and with murder 211 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 3: in their hearts, they scheme to kill him and leave 212 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 3: his body in a pit. His oldest brother, Reuben, doesn't 213 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 3: want bloodshed, but he lacks the courage to stand up 214 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 3: to violence. He proposes that they throw him in a 215 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 3: pit and leave him there. He plans to return and 216 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 3: rescue him later, but he never gets the chance. When 217 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 3: Joseph arrives, his brother sees him remove his cloak, the 218 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 3: prize gift, the beautiful coat that Jacob had given him, 219 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 3: and they threw him into a dry pit. His future 220 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: is thrown into uncertainty as he lies in the pit helpless. 221 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 3: How can his dreams come true if he's down there 222 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 3: in this pit? Or what if he dies? Imagine the chaos, 223 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: the confusion, the fear of the pain this young man 224 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 3: must have felt. Did he realize that though his brothers 225 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,359 Speaker 3: were the ones perpetrating this evil, his actions and attitudes 226 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 3: had a part in this. While Reuben is away, the 227 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 3: other spot a caravan of Ishmaelites who are descendants of 228 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 3: their great grandfather's son with Sarah servant Hagar, and they 229 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 3: decide to sell him as a slave, and Joseph is 230 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 3: carried away into Egypt. All may seem to be lost 231 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 3: at this point, but as Joseph will one day say, 232 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 3: what they meant for evil, God will use for good. 233 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 3: God may allow evil to come our way, But when 234 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 3: we trust him and seek him, as Joseph will do 235 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 3: in the coming years, we discover that God is good, 236 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 3: that he does good, and he is always working together 237 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 3: all things for good. The worst out of the most 238 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 3: terrible circumstances, he can bring the best and great blessings 239 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 3: as well. The brothers go home and hand Jacob the 240 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 3: blood stained tunic of Joseph, the blood of an animal 241 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 3: that they have slain to cover up their transgression. Jacob 242 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 3: is heartbroken. It will be years before he sees his 243 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 3: son Joseph again. But first Joseph must endure great pain 244 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 3: as a slave and then a prisoner in the land 245 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 3: of Egypt, the land of the Pharaoh. But that's a 246 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 3: story for another time. So let's pray. Dear God, help 247 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 3: us to learn from today's scripture that favoritism can have 248 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 3: tragic and long lasting effects on our families. Give us 249 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 3: the strength and the wisdom to get rid of favoritism 250 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: in our own lives and in our families. Lord God, 251 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 3: thank you also that even in the darkest moments, even 252 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 3: when we are in the deepest pit, that you are 253 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 3: with us, and that you can work all things together 254 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 3: for our good and your glory. It is in the 255 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 3: name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. Thank you for 256 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 3: listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor 257 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 3: Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot com app 258 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 3: and make prayer a priority in your life. If you 259 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 3: enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. By 260 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 3: sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in someone's life. 261 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 3: And if you want more resources on how to tap 262 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: into God's power for successful Christian living, be sure to 263 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 3: visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless This episode is 264 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 3: sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians 265 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 3: to save money without sacrificing quality. 266 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Pray News podcast, where hope is our 267 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: only bias. 268 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 2: Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories happening in 269 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 2: the news and offer a Christian perspective. 270 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: We won't shy away from the hard topics, and we 271 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: won't dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more 272 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: than a daily brief on the news. 273 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 2: It's a way to be informed and transformed. Listen to 274 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: Prey News on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever 275 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts.