His Word Today

⁵ “From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. ⁶ So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” (Genesis 39:5–6 (ESV)

Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers (37:12–36), is now a servant in Potiphar’s Egyptian house (39:1). However, we have thus far seen that that the LORD was with Joseph (Gen. 39:1-4) in all his circumstances.

One commentator explains it this way: “Joseph’s situation is not as bad as it seems. At first, Jacob’s son is only a menial slave for Pharaoh’s captain of the guard, but soon he is given a more respectable status as an indoor servant (v. 2), before becoming Potiphar’s personal attendant (v. 4). This is a position of great honor and indicates a close, personal relationship between the two men.”

The Hebrew root (sharat) used for Joseph’s position is the same one used for Joshua’s relationship to Moses (Ex. 24:13). Joseph is so beloved and trustworthy that he is left in charge of all of Potiphar’s financial matters so that the captain need only worry himself with his personal affairs (Gen. 39:6a). 

The Hebrew word for blessed (barek) means to be filled with divine favor. It is to be in a condition of favorable circumstances. This was the status of Potiphar’s household because of God’s blessing through Joseph.

Dr. R. C. Sproul states, “So great is Joseph’s success that even his pagan master can see the blessing on his life (Gen. 39:3). Indeed, God has been good to Joseph in his travails.”

John Chrysostom writes: “Grace from on high stood by him [Joseph]…and smoothed over all his difficulties.”

John Calvin explains, “We see how abundantly the grace of God is poured out on the faithful, since a portion of His kindness flows from them even to the reprobate. We are also taught what an advantage it is to receive the elect children of God to our hospitality, or to join ourselves to those whom divine favor thus accompanies, that it may diffuse its fragrance to those who are near them.”

Soli deo Gloria!

³”His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.” (Genesis 39:3–4 (ESV)

Proverbs 16:1-9 is an instructive portion of wisdom literature. Solomon achieves a delicate balance between the providential sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Consider what Solomon considers by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. ² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. ³ Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. ⁴ The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. ⁵ Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. ⁶  By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. ⁷ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.⁹ The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

The wisdom of Solomon applies in the life of his ancestor Joseph. It is interesting to note that even the Egyptian Potiphar saw that Yahweh was with Joseph and that it was the LORD who caused all which Joseph did to succeed. Joseph was actively serving the LORD as the LORD was actively working in and through Joseph (Phil.2:12-13).

Puritan Matthew Henry writes, “Joseph’s brethren had stripped him of his coat of many colours, but they could not strip him of his virtue and prudence. Those that can separate us from all our friends, yet cannot deprive us of the gracious presence of our God. When Joseph had none of all his relations with him, he had his God with him, even in the house of the Egyptian. Joseph was separated from his brethren, but not from his God; banished from his father’s house, but the Lord was with him, and this comforted him. It is God’s presence with us that makes all we do prosperous.”

Have a blessed day in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:1–2 (ESV)

“All things are ordained of God and are settled by Him, according to His wise and holy predestination. Whatever happens here happens not by chance, but according to the counsel of the Most High.”  Charles Spurgeon

It is interesting to note the tenor of today’s text by Moses in describing the events occurring in Joseph’s life. Two times Moses uses the word “brought.” Joseph had been brought down to Egypt by the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. It was from the Ishmaelites that Potiphar bought the Hebrew slave.

On the surface, it would seem that Joseph was nothing more than a victim of circumstances. Nothing could be further from the truth. Moses emphatically refutes this notion by his use of five words: The Lord was with Joseph.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Any and all ideas that Joseph, twice a victim of injustice, had been abandoned by the Lord are summarily banished by the employment of phrases highlighting God’s oversight of his circumstances, e.g. “with him” (Gen. 39: 3, 21), “caused all that he did to succeed” (vv. 3, 23), “found/gave him favor” (vv. 4, 21), “blessed/blessing” (v. 5), and “showed him steadfast love” (v. 21). Neither being unjustly sold into slavery and forcibly removed from the land (Gen. 37:28), nor being unjustly accused of sexual harassment and imprisoned (Gen. 39:13–18) were events signaling even a temporary loss of divine superintendence of Joseph’s life and God’s purpose for his people, Israel.“

The biblical record of Joseph’s life is one of the clearest examples of how God providentially works out His plan in history. For centuries, the idea that the universe is a closed, mechanical system has dominated Western thought and behavior. Both science and popular culture largely assume the universe exists “in a box” and is not subject to influence from something or someone outside of this box. As astronomer Carl Sagan once erroneously remarked, “The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “In its most basic sense, God’s providence refers to His seeing something beforehand. This is not just a reference to time, although our Creator does indeed see the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:8–10). The Almighty’s seeing of something before it happens does not result simply from Him looking “down the corridors of time.” He knows the future because He has ordained it, even the precise number of our days (Ps. 139:4). The Lord’s providence also refers to space. Everything is before God’s eyes at all times. Nothing can escape His vision (Ps.139:7–12). This truth is a great comfort for the believer. Jesus tells us we are of more value than the sparrow, which never escapes the Lord’s sight (Matt. 10:28–31). Ultimately, divine providence reminds us that there is a God in heaven who not only knows our sins, He also knows and cares about all of our joys, tears, aches, and fears.”

How good it is to not only remember God’s providence in the life of Joseph, but also to reflect on His providence in our own lives. It is in the LORD that each of us lives, moves and has being (Acts 17:24-28).

Take time today to thank the LORD for His providence in your life. May each of us rest and take comfort in this truth.

Soli deo Gloria!

^29 “When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes ³⁰ and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” ³¹ Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. ³² And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” ³³ And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. ³⁶ Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.” (Genesis 37:29–36 (ESV)

Today’s text does not reveal to us exactly where Rueben was when Joseph’s other brothers sold him into slavery to the Midianites (Gen. 37:25-28). Reuben had intended to rescue his younger brother from the pit (Gen. 37:22). When Reuben realized that Joseph was no longer in the pit, he was genuinely grieved. He tore his clothes, a sign of mourning, and asked his brothers, ““The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” Reuben did not know what to do or where to go in order to rescue his younger brother.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “Although he (Reuben) was absent at the time of the sale, he would be held responsible for the treachery, and so joined in the cover-up (vv. 30–35). His grief manifested how much he had actually wanted to rescue Joseph (see Gen. 42:22).”

Whatever genuine grief Reuben may have had gave way to the conspiracy of lies he and his brothers conspired to tell to their father Jacob. Jacob the deceiver of his own father Isaac now becomes the deceived at the hands of his own sons.  The deceiver of his own father Isaac (27:18–29) was now deceived by his own sons’ lie. What goes around comes around. Sin’s punishment is often long delayed but ultimately delivered (Gal. 6:6-8).

Jacob was inconsolable. He expressed no hope beyond the reality of physical death (I Thess.4:13-18). Moses’ usage of the word Sheol is the first OT use of this term for the abode of the dead (in Gen. 35:20 the “tomb” is used to refer to an earthly burial plot). It is a general Hebrew word meaning the place of the dead (used 65 times in the OT), referring to either the body in its decaying form or the soul in its conscious afterlife.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Finding Joseph absent, Reuben rends his clothes, a sign of mourning and a prediction of his father’s reaction to this news. Many commentators say this shows Reuben loved Jacob and was concerned for his emotional state. His brothers, on the other hand, hide their crime by slaughtering a goat and dipping Joseph’s treasured coat in its blood (v. 31). As typical, one misdeed leads to another. Matthew Henry comments: “When the devil has taught men to commit one sin, he then teaches them to conceal it with another…but he who covers his sin shall not prosper long.” Indeed, the sin of Joseph’s brothers will one day find them out (Gen. 44; Num. 32:23). Jacob is inconsolable at the loss of his favorite son, and he believes that he will not see Joseph again before his death (Gen. 37:33–36). Ironically, Jacob’s sons use a goat to deceive him about Joseph’s fate just as he, as a son, once tricked his father Isaac with a goat as well (27:1–29). Most likely, this is another instance of divine, talionic (eye-for-an-eye) justice where Jacob reaps what he has sown (Gal. 6:7). God turns away His eternal wrath from all who repent; nevertheless, sin has its consequences in the here and now.”

Today’s text concludes with these words: “Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.”  

Jacob was in inconsolable grief, but the LORD was in providential and sovereign control. An earthly father was beyond hope, but Joseph’s eternal Father was confidently leading (Acts 7:9-10), as He continues to do so today.

Soli deo Gloria!  

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day Weekend in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty One: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day. Part 5.

8. This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employments and recreations;^a but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.^b

a. Exod 20:8; 16:23, 25-26, 29-30; 31:15-17; Isa 58:13; Neh 13:15-22. • b. Isa 58:13; Mat 12:1-13.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day Weekend in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty One: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day. Part 4.

7. As it is of the law of nature that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in his Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him:^a which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week,^b which in Scripture is called the Lord’s Day,^c and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.^d

a. Exod 20:8, 10-11; Isa 56:2, 4, 6-7. • b. Gen 2:2-3; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:1-2. • c. Rev 1:10. • d. Exod 20:8, 10 with Mat 5:17-18.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ “Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. ²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. ²⁸ Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.” (Genesis 37:25–28 (ESV)  

With Joseph in the pit, his brothers encounter a golden opportunity in deciding his fate. Midianites appear carrying gum, balm, and myrrh — wares used in medicines, perfumes, and candies. Ancient commerce also included the selling of human beings.

Judah suggests that they sell Joseph into slavery for a handsome profit; they would earn twenty shekels of silver from the sale (Gen. 37:25–28). This would equal out to be two shekels for each brother.

²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.” The insincere concern for Joseph by Judah and the other brothers is sarcastically touching. They won’t kill Joseph but they will sell him into bondage.

Since the normal yearly wage for a shepherd was eight shekels, twenty would be a great financial gain. In selling Joseph into slavery, his brothers hope to ensure his dreams will not come true (v. 20). However, the LORD would use their wicked deeds to fulfill Joseph’s visions (50:20) and God’s providential plan.

Still, though God’s providence is guarding Joseph, his life is not free of suffering. The same is true of believers today.

John Calvin writes in his comments on 37:19: “We, also, who have received the gratuitous adoption of God amidst many sorrows, experience the same thing. For, from the time that Christ gathers us into his flock, God permits us to be cast down in various ways, so that we seem nearer hell than heaven.”

Joseph’s journey now takes a decisive turn. He is heading south to Egypt. However, he is not alone. God was with him (Acts 7:9).

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ “Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. ²⁶ Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. ²⁸ Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.” (Genesis 37:25–28 (ESV)  

Who exactly were the Ishmaelite/Midianite traders traveling in a caravan from Gilead to Egypt? The Midianites consisted of five families, linked to Abraham through Midian, son of the concubine Keturah. Abraham sent them away, with all his other sons by concubines, into the east (Gen. 25:1–6). Thus the Midianites are found inhabiting desert borders in Transjordan from Moab down past Edom.

The Midianites were desert-dwellers associated with the Ishmaelites and Medanites (Gen. 37:28, 36).We see the partial overlap of these three terms, not only from today’s text but also in Jdg. 8:24, when Gideon defeated the Midianites. They were said to have been Ishmaelites because of their use of gold ear or nose-rings.

Moses had a Midianite wife, Zipporah, father-in-law, Jethro/Reuel (Ex. 2:21; 3:1, etc.), and brother-in-law, Hobab (Nu. 10:29; Jdg. 4:11). As a man of the desert, Moses asked Hobab to guide Israel in travelling through the steppe (or ‘wilderness’) (Nu. 10:29–32).

The Midianites in today’s text were traveling down to Egypt to engage in commerce. They had camels bearing gum, balm and myrrh. Gum was a pleasant smelling spice. Balm was also a pleasant smelling spice which was also used as a medicine. Finally, myrrh was also a perfumed extract from leaves. All of these resins were expensive, profitable and used for medicines, perfumes and candies.

It was while the brothers were eating that they noticed the caravan. Their calloused hearts toward their brother reveals itself as they sit down to casually eat their lunch.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Today’s passage dispels with great force any doubts that the hearts of Joseph’s brothers were dark and calloused. Immediately after casting Joseph into the pit, the other sons of Jacob have no problem sitting down to enjoy a meal (Gen. 37:25). There is a great deal of irony in all this. Originally, they planned to attribute Joseph’s death to being ripped to shreds (vv. 19–20), yet the brothers reveal themselves as the true beasts in this story when they can dine after assaulting him. The brothers later recall how they ignored Joseph’s cries for mercy from the pit (Gen. 42:21), and this indifference shows how vile they truly were.”

The brothers’ cold hearts toward Joseph soon gave way to a mercenary affection for money and profit. To murder Joseph will yield nothing. However, to sell him into slavery will yield a tidy financial sum. Joseph’s brother were not immune from such gross sin, and neither are we.

John Calvin comments, “Since the patriarchs fell into such a state of insensibility, let us learn from their example to fear, lest by the righteous anger of God the same lethargy should seize upon our senses.” 

More to come.

Soli deo Gloria!

^18 “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. ²⁰ Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” ²¹ But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” ²² And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. ²³ So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. ²⁴ And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” (Genesis 37:18–24 (ESV)

One of the evidences the Bible is the inerrant Word of God is its historical
accuracy. Such is the case even with seemingly insignificant facts. For example,
Joseph’s brothers were apparently able to take their large flock between Shechem
and Dothan with relative ease (Gen. 37:12–17). This would have only been
possible in the Patriarchal Age when the area was nomadic and lightly populated.
Later on, the increased population density would have made this ease of pasturing
challenging. One commentator explains that, “Moses’ accurate knowledge of the
period he describes contributes to our confidence in the narrative’s truth.”

The pit(s) which Moses’s mentioned were cisterns or water wells. Joseph’s older
brothers conspired to premeditatedly murder him and throw into one of the pits in
order to dispose of the body and cover up their crime. They reasoned, “Come now,
let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce
animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” Such
was their level of hatred toward Joseph, an evidence of their consistent character
along with their disdain for the LORD (Gen. 9:1-7).

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “The brothers devised a plot to kill that dreamer in
order to prevent his dreams from being fulfilled. Before, they plotted to kill many Shechemites in revenge for their sister (34:24–29); now, by contrast, they plotted
to kill their own brother.”

The lone bright spot in this sordid tale was Joseph’s eldest brother, Reuben. He
sought to prevent Joseph’s murder at the hand of his brothers. 21 “ But when Reuben
heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22  And
Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the
wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their
hand to restore him to his father.”

Dr. Walvoord explains, “Reuben, trying to gain an opportunity to restore Joseph
to Jacob, persuaded his brothers not to commit such a crime. Reuben suggested
they throw Joseph alive into a cistern. Then Reuben thought he could go rescue
him later. So the brothers … stripped the lad of his tunic and threw him into a dry
cistern to die.”

The brothers’ hatred for Joseph displayed itself by their stripping him of his many
colored tunic. The tunic represented Joseph’s exalted position in the family. They
reasoned that by removing the tunic, they were removing Joseph’s position of
honor. However, outward circumstances before man could not remove Joseph’s
exalted position before God.

Interestingly, Joseph’s brothers do not immediately carry out their plan for murder. No reason is given. No remorse is implied. The lone bright spot remains the behavior of the eldest brother, Reuben. Whatever delay on the part of Joseph’s other brothers to kill him was interrupted by the timely intervention of the eldest.

Dr. R.C. Sproul explains, “The brothers’ act savagely in verses 23–24, but Reuben’s intervention has prevented them from taking Joseph’s life. Evidently, he was absent when the plan was conceived, and he later convinced them to hold back (vv. 21–22). As the oldest brother, Reuben would have borne the greatest responsibility if something happened to Joseph, and he may also have been trying to make amends for lying with Jacob’s concubine (35:22). However, because his response to the loss of Joseph anticipated his father’s reaction to the same news (37:29–30, 34), some commentators note Reuben was also probably motivated by a desire that his father not have to grieve. If this is true, Reuben’s love for Jacob shows he was not a total scoundrel after all.”

One of the evidences the Bible is the inerrant Word of God is that the LORD portrays humans as they really are: deeply flawed by sinful intentions and actions. May each of us evaluate our attitudes and behavior in light of God’s truth (Psalm 1; 19; 119).

Soli deo Gloria!  

^12 “Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. ¹³ And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” ¹⁴ So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. ¹⁵ And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” ¹⁶ “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” ¹⁷ And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.” (Genesis 37:12–17 (ESV)

Thus far in the narrative concerning Joseph, we have witnessed an arrogant teenager (Gen. 37:1-11). This is not an uncommon characteristic for many older adolescents conduct themselves with supreme self-confidence. However, Scripture attributes pride as a sin (Proverbs 16:18).

Such was the case with Joseph. He did not attribute his dreams to God until much later in his life (Gen. 40:8; 41:15-16). He also wore his tunic of many colors wherever he went (Gen. 37:23), a visual indication of his favored status with his father Jacob in place of his older brothers.

However, in spite of his favored status, Joseph remained eager to serve Jacob his father. When Jacob ordered Joseph to go to Shechem to see how things were with his brothers and with the flock, Joseph immediately obeyed. Puritan commentator Matthew Henry writes, “Though he was his father’s darling, yet he was willing to be his father’s servant. How readily does he wait [for] his father’s orders!”

Shechem was approximately 60 miles north from the Valley of Hebron and immediately to the west of the Jordan River. It was there that Joseph discovered his brothers has moved further northwest to Dothan.

One commentator writes, “Joseph’s mission is doomed from the start. His brothers have gone to Shechem, the last place Jacob’s sons should be on account of their massacre of the city’s residents (Gen. 33:18–34:31). Their presence in an area where a lone son of Jacob might run into trouble indicates Joseph’s welfare is not a concern of theirs as they doubtless expect him to check up on them like he did before (37:2).Moreover, Joseph learns of his brothers’ move to Dothan from a man unknown to him, showing that Jacob’s favorite son is a stranger in a strange land (vv. 15–17).”

Joseph will shortly become even more a stranger in a strange land. Dothan was about a day’s journey from Shechem and will place Joseph even farther from the watchful eye of his father Jacob in Hebron. Seemingly ignorant of the hatred his other sons had for Joseph, Jacob has unknowingly sent forth his favorite son into a trap. Joseph is about to enter a time of tribulation. However, the LORD is providentially leading and in control (Gen. 50:20).

Soli deo Gloria!