“Here comes the dreamer.”
— Genesis 37:19 (CEV)
Genesis 37 opens a new movement in the story of Scripture — the story of Joseph.
It is the story of a dream given by God, born in favor, resisted by jealousy, misunderstood by family, and plunged into darkness before it ever begins to shine.
It is the story of:
- Calling
- Betrayal
- Identity
- Preparation
- Providence
And most importantly:
It is the story of how God begins greatness in places that do not look great.
Joseph does not begin in the palace.
Joseph does not begin in influence.
Joseph does not begin with honor.
Joseph begins:
- In his father’s house
- In a robe that says “chosen”
- In a dream that says “destined”
- And in a pit that says “impossible”
Because destiny always begins in the dark.
1. Joseph — The Son of Love and Favor
“Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons.”
— Genesis 37:3
Joseph is the firstborn of Rachel — the woman Jacob loved deeply.
Joseph is not just another son — Joseph is the child of love, promise, and memory.
Jacob gives Joseph a coat — often translated as “a coat of many colors,” but more literally:
A long, decorated robe — the robe of an heir.
This robe meant:
- Joseph was set apart
- Joseph carried favor
- Joseph was identified as chosen
Robe = Identity
But identity stirs jealousy in those who do not know their own.
2. The Brothers Hate Joseph — Not Because of His Actions, But Because of His Position
“They hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
— Genesis 37:4
Notice:
- Joseph did not steal the robe
- Joseph did not ask to be favored
- Joseph did not scheme for the position
The favor of God will attract opposition, even when you have done nothing to provoke it.
Some people can handle your weakness, but cannot handle your calling.
Some can handle you common, but not chosen.
Some can handle you small, but not growing.
Their issue is not really with you —
It is with God’s mark on you.
3. Joseph Dreams — And the Dreams Are from God
“We were binding grain… my bundle stood upright, and your bundles bowed to mine.”
— Genesis 37:7
Then a second dream:
“The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me.”
— Genesis 37:9
These dreams are not arrogance.
These dreams are revelation.
Joseph is being shown:
- Purpose
- Calling
- Future authority
- A role in God’s redemptive plan
But Joseph is young.
He tells the dreams openly, innocently —
and the dreams intensify the hatred of his brothers.
Why?
Because the dream revealed:
- Joseph would rise
- Joseph would lead
- Joseph would be lifted
And the brothers already struggled with comparison.
Your calling will expose insecurity in the hearts of others.
But the dream was never for Joseph’s ego —
It was for Israel’s survival, and the world’s salvation.
4. Joseph Sent to His Brothers — Obedience Leads to the Pit
Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers.
Joseph obeys.
Obedience does not protect him from trouble —
In fact, obedience leads him into the trouble.
This is important:
Obedience does not guarantee immediate blessing — it positions you for destiny.
Joseph walks toward the people who hate him, unaware of the danger.
The brothers see him coming:
“Here comes the dreamer.”
— Genesis 37:19
They speak with contempt — but also with recognition:
They do not say:
- “Here comes Joseph.”
They say: - “Here comes the dreamer.”
Even those who reject you
still recognize who you are.
They plan to kill him.
Not because Joseph has sinned —
But because purpose intimidates those who fear they have none.
5. The Pit — The First Burial of the Dream
“They took him and threw him into the pit.”
— Genesis 37:24
The pit is:
- Dark
- Empty
- Cold
- Lonely
The pit is the place where:
- Calling seems foolish
- Favor seems gone
- Dreams seem laughable
- Identity feels like a mistake
The pit is where you ask:
“Did I hear God wrong?”
“Was the dream real?”
“Am I forgotten?”
But hear this:
The pit is not punishment — it is preparation.
Joseph had to learn:
- Confidence in God, not family
- Identity from God, not approval
- Trust in God, not environment
The pit is where the dream is planted deep.
Seeds grow in dark places.
6. Reuben and Judah — Two Different Voices in the Crisis
Reuben wants to rescue Joseph.
Judah suggests selling Joseph.
This is the pattern in every believer’s journey:
There will always be:
- A voice calling you back to safety
- A voice pushing you forward into destiny (even through pain)
Reuben represents comfort.
Judah represents purpose.
Judah’s decision — though painful — moves Joseph toward Egypt, toward the place God will use him.
Which means:
What people meant for harm is already being woven into God’s plan.
Even betrayal is being bent by God’s sovereignty.
7. Joseph Sold — But Not Abandoned
“They sold him for twenty pieces of silver.”
— Genesis 37:28
Joseph is:
- Betrayed by his own
- Sold for silver
- Handed over to foreigners
- Taken to a land not his own
He is living a pattern that will be repeated in Christ.
Joseph is a shadow of Jesus:
- Loved by the Father
- Sent to his brothers
- Rejected by them
- Sold for silver
- Descending before ascending
- Becoming the source of salvation for the very ones who betrayed him
This is not just biography —
This is prophecy unfolding through story.
8. Jacob’s Grief — A Father’s Heart Shattered
The brothers bring back the robe — now dipped in goat’s blood.
Jacob sees the robe.
And the robe that once symbolized joy
now becomes the symbol of mourning.
“Jacob tore his clothes and wept for many days.”
— Genesis 37:34
Jacob believes:
- The dream has died
- His beloved son is gone
- Hope has collapsed
But Jacob’s grief is based on a lie.
The robe is fake evidence.
The loss is not real.
Joseph is still alive.
And God is already at work in Egypt.
This is one of the most important truths of the chapter:
**Just because you feel like God’s promise has died does not mean it has.
Sometimes your sadness is reacting to something that is not true.**
God is still moving — even when you have heard no updates.
9. The Chapter Ends in Darkness — But the Story Does Not
Joseph is taken to Egypt.
From the outside, it looks like:
- The dream has died
- The calling has failed
- The promise has been lost
But the narrator says something quiet and powerful:
Joseph was taken to Egypt.
— Genesis 37:36
Egypt is:
- Not punishment
- Not failure
- Not the end
Egypt is the place where God will lift Joseph to the throne.
It is the place where the dream will live.
But first:
- Joseph must serve
- Joseph must wait
- Joseph must learn to trust God alone
Because destiny takes time.
What Genesis 37 Teaches the Believer
1. God gives dreams — but dreams are tested.
The pit is part of the plan.
2. Favor will attract jealousy — but jealousy cannot stop calling.
Your identity is from God, not people.
3. Obedience can lead into difficulty — but never into abandonment.
God was in Egypt before Joseph arrived.
4. The pit is not the end — it is the beginning.
Seeds grow in darkness.
5. Betrayal is painful — but God bends it into purpose.
What others meant for harm, God is already reshaping.
6. Sometimes grief is built on a lie — God’s plan is still active.
Even when you cannot see progress.
7. The story is not over.
The dream is still alive.
The Invitation of Genesis 37
If you are in the pit right now…
If you feel like the dream died…
If your calling feels buried…
If your heart is tired…
God is saying to you:
“The dream is not dead — it is being rooted.”
“Do not judge the story by the chapter you’re in.”
“Egypt is preparation, not abandonment.”
Hold on.
The God who gave the dream
is the God who will fulfill it.
And He is not finished.
Books by Drew Higgins
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