Genesis 37

A debauched child is the disgrace of his father. Is this your son's coat said they to Jacob, when they brought it home dipped in blood? (Genesis 37:32) So when we see a person defiled with malice, passion, drunkenness, we may say, is this the coat of God's adopted son? Does he l…

Jacob showed more love to Joseph than all his children, and what did it procure but envy of his brothers? (Genesis 37:3) Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, and when his brothers saw that, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. (5.) When a parent d…

Satan envied our first parents the robe of innocence, and the glory of paradise, and therefore never left till he had procured their death. Joseph's brothers envied him, because his father loved him, and gave him a coat of diverse colors, and therefore took counsel to slay him (…

And it is very observable how intemperance and impatience are inseparably linked in experience — yes, even in the experience of the best men. We read in Genesis 37:3 how Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and made him a coat of…

What, endure the loss of Heaven! endure the wrath of the Almighty God! If Rachel could not endure the loss of her children, nor Jacob the supposed loss of Joseph, but says he, I will go down into the grave to my son, mourning (Genesis 37:35). If Ahithophel could not endure the r…

Nay, persons excommunicate, are not to be accounted as enemies, but to be admonished as brethren (2 Thessalonians 3:15). The reason why men use no more mildness in their reproofs, is, because they forget themselves to be brethren, or consider not that they have to deal with thei…

(1.) How near the Relation is betwixt you and your Children, and therefore how much you are concerned in their happiness or misery. Consider but the Scripture account of the dearness of such Relations, expressed (1.) By longings for them, as Genesis 15:2 Genesis 30:1 and (2.) By…

And three thousand camels. Camels were used in those countries for burdens, and for travel especially in long journeys, merchants traveled with camels, as you may read (Genesis 37:25). Joseph's brothers beheld a company of Ishmaelites which came from Gilead with their camels, an…

Truth it is, that by Israel the Jews only are meant, and not the Gentiles: but seeing they refused him, he chose a few of them, and satisfied the name of Israel therewith, and made a spiritual Israel. This is figured in (Genesis 37) by the patriarch Jacob wrestling with the ange…

To keep, preserve and watch diligently. So to remark and observe, as to retain that which is observed, to ponder it, and lay it up in the heart, Genesis 37:11. Jacob observed Josephs dream: that is, he retained the memory of it, and pondered it in his heart.

But yet no question so, as that children have still a negative vote, and ought not to be forced against their own will and consent. Indeed, so far does the authority of a parent extend, that it reaches also to the very garb and apparel of their children, who ought to conform the…

Why did the world hate him who so loved the world, but because he testified of it that its works are evil (John 7:7)? Why had Joseph's brethren such a spleen against him, but because he was a witness against them, and brought to his father their evil report (Genesis 37:2)? Why d…

Contrary also to the forenamed part of children's obedience, is the practice of such children as travel, and seek their fortunes (as they speak) without consent of parents, like the Prodigal child, if not worse: for it is likely that he forced from his father a general consent,…

What father (says he) if his son ask him bread would give him a stone, etc. (Matthew 7:9-11). 2. Apparel, for it is expressly noted, that Israel made his son a coat (Genesis 37:3). 3. Recreation, which in young children especially is needful for their health.

Example and advice of one's equal prevails much with another, so as a fellow servant may in this kind do more good than the master himself: and if by his means he bring his fellow servants to be faithful, his own faithfulness is doubled and trebled; and his master receives a dou…

Her cloathing is of wrought Gold. Jacob loved his Son Joseph, and gave him a finer Coat to wear than the rest of his brethren, Genesis 37:3. He made him a Coat of divers Colors.

But this is our Sin, we grieve more for one Loss, than we are thankful for an Hundred Mercies. Jacob was more troubled for the loss of Joseph, than he was Comforted with the Lives of all his other Children, Genesis 37:35. 11. When God Afflicts he deals well with his People, beca…

Of this nature was the first lie by which all mankind was ruined, the Devil's lie to our first parents, "You shall be as Gods" (Genesis 3:4-5). And of this nature was the patriarchs' lie concerning Joseph, when they spoke to his father (Genesis 37:31-32): "This have we found, an…

But let me ask them (and I wish they would often ask themselves) What profit is there if we sin? As Judah asked his brothers, What profit is there if we slay our brother (Genesis 37:26). Surely none but shame and sorrow, you may put your gains in your eyes, and weep it out; if n…

It makes us [reconstructed: aware] of our slavery, and binds a man hand and foot as it were, fences his way with fears, besets his passage on every side with expectation of evil, which he cannot tell how to bear, or how to avoid; he sees he can procure no [illegible] nor [illegi…

So say you: Lord, I know you have done it for others, I know you can do it for me; such proud ones have been humbled, such unbelieving ones have been converted, settled, comforted, and forever saved. O bless me also, convert me also, call me effectually, and cause me also to bel…

So Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted because they were not (Matthew 2:18). Though Joseph was not the only son of Jacob, nor Jacob the weakest Christian in his time, but as strong as his grace was, and as many children as he had, yet when he thought Joseph…