Joseph and His Coat of Many Colours | Joseph and His Coat of Many Colours

One of the most popular and most frequently told stories of the bible is that of Joseph and his coat of many colours. It can be found in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Joseph contributed greatly to the Judaic story and is highly respected today. This research assignment aims to cover the story of Joseph, the actions of himself and God throughout the tale and it will be concluding on how Joseph and his coat of many colours impacts on the world today.

Joseph was seventeen when his life changed forever. Joseph was the favourite son of his father, Jacob. This favouritism made his other eleven brothers jealous and angry. This jealousy became worse when Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colours. The brothers plotted retribution against Joseph. They threw him into a pit and stole his coat of many colours. However, later on in the day a group of traders came across the brothers and they decided to sell Joseph to the traders. After the sale, the brothers smeared animal blood on the coat and took it to their father making him believe that Joseph was dead. Yet Joseph wasn't dead. He was a slave to one of the pharaoh's officials and after doing much hard work he soon became the overseer of the household. Joseph would soon take a turn for the worse when he was accused of improper behaviour towards the official's wife and he was thrown in jail. While all of these things were happening, Joseph discovered he had a great God-given gift. Joseph could interpret dreams and his interpretations would soon surface in the dreamer's life.

When Joseph was in jail, he interpreted the dreams of two inmates and when these interpretations came true he was called to the attention of the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh was having this strange dream. Joseph explained to him that there would be seven years of good harvest and seven years of famine. With this knowledge, the Pharaoh appointed Joseph to devise a plan to save his people of Egypt. Joseph saved the people of Egypt but as the famine hit home with his brothers, his brothers had to come to Egypt to find food. When Joseph saw them he first treated them as they did him. They did not recognise him at first. Joseph thought he should teach them a lesson so he planned to framed Benjamin, one of his brothers. However he could not go through with it and he revealed himself to his brothers. He then welcomed them and they were given the most favoured land in Egypt where they enjoyed much prosperity in the years to come.

Sinful human behaviour is quick to embrace jealousy. Whether it is as simple as a better talent or something more significant like a better life. This sinful behaviour was displayed by Joseph's brothers. It was not Joseph's fault that he was favoured by his father. However, Joseph still paid for his father's favouritism. He was sold into slavery by his own flesh and blood. Joseph shared many of the same qualities as Jesus. Joseph's coat was of many colours. This coat was a mark of distinction and honour. It separated Joseph from his brothers. It created a sign of nobility. This is the same way God distinguished Jesus from others. At Jesus' birth, angels sung and a star appeared, at his death darkness shrouded the earth for three hours.

In the story, Joseph used his God-given talent for the good of Egypt. He embraced his gift with all he had and he was never afraid to share his interpretations even though it cost him his friendship with his brothers. Joseph also resisted temptation. This is evident when the official's wife tries to entice him to lie down with her (Gen 39: 7-15). He is then wrongfully accused of trying to commit adultery and is thrown in jail but all throughout this situation; Joseph held great character and never tried to run away. The Lord was with him throughout all his trials and tribulations and in the end the Lord rewarded him greatly.

Joseph was chosen by God to be given an extraordinary gift. God gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams. This was not so much a gift in Joseph's early days because it was this gift that contributed to the animosity experienced from his brothers. Joseph would tell his brothers of the dream where the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowed down to him (Genesis 37:9). The brother's did not like the symbolism of this dream and plotted against him. Joseph's gift was not put to good use until he was locked in jail. God was with him throughout his jail term and God's gift helped him out. Joseph saved Egypt by using his gift to interpret the Pharaoh's dreams. God helped Joseph to rise from the bottom to become the Pharaoh's right hand man.

God was a major influence of Joseph's life and in the story. God allowed the brothers to experience need through the use of a famine. He got their attention by radically changing their lives in a negative way. At the time of the famine, it was the worst thing that could have possibly happened but in the long term it was seen as the best thing because they were reunited with their brother.

Joseph cooperated with God's plan when he met his brothers for the first time after they sold him. When he framed Benjamin he was seen as vengeful and cruel but this was not the case. His actions hoped to provoke their consciences. He wanted them to feel guilty about when they sold Joseph into slavery. God wanted them to resolve their guilt rather than be tortured by it and God used Joseph as a means to help his brothers realise their guilt.

Relating this story to modern times, it allows the reader to become more aware of his or her actions in their life. In the story, Joseph was God's vessel to make sure the brothers realised how their sins were affecting them in their lives. This was important in conveying the lessons of the story which were to trust God's loving sovereignty and to learn the root of the problem and to resolve it. These two lessons, when followed, allow the person to live a righteous and relatively guilt free life.

This tale of Joseph and his coat of many colours is one of the most spiritually rich sections in the bible. It contains many important truths and lessons the world can learn from. Through this tale, God has conveyed the message to resolve guilt and not to leave it until it is too late. Through the information presented it is easy to see that Joseph and his coat of many colours is still significant in today's world.