At age seventeen, Joseph was a spoiled brat and something of a tattletale. In order to understand the full impact of today's text, we must remember that fact. Chapter 37 of Genesis describes this in vivid detail. As the youngest of many children, and born late in his father's life, Joseph became Jacob's favorite. And Jacob did nothing to disguise it either. While Jacob's other sons wore the typical knee-length sleeveless tunics, Jacob made his "favorite" son a colorful, long and luxurious robe, with full sleeves. Joseph was known to further alienate his siblings by bringing Jacob bad reports of their shepherding work. Around home Joseph often taunted his brothers even more by sharing his dreams in which they all bowed down to him.

Is it any wonder that Joseph was not at all popular with his…