Genesis 37 - "Behold the Dreamer Cometh"

I've come to the account of Joseph and his brothers, which, in my opinion, is the most powerful and profound story in Genesis. Obviously earlier accounts in Genesis, such as the Garden and the Flood, are much more intriguing and full of mystery. But the story of Joseph has a human element that makes it much more emotive than any other story in Genesis.

One of my favorite lines is when Joseph's brothers see him approaching and they derisively say, "Behold the dreamer cometh" (Genesis 37:19). To me, that line captures the mood of this chapter and the entire Joseph saga. On one hand we have the sincere Joseph who can't help the dreams he's been having, and on the other hand his brothers who naturally feel offended by them. One can feel the innocence and purity of Joseph being juxtaposed with the hate and envy felt by his brothers. I was particularly moved by Jacob's reaction to his son's apparent death: "Tearing his garments, he put on sackcloth, mourning for his son a long time.
And all his children being gathered together to comfort their father in his sorrow, he would not receive comfort, but said: I will go down to my son into hell, mourning" (Genesis 37:34-35). The "long time" referred to would be twenty-three years! It would be that long before Jacob heard news of his son being still alive. Also interesting is the mention here of "sackcloth." Apparently this is the first ever mention of using such a garment to represent sorrow or mourning. Of course wearing sackcloth, or hair-cloth, would later be used by ascetics and monks to demonstrate humility.

And lastly, the parallels to the life of Christ are quite apparent throughout this account. The most obvious one in Genesis 37 is when Joseph is betrayed and sold by his brethren for some silver coins. Once again we have a prefiguring of Jesus Christ.