Gen. 37:12-17
“And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.” v. 12. Shechem, it will be recalled, was the wicked place where their sister Dinah had met disaster. There it was her brothers engaged in ruthless treachery and brutality to their father’s shame. Strange it was that, after having reached their rightful place in Canaan, they should return to the scene of such sad memory! Yet this only exposes the natural tendency of the heart away from God, to delight in evil surroundings — the sow returns to her wallowing in the mire (2 Pet. 2:22). These men, self-willed and displaying so many lustful tendencies, could settle down in surroundings that ought have been shunned.
Jacob well knew his sons’ whereabouts and, although we may be sure he was displeased, he nonetheless was concerned for their welfare for he loved his wayward children. “And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.” v. 13. Here our thoughts turn to another scene: “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Ps. 14:2,3.
Jacob knew the evil deeds of his older sons, and God has ever known the iniquity of every man, woman and child. “The LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.” 1 Chron. 28:9. But He who far surpassed Jacob in knowledge and in love, also sent forth His Son for the blessing and salvation of mankind, as well as for the redemption of Israel. And this He did when Re could see no good, when all had turned aside, displaying every evil and corruption in thought and deed. But what were His thoughts toward this poor world? “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4: 9.
As Joseph responded to his father, “Here I am,” our thoughts again turn to the heavenly scene when God heard that expression from the heart of His beloved Son: “Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psa. 40:7.
Jacob, thus concerned about his sons, sent Joseph on his long and lonely journey. But his brethren were not where they reported they would be. “And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.” vv. 15,16. Informed that they had moved elsewhere, Joseph went after them to Dothan. Once again these men represent a picture of Israel (indeed of all of us by nature) — wandering farther and farther away from God. Joseph, all the while, tells us of Jesus, their Messiah, seeking to bring the love of God to them and looking in vain for some return for His love.
ML 02/05/1967