Joseph the Dreamer: TMI

Genesis 37

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Joseph's brothers know they have been selected by God to give rise to a nation who will bring His blessing to the earth.  But they also know their family history, with a lurking figure of bad character, like Ishmael and Esau.  With Joseph's dreams moving into megalomania, it's easy for them to make the jump to believing he's the bad apple in the group; and that getting him out of the picture is best all-around for the whole family.

Joseph's time in Egypt also lays out the prototypical Jewish story:  The Jew comes into a new place - unwanted or at the bottom of the social ladder. But he works hard and soon gains material goods, social standing, and community influence.

This kidnapping also serves to place Joseph into God's direct care.  He will be a (proto)Jew living in Egypt.  None of his family is with him.  That means no rivalry or fighting with his brothers; no conniving from his father; no worries about who and when he will marry and from what side of the family she will come.  He is now outside the bad habits and examples he could have easily picked-up from his family.

This new way of living will be echoed later in Daniel's story: a man in the center of an enemy nation - but remaining true to God.