JOSEPH: Identifying Family Dysfunction
Scripture: Genesis 37:4 (ESV) But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
DYSFUNCTION: Misalignment With God’s Word
We All Unknowingly Grow Up In A Level Of Dysfunction
We Begin To Recognize It As It “Gets On Us”
We Struggle To Recognize When It’s Gotten Inside Of Us
God Wants To Remove It With Our Participation
Family Dysfunction In This Chapter
Genesis 37:5 ESV “Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.”
Genesis 37:8 ESV “His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”
Genesis 37:11 “And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.”
Genesis 37:18 ESV “They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.”
Genesis 37:20 ESV “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.””
Genesis 37:23-24 ESV “So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.”
Genesis 37:26-27 ESV “Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.”
Genesis 37:31-33 ESV “Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.””
Generational Dysfunction Before This Chapter
1. Abraham’s Generation
Deception/Lying: Abraham twice claimed his wife, Sarah, was only his sister out of fear for his own life, putting Sarah in danger (Genesis 12:10–20; Genesis 20:1–18).
Sexual Sin/Lack of Faith: Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar, to produce an heir, an act outside of God's original plan for marriage, leading to significant strife (Genesis 16).
2. Isaac’s Generation
Favoritism: Both Isaac and Rebekah practiced favoritism toward their sons, which laid the foundation for future division and conflict in the family.
Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed his wild game, while Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28).
3. Jacob’s Generation
Deception/Lying: Rebekah and Jacob conspired to deceive Isaac, who was old and blind, so that Jacob could steal the spiritual and material blessing intended for his older brother, Esau (Genesis 27).
Sibling Rivalry/Malice: The deception led to intense hatred, causing Esau to vow to kill Jacob, forcing Jacob to flee the land (Genesis 27:41).
4. Jacob (Israel)’s Sons’ Generation
Violence and Malice: Simeon and Levi committed a treacherous act of murder against the entire male population of Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister, Dinah (Genesis 34). Jacob later condemned their anger and violence on his deathbed (Genesis 49:5–7).
Sexual Sin/Violation of Authority: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. This gross violation of patriarchal authority and sexual purity resulted in him losing his preeminence and birthright (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:3–4).
Favoritism, Hatred, and Violence:
Jacob repeated the sin of his parents by practicing blatant favoritism, loving Joseph more than his other sons and giving him the famous "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).
The brothers' jealousy and hatred grew, leading them to plot to kill Joseph and ultimately selling him into slavery to passing traders (Genesis 37:4, 18–28).
Deception/Lying: To conceal their crime, the brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat’s blood and lied to their father, causing him prolonged grief (Genesis 37:31–35).
Deception and Sexual Sin (Judah): Judah, one of the brothers, had his own history of sexual sin when he mistakenly slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute after he had refused to give her his third son in marriage (Genesis 38).
Can You Identify Family Dysfunction On/In HYou?
Affectionless Relationships
Demeaning Comments
Parents Who Undermine One Another
Poor Financial Decisions
Addictions That Rob The Family
Violence
Helicopter Parents
"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times."
Identity via Child - manipulate children, outcomes are “theirs”
Virtue via Child - manipulate children, valuations are theirs
Stockholm syndrome
Crossdressing syndrome
Why Is It There Family Dysfunction?
Lack Of Knowledge
Entrenched Dysfunction (not mental health)
External Influence (relational, cultural or spiritual)
A Failure To Lead
Overcoming Family Dysfunction
Follow Jesus Engaged With The Holy Spirit
Following Jesus gives you and your family to best chance of abundant life
Four Types Of Followers: Positional, Cerebral, Emotional or Spiritual
The Holy Spirit will reveal, guide, and empower you.
Spiritual Revelation: 1 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV) - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
Guidance and Truth: John 16:13 (NIV) - "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
Teaching and Remembering: John 14:26 (NIV) - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
Prayer Directed At The ISSUE (Intercession): Romans 8:26 (NIV) - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
Freedom/Transformation 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”