Joseph, the one who famous for his robe of many colors was his father’s favorite son. I believe there were two reasons for this. First, he was the firstborn of his daddy’s heartthrob Rachel, and secondly, Joseph had a heart for God and heard from Him in a uniquely special way. You remember the story don’t you? Joseph’s father Israel, aka Jacob, had a brother named Esau. There was some deception, some stew, and the great exchange. The birthright was surrendered and the plot continued to unfold. There was also a wrestling match won by God and Jacob became Israel. Now Jacob had a “thing” for Rachel. But there were two sisters Rachel and Leah. Their father, Laban, who would later become Jacob’s father in law… twice, had some mischievous deception of his own… he tricked Jacob into marrying the wrong sister, Leah. Anyway, Joseph’s working for his father in law finally paid off. He married Rachel (his dream girl) and their first child was Joseph. That’s right, his daddy’s favorite, and the coat he wore that was made by his father, represented what everyone already knew. The coat, however, seemed to be a bigger deal to his brothers and everyone else then it did to Joseph.
Joseph was a dreamer. But, when he told his dream to his brothers, they didn’t like it. As a matter a fact, they got so mad they stripped him of the coat of many colors and through him in a pit. While they were having some lunch, they began to feel bad for what they had done. So, they drug him out of the pit and sold him to some slave traitors that just happened to be passing by. They then took the coat they stripped him of and dipped in blood, took it to their father, and told him that Joseph their brother, his son, had been killed by wild animals. Their father wept bitterly. However, it was all a lie. Joseph was alive. The coat nonetheless, was never mentioned in the story again. All the while, Joseph never stopped dreaming, and he continued to walk in the favor of his God. Although the coat was history, what it represented lived on in Joseph long after the coat was forgotten about.
He didn’t waiver when he stripped of his coat. That’s because he still possessed what it represented. What he had was based on an internal “knowing”, not an external “seeing”. His earthly father gave him the coat. But, his Heavenly Father gave him the promise. The promise was eternal and internal, not external or maternal. Joseph knew that what he was wearing wasn’t who he was. In other words it wasn’t his identity, it was just a reminder of what he already knew. He was cOVERed! He was a dreamer favored by both his earthly, and his Heavenly Father. He knew that what was happening at the moment in his present situation wouldn’t deter what was going to happen in his promised future. He was a dreamer with a promise; even in the midst of problems. When Joseph was sold to the slave traders that were passing by he was probably given a slave’s robe. But, he didn’t allow that define him because it wasn’t who he was. He was a son with a promise, not a slave! When he was purchased to serve at Potiphar’s house he was probably given a servant’s robe. But, he didn’t allow it to affect him because that wasn’t who he was. He was a son with a promise, not Potiphar’s servant. When he was thrown into prison on false accusations he was probably given a prisoner’s robe. But, he didn’t let that affect him because that wasn’t who he was. He was a son with a promise, not a prisoner. Joseph was covered! He didn’t ask for it, he just received and walked in it. His earthly father gave him the coat of many colors and no one could take what it represented. It represented an earthly blessing and heavenly favor.
Joseph was thrown in a pit, sold to slave traders, purchased by Potiphar, betrayed by Potiphar’s wife, forgotten about in prison but, he never lost sight of his promise. Everything that was put on Joseph was given by someone else. His daddy put the robe of many colors on him. The slave traders put the robe of slavery on him. Potiphar put the robe of a servant on him. The jailer put the robe of a jailer on him. Remembered this: what others put on you doesn’t have to define you! People will put labels, opinions, and expectations on you, but don’t let it define you. When they took Joseph’s robe they didn’t take what it represented. In other words, when Joseph was stripped of his robe of many colors he didn’t stop dreaming or believing and the favor and blessings didn’t stop either! The coat represented his dream, and his promise. But, it wasn’t his dream or promise, it was a robe. Joseph was cOVERed with a colorful coat made by his father. It represented favor, but, it wasn’t his favor. His favor was his favor. Even in the midst of problems Joseph had a promise. Even in the midst of frustration he had favor. That’s why Joseph didn’t pout in the pit, plead at Potiphar’s House, or protest in prison. Instead, he allowed God to elevate him to a position of power so that he could provide prosperity and provision for those that had caused him problems. You see when you know your cOVERed it doesn’t matter where you are, or what you have, or what someone is trying to put on you. What matters is that you know who you are, and most of all, whose you are. When you know your cOVERed you can get OVER whatever is your going through, so you can get to where it is your meant to be! No matter what you’re going through… God’s got you cOVERed!!!
