Chapter 15—Joseph and his Brethren
Joseph listened to his father’s instructions, and feared the Lord.
He was more obedient to his father’s righteous teachings than any of
his brethren. He treasured his instructions, and with integrity of heart,
loved to obey God. He was grieved at the wrong conduct of some of
his brethren, and meekly entreated them to pursue a righteous course,
and leave off their wicked acts. This only imbittered them against
him. His hatred of sin was such that he could not endure to see his
brethren sinning against God. He laid the matter before his father,
hoping that his authority might reform them. This exposure of their
wrongs enraged his brethren against him. They had observed their
father’s strong love for Joseph, and were envious at him. Their envy
grew into hatred, and finally to murder.
The angel of God instructed Joseph in dreams which he innocently
related to his brethren. “For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the
field, and lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and behold, your
sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his
brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou
indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for
his dreams, and for his words.
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“And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and
said, Behold I have dreamed a dream more; and behold, the sun, and
the moon, and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it
to his father, and to his brethren, and his father rebuked him, and said
unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy
mother and they brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee
to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the
saying.”
Jacob appeared to regard the dreams of his son with indifference.
But he had been often instructed by the Lord in dreams himself, and
he believed that the Lord was teaching Joseph in the same manner. He
reproved Joseph that his true feelings might not be discovered by his
envious brothers.
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