Daily Devotional | A Colorful Coat

Moody professor Jim Coakley, in his award-winning book 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible, analyzed Joseph’s clothing in Genesis 37-45: “Clothes/ garments are a pivotal element throughout the Joseph narrative...They appear at key transition points in the account when his status changes positively or negatively.” Every major plot change in the story is marked by a change in clothing.

Joseph’s story begins with a “coat of many colors,” as I learned through many Sunday School illustrations. Translators, though, are not sure of the exact meaning. The NIV says Joseph’s robe was “ornate” (v. 3). Another translation says “beautiful.” Others say “special tunic,” “vari-colored tunic,” “robe with long sleeves,” or “elaborately embroidered coat.” Some still have “robe of many colors.”

In any case, this special robe was a gift to Joseph from his father, Jacob, and a clear sign of parental favoritism (v. 3). You may think that Jacob should have known better. Predictably, the robe prompted envy and even hatred from his brothers (v. 4). Joseph, young and immature, did nothing to soften this reaction. Instead, he further stirred up his brothers’ feelings by bringing his father a bad report (v. 2) and sharing his dreams (vv. 5–11).

Joseph’s “ornate robe” makes two more key appearances in this story. First, his brothers stripped it off him before throwing him into a cistern (v. 23). Their initial plan was to murder their brother, though they ended up “only” selling him into slavery. They also dipped the robe in goat’s blood as a prop for their lie to Jacob (vv. 31–33), who concluded that a wild animal had killed his beloved son.

Despite all these tragic events, God remained in control. He had a loving plan for Joseph, Jacob’s family, and the Ancient Near Eastern world.