Why Was Jacob Troubled?
STEP 1:
JACOB HEARS HIS SON IS DEAD
First let’s go to the Bible verse that mentions Jacob being troubled:
The Shock That Freezes the Heart
“And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.”
(Genesis 37:34–35, KJV 1900)
JACOB WAS INCONSOLABLE
“Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth around his waist, and he was mourning his son a number of days. All his sons and daughters gathered together and came to comfort him, and he did not wish to be comforted, saying, “I will go down to my son mourning into Hades.” And his father mourned him.” (Genesis 37:34–35, LES)
A devastating announcement arrives.
Shock sets in before facts are processed.
Grief locks in immediately.
The listener concludes, “This pain will never end.”
Key Point
Jacob’s trouble begins the moment the report is received, before questions are asked.
STRONGS CONCORDANCE DEFINTION OF “COMFORT”
Biblical definition of “inconsolable” In the Bible:
Inconsolable describes a state of grief so deep that comfort is refused, even when comfort is offered. Genesis 37:35 (KJV)
Hebrew sense: The Hebrew verb behind this idea conveys a deliberate refusal of a settled decision to remain in mourning.
Grief anchored in what the person believes to be true. It is not the absence of comfort, but the rejection of it.
Inconsolable grief is often tied to incomplete knowledge or a false report, not the absence of God’s work.
STEP 2:
“HOW DID HE DIE?”
The Mind Seeks an Explanation
“And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.” (Genesis 37:32, KJV 1900)
Visual evidence is shown.
Details are vague.
The listener fills in the blanks.
KEY POINT:
When information is incomplete, the mind wants to fill in the details.
This INTENTIONAL deception took advantage of this human tendency, but we must remember that GOD GAVE the true facts already to Jacob. WE MUST REMEMBER God’s Promises.
“Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: Declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”
(Isaiah 43:26, KJV 1900)
STEP 3:
THE FALSE CONCLUSION IS FORMED
Fear Supplies the Answer
“And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.” (Genesis 37:33, KJV 1900)
Jacob supplies the explanation himself.
No witness is questioned.
No alternative is considered.
No prayer is offered.
———
When details are missing, people assume the worst.
Fear becomes the narrator.
The explanation feels true because it fits the emotion.
KEY POINT:
A false conclusion does not need proof, it only needs fear. This common reaction happens when fear is present. We must remember:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
(2 Timothy 1:7, KJV 1900)
Has God given us the PROPHETIC OUTLINE, so we don’t have to be afraid?? He did to Jacob! And He did to us at the same time!
STEP 4:
“WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?”
Jacob sends Joseph out to find his brethren,
just like God sends us out into the world.
“And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him,
Here am I.”
(Genesis 37:13, KJV 1900)
Joseph was sent from among his brethren with a message from God. When they didn’t listen to the message, God REQUIRED it of them at the end of “Jacob’s Trouble.”
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I,
Here am I; send me.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not.”
(Isaiah 6:8–9, KJV 1900)
Can man stop the Word of the Lord?
WHY was Joseph “killed?”
The plain answer was that he wasn’t killed. But the REAL answer is that his brothers HATED him!
“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.” (Genesis 37:8, KJV 1900)
This gives us the motivation for what they actually did to him.
“And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.” (Genesis 37:18, KJV 1900)
We are told that Reuben talked them out of this:
“And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.” (Genesis 37:21, KJV 1900)
Hatred and envy were not part of the prophecy, but the prophecy was fulfilled DESPITE the hatred and envy of men.
“Hatred stirreth up strifes: But love covereth all sins.”
(Proverbs 10:12, KJV 1900)
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18–20, KJV 1900)
When we go into the world, we often don’t anticipate or expect the hateful reaction that ensues and envelopes our entire reality. We think it’s changing everything but really it’s all going to work out for the good.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28, KJV 1900)
step 5:
joseph is sold into slavery
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. In the future both Joseph and his brothers would each become large nations. Although this was the story of just one man being sold into slavery, in the future sense it will picture an entire nation being sold into slavery as well.
“Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”
(Genesis 37:28, KJV 1900)
“The merchantmen” have sold Joseph TODAY because Joseph pictures America, the youngest of the Christian nations (who have that Abrahamic Covenant on them). Just like Joseph, America was sold into slavery to the “merchantmen” of today, the globalist bankers (the cabal.)
“And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.” (Zechariah 11:11, KJV 1900)
COMPANION BIBLE NOTES
“So it was annulled on that day, and the traffickers in the sheep, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD.”
(Zechariah 11:11, RSV)
“the traffickers….those that sell my children and try to make usury out of them.”
COMPANION BIBLE NOTES
“Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: And all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: And in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 14:21, KJV 1900)
step 6:
joseph in potiphar’s house
“Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.” (Deuteronomy 5:20, KJV 1900)
“These six things doth the LORD hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue, And
Hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, And
He that soweth discord among brethren.”
(Proverbs 6:16–19, KJV 1900)
Joseph faced false accusations not only from Potiphar’s wife, but from all his brethren. They tried really hard to ruin him and his vision from God, but it only worked out good for him in the end, and the vision still came to pass.
“To preserve you from a married woman and from the slander of a strange tongue.” (Proverbs 6:24, LES)
God will never allow A LIE to destroy you. Especially, if you are giving HIS WORDS to the people.
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”
(Deuteronomy 18:18–19, KJV 1900)
Joseph was that man, that God sent to the brothers. He had the WORD of God in His mouth. Just like JACOB should have remembered this Word, instead JACOB was troubled, and experienced “Jacob’s trouble”, and it was required of him.
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4, KJV 1900)
step 7:
Joseph in prison
Joseph had to experience prison, but God was with him even in that dark place. We can also know that God is with us, waiting to pour out His blessings…EVEN IN JACOB’S TROUBLE.
Joseph was given a special gift of hearing and understanding visions from God. If God has given you a gift, or a talent, then don’t let it go to waste! Use the talent and share His Word with others because it will always bring you a blessing.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” (Matthew 25:14–15, KJV 1900)
“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
(Matthew 25:22–23, KJV 1900)
step 8:
joseph interprets the dreams
Joseph’s gift was PROPHECY. He prophesied over the baker and the butler in prison.
He prophesied over HIS BRETHREN.
“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.” (Genesis 37:5, KJV 1900)
Those young men would eventually become nations, making the prophecy not only to his family but to the world in the final generation.
How should we respond to this prophecy? Should we act like the brethren? Paul tells us that we are a body of Christ many members with different gifts:
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,
Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
Or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:
He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
He that ruleth, with diligence;
He that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
(Romans 12:4–10, KJV 1900)
step 9 the famine in the land
The moment of destiny came when Joseph interpreted the dream for Pharoah.
Joseph came to the courts of Pharoah out of prison. His destiny to rule over Egypt was forming. In order for that destiny to happen, he put on a new raiment.
Just like Daniel in Babylon, when he was brought before Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his dream.
He was able to discern that TWO DREAMS that pharaoh had, were actually THE SAME DREAM.
“The seven healthy cows are seven years and the seven healthy ears of grain are seven years—they’re the same dream. The seven sick and ugly cows that followed them up are seven years and the seven scrawny ears of grain dried out by the east wind are the same—seven years of famine.”
(Genesis 41:26–27, MSG)
———
“And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
(Genesis 41:16, KJV 1900)
That is the general principal that we use today.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
(1 Corinthians 10:11–12, KJV 1900)
Taking from that, God’s elect are being prepared for their final destiny.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
(1 Peter 2:9, KJV 1900)
God’s elect, one day, will “take up the parable” of the kenites and stand before the world, just like Joseph did stand before Pharaoh, and just like Daniel stood before Nebuchadnezzar.
“And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, And thou puttest thy nest in a rock.”
(Numbers 24:21, KJV 1900)
step 10:
pharoah gives joseph his seat
The signet ring was used by the king to enact orders upon the people of the nation. Giving that ring to Joseph was symbolic of Joseph being the king himself.
“As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;”
(Jeremiah 22:24, KJV 1900)
step 11:
the bowing down to joseph
“Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?”
(Genesis 42:1, KJV 1900)
———
“And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.”
(Genesis 42:3, KJV 1900)
———
“And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.”
(Genesis 42:6, KJV 1900)
———
“Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. And he put them all together into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:”
(Genesis 42:16–18, KJV 1900)
This is the beginning of the fulfillment of Jacob’s dreams. At this point only 10 are bowed down to him, but the prophecy was eleven would bow down. So there will be another trip to Egypt but this time with Benjamin.
This 2 journeys to Egypt may picture the meeting of the nations today and the eventual peace agreement they make in Revelation 13.
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”
(Revelation 13:1–4, KJV 1900)
step 12:
Jacob has to send benjamin
Jacob’s trouble continues as he has to part with his last son by his favorite wife Rachel.
“But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.”
(Genesis 42:20, KJV 1900)
Jacob’s trouble is still continuing here as he says:
“And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me. And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.”
(Genesis 42:36–38, KJV 1900)
step 13:
the silver cup& Benjamin
The Silver cup was a symbol of “divining” in Egypt. Joseph was not a “diviner” but he was a dreamer of God’s true visions. When they found the cup in the sack of Benjamin, it is symbolic of the finding out of his brother’s sins against him.
“And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.”
(Genesis 43:27–29, KJV 1900)
———
“And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.”
(Genesis 44:2–5, KJV 1900)
———
“And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.”
(Genesis 44:14–16, KJV 1900)
———
Joseph is using the silver cup to illustrate a point. In Egypt, the people recognized this cup as a way to foretell the future. Joseph, however, could tell the future because God gave him the gift of prophecy in his visions. He was a prophet of the TRUE God. His brothers not knowing his identity agreed to this power that he had, and unknowingly agreed that he could truly divine.
The Silver Cup is an indicator of the fulfillment of the prophecy. When it was placed in Benjamins sack ALL 11 brothers came and bowed down to Joseph twice. Hence the dream where not just the brothers bow pictured as wheat but as stars as well.
step 14:
joseph reveals identity
When Joseph reveals his true identity, peace and restoration is brought to the whole family. Perhaps this pictures a future reunion of the nations.
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.”
(Genesis 45:3–6, KJV 1900)
Prophetically, this is a 7 year period. Similar to the final 7-year timeline that Daniel prophesied, we could be in that timeline today.
Not only the timeline, but the subject matter of the 12 sons, 11 bowing down to 1 is also part of Jacob’s trouble. Understanding that the prophecy “is one” means that it applies to the sons then, and the nations that they formed today (now that all the nations are settled on the earth).
Step 15:
the promise is remembered
“And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.”
(Genesis 37:11, KJV 1900)
———
“And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.”
(Genesis 42:9, KJV 1900)
When they came and bowed down to him, he remembered the visions that he had nearly 15 or so years ago. Jacob’s trouble lasted all those 15 years. Why? Because he thought his son was dead ALL THAT TIME.
“And they answered the angel of the Lord, the one standing among the hills, and they said, ‘We have traveled around all the land, and behold, all the land has been settled and is at rest.’ And the angel of the Lord answered and said, ‘O Lord Almighty, how long will you show no mercy to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which you have neglected these seventy years?’”
(Zechariah 1:11–12, LES)
STep 16:
the visions of joseph are complete
Here we have the visions of Joseph.
The visions of Joseph and his 11 brothers are prophesying of end time events. We see the parallel in Revelation 12:1
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”
(Revelation 12:1, KJV 1900)
These nations are settled all around the Earth right now as Zechariah prophesied.
“And the angel, the one speaking with me, said to me, ‘Cry out, saying, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I have been jealous of Jerusalem and Zion with a great jealousy. And with a great anger I am angry against the nations, the ones who join in attacking. Because, on the one hand, I was angry a little, but they joined in attacking for evil. On account of this,’ says the Lord, ‘I will turn upon Jerusalem with compassion, and my house will be rebuilt in it,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And a measurement will still be stretched out upon Jerusalem.’ ” ’”
(Zechariah 1:14–16, LES)
