Genesis 37:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The extraordinary Joseph, unaware of the wickedness of his siblings, embraced them as brothers and shared his dreams, where God unveiled to him his forthcoming prominence and the eventual deference of his brothers.

The criticisms and insults stemming from a jealous and unbridled tongue were merely minor trials and the initial stages of malicious schemes. However, these grievances intensified into deeper hostility for a specific reason: God had revealed to the young man that he would eventually attain glory and be recognized publicly, surpassing his siblings, and crowned with the highest accolades. This, I believe, served to inspire the youth toward a noble pursuit of virtue. Just as trainers in physical contests encourage young athletes by anointing them with oil to instill great courage, motivating them to face challenges bravely by sharing the rewards generously bestowed upon victors, so too does the Lord of all observe a gifted soul.

The divine grace continued to radiate within the young man, who discerned in a dream that while he was gathering sheaves with his brothers, as shown in his vision, his sheaf rose upright while the sheaves of his brothers encircled it, bowing in homage. This foreshadowed the forthcoming Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, whom the eleven apostles worshipped upon encountering Him in Jerusalem, as noted in Matthew 2:11; Matthew 28:16-17; and Luke 24:52. All the saints will similarly pay homage when they are resurrected, bearing the fruits of righteous deeds, as the scripture proclaims, "Those who go forth shall come rejoicing, bearing their sheaves" (Psalm 125:6 (LXX)).

In the case of Joseph, the dream he experienced remained unfulfilled; however, in our true Joseph, the Lord Jesus Christ, the enigmas of that vision came to fruition. After the Resurrection, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed before Him, symbolized by holy Mary, the moon, blessed Joseph, the sun, and the eleven stars representing the blessed Apostles. This fulfilled the prophecy: Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all the stars and light (Psalm 148:3 (LXX)). The reason this dream did not materialize in Joseph is significant; his mother had passed away long before he received those dreams (See Gen. 35:19). How could his brothers, overcome by envy, have worshipped him as stars?

He longed to call upon his elder siblings to hear their interpretation of his dream. “I had a vision,” he recounted to them, “as if we were all binding sheaves in the field; then my sheaf unexpectedly rose and became upright, and your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”