.png)
Scripture: Genesis 37:29-36
Introduction:
There are moments in life when we are presented with situations that bring us to our knees in grief and despair. Circumstances arise that make us question everything, making it seem as though all hope is lost. Like Jacob, we sometimes receive "evidence" that tells us our dreams are shattered, our purpose is defeated, and our future is dark. But the question today is: Whose report will you believe?
Jacob believed the lie that his son Joseph was dead. The evidence seemed undeniable; a bloodstained tunic presented before him. But what Jacob did not know was that God had a greater plan at work behind the scenes. His mourning was premature because he had placed his faith in a deception. Many of us, like Jacob, go through life holding onto pain and sorrow, refusing comfort, because our spirits long for divine assurance. Yet God calls us to trust in His report and not the evidence presented by the enemy.
1. The Deception of False Evidence (Genesis 37:31-36)
Joseph’s brothers, fueled by jealousy, committed a terrible act, they sold him into slavery and then deceived their father Jacob. They dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood of a goat and brought it to Jacob, allowing him to reach his own devastating conclusion: “And he recognized it and said, ‘It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt, Joseph is torn to pieces.’” (Genesis 37:33, NKJV)
Jacob was presented with a convincing but false reality. Instead of seeking divine confirmation, he immediately accepted the deception. How often do we believe the lies of the enemy simply because the “evidence” appears real?
Some people receive a negative medical report and immediately accept it as their final fate, forgetting that Jehovah Rapha is our healer (Exodus 15:26).
Others experience a financial crisis and conclude that their dreams are dead, forgetting that God is our provider (Philippians 4:19).
Marriages face struggles, and some believe divorce is inevitable, forgetting that what God has joined together, no man can separate (Matthew 19:6).
The enemy brings "blood-stained tunics" in various forms, fear, discouragement, bad news, and betrayal to convince us that all is lost. But Isaiah 53:1 asks: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” We must choose whose report we believe, God’s truth or the enemy’s deception.
Reuben’s Regret and the Consequences of Sin
Reuben, Joseph’s oldest brother, was absent when Joseph was sold into slavery, perhaps taking care of some problem with the sheep. Maybe he absented himself deliberately so they wouldn’t suspect his hidden plan. He had planned to rescue him, but by the time he returned, it was too late. His reaction—tearing his clothes in grief, showed that his heart was with Joseph, but his absence allowed deception to take root. When he visited the cistern, he was shocked to find that Joseph was gone. Certainly, his attitude and actions made it clear to his brothers that his sympathies were with Joseph, for he tore his clothes like a man in mourning.
Scripture warns, “He who covers his sins will not prosper” (Proverbs 28:13, NKJV). Among Jacob’s sons, one sin led to another as the men fabricated the evidence that would deceive their father into thinking that Joseph was dead, killed by a wild beast. Joseph’s brothers covered their sin with deception, but sin always has consequences. As tragic and treacherous as this deception was, Jacob was reaping what he himself had sown. Years earlier, Jacob himself had deceived his father, Isaac, by covering his arms with goat’s skin to impersonate Esau (Genesis 27:1-17). Now, he was reaping what he had sown. The very act he used to deceive was now being used against him.
The Pain of Jumping to Conclusions
Jacob was prone to jumping to conclusions, and in his grief, he immediately assumed the worst. Instead of seeking God, he let the deception define his reality.
He went into deep mourning.
He refused comfort from his family.
He carried his sorrow for over twenty years, believing a lie.
Many of us are living in sorrow today because we have accepted a false report. We have allowed situations to dictate our emotions instead of seeking God’s truth. Yet, what seemed like an irreversible tragedy for Jacob was, in reality, the unfolding of God’s divine plan.
2. The Hand of God Behind the Scenes
Jacob lamented, “All these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36, NKJV) when in reality, everything was working for his good. This doesn’t mean that God approved of or engineered the brothers’ hatred and deception, or that they weren’t responsible for what they did. It does mean that our God is so great that He can work out His purposes even when people are doing their worst. Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
God was positioning Joseph in Egypt for a greater purpose.
He was preserving Jacob’s family through Joseph’s eventual promotion.
What the brothers meant for evil, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20).
Similarly, at Calvary, the disciples saw Jesus' crucifixion as the ultimate defeat. They mourned, believing their hope had died. But what they did not realize was that God was orchestrating the greatest victory in history! The greatest deception of the enemy is to make you believe that your suffering is the end of your story—when in reality, it is the setup for your breakthrough!
3. Refuse to Settle in Mourning and Seek God's Truth
Jacob spent years grieving a son who was alive. How many of us are mourning dreams, relationships, or callings that God has not declared dead? The enemy may have presented false evidence, but God's truth prevails.
Your financial struggle is not the end, God is your provider!
Your sickness is not final, Jesus is the healer!
Your past mistakes do not define you, God's grace is greater!
Your prodigal children are not lost, God is calling them back home!
The key to victory is found in seeking divine confirmation before believing the enemy’s report.
Before accepting defeat, bring your case before God.
Before giving up, pray for divine revelation.
Before believing what you see, trust what God has spoken!
God is not limited by circumstances. He is not restricted by human timelines. What seems dead today may be resurrected tomorrow. Jacob and Joseph never read Romans 8:28, but they experienced it firsthand! If God turned their sorrow into joy, He will do the same for you.
Conclusion:
Believe God's Report! The story of Jacob and Joseph reminds us that evidence can be deceiving, but God’s truth never fails. The enemy will always try to convince us that we have lost, but we must stand firm in faith.
When fear speaks, respond with God’s promises.
When sorrow overwhelms, declare God’s faithfulness.
When deception arises, seek God’s truth.
Whose report will you believe? The enemy’s deception, or God’s divine purpose?
Choose today to believe the report of the Lord. Your sorrow is not the end. Your pain is not permanent. Your story is still being written, and with God, the best is yet to come!
Comments