Coat of Many Colors

Many of us admire Joseph’s coat of many colors. It was given to him in the name of love but between the rainbows woven in this linen tunic, a message lies buried.

I imagine his coat was prophetic, ready to speak of his life, and the path it’d take. That coat belongs to every child of God, and I saw God knit it through Jacob, as He hid imagery in it.

The exact colors aren’t mentioned, but I’ll flow with what comes to mind. I imagine the peach and orange on his coat representing his honesty. Little Joseph, having all these awesome dreams, and being the boy he was, he wouldn’t shy away to mention his dreams.

The yellows could be his purity. He reported all that was wrong, including his brothers’ misconduct. The reds and scarlets within his coat represented betrayal and hate that his brothers gave. He was sold off, and that beautiful coat was dipped in blood, making the father think, his little boy was gone.

The greys of the coat, depict the lows of Joseph. Ah, once a son, now a slave boy. However, he was still handsome. Even slaves were sold according to face in that day. He found favor in Potiphar’s house. I’d call that a silver lining of blue within the coat.

Black follows, when the wife to Joseph’s master desires to lay with him. And when he flees she tears her clothes and accuses the handsome boy for trying to rape her. Black continues when Joseph is thrown in prison.

It seems gloomy and dark, but blue turns to indigo when he’s put in charge of all prison mates. Some people seem to be a way for him out of there. Indigo is slowly turning into violet—but he’s forgotten!

Then Pharaoh dreamt… And Joseph was remembered. He was then the color of light! White! Ah… (Reaction of awe and marvelous sighs) He was revelation and wisdom and interpretation for the mystery of the dream. Purple came into play, yes, as Joseph was now second to Pharaoh, being in charge of all manner of wealth.

Years had passed by, and I for one, aren’t certain if he was still remembering his brothers or not. But amidst his glory, there they were! Much older, having showed up somehow. Their countenances hadn’t changed an ounce. Joseph recognized them at first sight. His royal velvet purple was marred with a sudden muddy brown and umber.

Hate… Vengeance…

‘Should I revenge?’ ‘Should I get back at them?’ ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, meekness… self-control…’ ‘Forgive us our sins, as we’ve forgiven those who have wronged us…’ ‘Forgiven? Those who’ve wronged us?’

I imagine him if he knew what you knew—the scriptures — what he’d be battling with.

He fought with all these in his head. But later the same spirit that made him give revelation to Pharaoh returned. It revealed to him, that if his brothers hadn’t sold him, he wouldn’t be where he was then—the position to save them from starvation peril!

Rose pink crossed his coat. Mercy and good judgement, with understanding. Counsel and might with knowledge. He forgave them. He saw his father. He reconciled with them. It was drinks and laughter, the telling of the adventures past, in each one’s absenture. The meeting of cousins and uncles. Merriment of heart…

Gold was the color shinning most brightly at this point…only to tell us that, we all have coats of many colors. The highs, the lows, but a CONSTANT TAILOR. He is writing each of our stories, and they are good. Very good. Every thread, and knit, even when it takes a turn we don’t like, is working for our good.

Now we see in part, but in the end we shall prove that which is the tailor’s good and perfect will for the fitting of each of our coats. Each of our lives gets to experience any of such colors…and are expected to do things uncomfortable, say forgiving those who have done us wrong, or being patient in prisons or situations we have no control over.

But remember that blue—the favor of the tailor—and the gold…are with you always. No tailor comes up with an ugly coat. And of all tailors, God would be the last to come up with something hideous.

I just thought that as we jump about, excited about a colorful coat, we do not just behold a pleasant apparel, but read it and understand every thread, for the signs hidden, the green to count it all joy, all that you’re going through, to notice the color of love & prosperity in life, but also the colors of persecution & temptations, and of the glory to be revealed in the end.

Gold is still part of your coat. But perfect gold comes out purified after going through the fire! You’ll come out rich. You’ll turn out well. You’ll emerge victorious, and on top of the world! God writes a great story out of each one of us, and how glorious each is!

So, embrace every color, for it all leads to gold. Remember there’s no ‘coat of many colors’ without some of those colors that you don’t like! Jacob made the coat. Joseph didn’t. God your tailor chooses your coat colors! Not you! But all colors chosen…will work for your good. Whichever they are!

Remembering finally, that it’s a coat of many colors, and not ‘the coat of the nice colors that you want’.