John Calvin Commentary Genesis 37:10

"And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" — Genesis 37:10 (ASV)

And his father rebuked him. If Jacob suspected that the dream originated in vain ambition, he rightly rebuked his son. However, if he knew that God was the author of the dream, he should not have reproved him for it. That he did, in fact, know this may be inferred from the later statement that he seriously considered it.

For Moses, distinguishing between him and his sons, says that they breathed nothing but the virus of envy, while he pondered in his own mind what this might mean. This could not have happened unless he had been filled with reverence. But since a certain religious impression on the subject rested on his mind, why did he rebuke his son?

This truly was not giving honor to God and His word. For it should have occurred to Jacob that, although Joseph was under his authority, he nevertheless possessed a prophetic character. It is probable that when he saw his sons were so malevolent, he wished to avert the danger by pretending what he did not feel. He was not offended by the dream, but he was unwilling to provoke those who, because of their pride, would not tolerate being in subjection.

Therefore, I do not doubt that he pretended to reprove his son out of a desire to appease contention. Nevertheless, this method of pretending to be opposed to the truth, when we are trying to appease the anger of those who rage against it, is in no way approved by God. He should rather have frankly exhorted his sons not to kick against the pricks. Or at least he should have used this moderate approach: “If this is a common dream, let it be treated with ridicule rather than with anger; but if it has proceeded from God, it is wicked to speak against it.” It is even possible that the inappropriateness of the dream had struck the old man’s mind.

For we know how difficult it is to entirely cast off all sense of superiority. Certainly, though Jacob deviated slightly from the right course, his piety appears to be of no common order, because his reverence for the oracle so easily prevailed over every other feeling. But the most wicked obstinacy reveals itself in his sons, as they break out into greater hostility.

For though they despised the dream, they were not angered for no reason. They would gladly have made their brother a laughing-stock, but a certain secret sense of God constrained them, so that, whether they willed it or not, they were compelled to feel that there was something genuine in the dream.

Meanwhile, a blind ferocity drove them to an unintentional resistance against God. Therefore, so that we may be kept in obedience to God, let us learn to subdue our proud spirits, because the beginning of teachableness is for people to submit to being brought into order. This obstinacy in Jacob’s sons was most blameworthy, because they not only rejected the oracle of God through their hatred of subjection, but were also hostile to His messenger and herald.

How much less excusable, then, will our hardness of heart be, if we do not meekly submit our necks to the yoke of God, since the doctrine of humility—which subdues and even mortifies us—is not only more clearly revealed but also confirmed by the precious blood of Christ?

If, however, we see many rebellious people today who refuse to embrace the gospel and who perversely rise up against it, let us not be disturbed as if by something new, since the whole human race is infected with the disease of pride. For by the gospel, all the glory of the flesh is reduced to nothing. Rather, let us understand that all remain obstinate, except those who are made meek by the subduing influence of the Spirit.