Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28 v 4 “But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.”
When Joseph was seventeen years old, he worked for his half-brothers. However, he told his father the bad things his brothers did. Joseph knew he was loved more by his father than his other brothers as his father made him a beautiful robe to wear. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.” When the brothers were far from home tending their sheep, Joseph was sent to find them. He asked someone for directions to find his brothers. When they saw him coming, they thought it would be easy to kill him. However, one of the brothers stood up for Joseph and said let’s leave him to die in a cistern and was planning to rescue him and return him to his father. They all agreed to put him in the cistern. Then when a caravan of traders came by, they saw a way to not only get rid of Joseph but to profit from him as well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver and he was taken to Egypt.
I have seen at least twice the musical of Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat, as well as attending Sunday School where this was a favorite story. So, the story of Joseph and his brothers, his dreams, and his problems at home as well as in Egypt are very familiar to me. A version can be found here . https://youtu.be/WJfJSdKkHSY
In this part of the story, we see the root of the problem. Through his birth, as the youngest son his father loved him the best. The special relationship with his father meant that his brothers could not get away with bad things as Joseph, confident in his father’s love would tattle on them. Joseph was also given a beautiful coat to wear. Something for the world to see how much he was loved. His father continued to give Joseph privileges as he stayed at home while the others wandered the hills looking for pasture for the sheep. The father them sent Joesph to find the brothers who saw this as an opportunity to be rid of him. The idea to kill him was raised, then to let him die in a cistern, then they finally decided to sell him to traders, which is how Joseph ended up in Egypt.
Jealousy amongst siblings is all too common as parents actually or are perceived to favor one child from another. Joseph, confident in his father’s love, was able to thrive close to home or in a foreign land. How lucky are we to know that we are chosen by Father God to be loved unconditionally. Living a life confident in that love whatever the circumstances is our goal.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for loving us. Help us to live confidently knowing that good things will result in the end. Amen.
CrossWalk 