Genesis 37:2 (NKJV)
2 This is the history of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
Joseph was loved by his father more that his brothers because he was the son of his old age. In fact, his father gives him a coat of many colors which many believe was a sign from his father that he would be the son that Jacob would leave the blessing to. This made his brothers hate him even the more!
When his brothers were out grazing and they did some bad things, Joseph would come back home and tell his father what his brothers had done. This made his brothers hate him even the more! Imagine having 10 older brothers and they all hate you. Joseph must have had a very had time growing up.
We all have issues in our families, sometimes we feel like our parent’s prefer our siblings more than us, or we feel like our brothers or sisters hate us.
One of the things we learn from Josephs experience is how not to treat each other in our natural family even the family of God when we feel aggrieved. Josephs brother so hated him that they allowed that hatred to become bitterness that takes root in their heart.
When Joseph tells them about his dreams, it makes them even more hateful and when they get the opportunity, they actually are ready to kill him. Little did they know that the dreams that Joseph had were actually from God and the dreams were not to uplift Joseph because he was more special, it was to uplift Joseph so that their lives could be preserved and God could incubate them to and become a nation!
As Gods children, He loves us all the same but He has a different purpose for each one of us. Don’t allow bitterness to take root in your life against a brother or sister because of jealousy and pride. Interestingly with all that Joseph went through at the hands of his brothers he never allowed bitterness to take root in his life.
Reflective Thoughts
Do you have any rivalries in your natural Family /Church family? How do you deal with it?
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Have you ever felt jealous towards your brother or sister because you felt they were more blessed than you? How did you deal with the feelings?
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Though they did not know it, Josephs dreams were actually for the benefit of his brothers and their generations. What does that make you think?
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