
Genesis 37:12-28
Verse 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
Now that Jacob and his family had settled in the land of Canaan, the covenant family settled in, raising their flocks. Sadly Jacob had well learned the bad trait of having a favorite son. Having known what it was like to shunned by his father because of his father’s love for Esau, we would have thought that he wouldn’t have done the same thing with his own sons. Adding to the situation is the fact of there being so many sons and knowing the jealousy going on between the 4 wives.
Not only did Jacob not learn the lesson, he took showing favoritism to a whole new level. This special coat wasn’t merely a gift nicer than the brothers had gotten from their father, it was a symbol of the father choosing Joseph over the other brothers and not just in the way he loved him, but Jacob was more or less declaring he was choosing Joseph to take over as the head of the family at Jacob’s death.
The robe accompanied by the dreams Joseph had dreamt about ruling the family, had his brothers hating him more than ever. They thought he was trying to take over the family and worse yet was trying to say God had given him dreams to prove it. It didn’t help that they had to go work with the animals in the fields and he didn’t, even though he was 17 years old.
When the brothers saw Joseph coming they decided they want to kill him so they won’t have to deal with him anymore and so there would be a better chance of them gaining some kind of inheritance. The oldest of the men, Reuben, thought if he could convince them not to kill the younger man he could sneak back, rescue Joseph and gain great favor from his father by bringing him home alive.
All this distaste for the younger brother led them to do something which seems so hateful and yet it was all part of God’s bigger picture in caring for His people. For God to save His people from the famine which would be coming in the future, He had to get Joseph to and established in Egypt. God knew there would be many steps in the meantime and it was necessary to get the ball rolling, even if it meant evil thoughts and actions from his brothers.
Making It Personal
When have you had evil thoughts against a sibling? Did you act upon those thoughts? Who do you need to apologize to?
Making It Personal Kids
Are you ever mean to your brothers and sisters? What does Jesus think about how you treat them? How do you need to change your actions to show your love for Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for working behind the scenes in all the details of our lives. Give us obedient hearts and love for those You have given us to do life with. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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