Favoritism Breeds Insecurity – Genesis 37:1-11

When we display favouritism in the family then insecurity is sure to follow.

Why was Joseph the favourite? There is a root of this in the family tree. E.g. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. It caused jealousy in the family. Rachel had died and Joseph was a son she had given Jacob.
How did he demonstrate this favouritism? (vs. 3) This coat marked Joseph out as favourite and was a slap in the face to his brothers. Jacob provoked his children to wrath. When Joseph wore the coat the brothers hated him and could not even speak to him.
The result of Jacob’s favouritism (vs. 4). Jealousy and hatred are the most withering of emotions. Birds of a feather flock together. Watch out!

No one is perfect. How did Joseph handle this favouritism? There were weaknesses in his character at this time.

He told tales about his brothers (vs. 2b). He may have misrepresented his brothers. Even if it was true he was telling on his older brothers.
He wore the coat (vs. 3)
He told his dream (vs. 5) Joseph shares the dream with his brothers and father. His brothers hated him all the more. Can you imagine how they would have felt?
He told them his second dream (vs. 9). It fuelled their hatred of him. Who told Joseph to tell others about the dreams? Joseph is young and immature. Joseph was a diamond in the rough. There was work to be done in Joseph. Those things that are not of God will be chipped away until God perfects his work. Joseph will be the nearest illustration of Christ in the Old Testament.

There are no winners – The brothers have a reasonable cause to feel hard done by. They chose to become bitter, angry and resentful. Their response to attempt murder and then sell him into slavery was the wrong one. See Hebrews 3:12-13. The root of bitterness will kill you inside and you will impact on other people. How did Christ respond when he was mistreated? He did not get his own back! Don’t feed your bitterness. God wants to make us like the Lord Jesus. We are to follow his example.
The father’s heart – The brothers wrote Joseph off. There was a seed planted in the heart of Jacob. Is God speaking to you? Take your hands off what God is doing and let it happen. We try to make the providence of God go our way.

Categories: Genesis

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