Sibling Rivalry Genesis 37

 Genesis 37 – Sibling Rivalry

 

“Whatsoever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report;..think on these things.” Phil. 4:8. This is the life of Joseph. After Jacob lost his favorite wife, Rachel and his father, Isaac, him and his 12 sons landed in the land of Canaan. Joseph was the 11^th. child of Jacob and the oldest son of Rachel. He was 17 years old.  Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, and he made him a coat of many colors.  No family is exempt from problems.  Perhaps the most common family problem is sibling rivalry, sometimes increased by parental favoritism. Jacob should have known better because of the trouble it caused when his own mother favored him over Esau.  Joseph’s brothers despised his status. When he revealed his dreams to his half-brothers, they became angry at him. They understood that Joseph was telling them about themselves, the sons of Israel. Old Jacob understood it exactly.  His brothers just dismissed it, paid no attention to it.  They thought it was not even in the realm of possibility.  They knew that not one of them would ever bow down to Joseph!  But Jacob observed it. Tragically, their jealousy resulted in Joseph being sold as a slave, and Jacob being told that his son is dead. Can you imagine how Reuben, the oldest son felt when his younger brother came up missing.  He did not know Joseph was sold.  He thought “how could I go back to my dad”, when he felt it was his responsibility to care for his brother’s. Then his brother’s dipped Joseph’s coat in animals’ blood and took it to their dad.  Reuben’s heart was in the right place but Judah meant to be rid of his little brother, so they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt.  When they took the coat to Joseph, they act as if they had never seen Joseph.  They pretend they just found his coat. Jacob broke down believing that Joseph was mauled by a wild beast, and his brothers showed no remorse nor told him the truth.  It is certain his brothers would rather see their dad mourn than to have their brother back. Remember how Jacob took the skin of a goat and put it on his hands and arms to deceive his father.  Now the brothers are using the blood of a goat to deceive their father, Jacob is deceived in the same way. Jacob mourned so hard that he said he will mourn until his death.  No amount of comfort eased his pain.  It is hard to believe that all eleven brothers stuck to their story over the years.  How could they sleep at night, not knowing where Joseph ended up, or if he was dead or alive?  That should have bothered them to no end.  It appears all of them was happy to see him gone and had no worries where Joseph was concerned. All of this could have been avoided if truth were told within the family