(Genesis 37:1-36) Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.
5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “I will go.” 14 Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 Then the man said, “They have moved from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! 20 Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!” 21 But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father. 23 So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh, on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” 31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; 32 and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33 Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34 So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.
Joseph being a "snitch", boastful AND the favorite son of the favorite wife, of course his brothers were jealous and hated him. It's like a recipe for disaster! Now, Rueben already knew he was in trouble for sleeping with his father's concubine, but what would happen if his father thought he was responsible for Joseph's death?! Little did they know that they were only "helping" to bring about God's prophecy. God already knows the evil which will be committed, and can therefore use it to bring about good. God will also allow consequences and will bring about justice.
As the focus for the devotion is on relationships, the lessons found in this passage are quite simple. Having more than one wife is not only wrong, but it makes things extra messy. And let's not forget about the complications that can arise from having children with "exes". Once done though, a person has to make all these relationships "work" for the sake of the children, as well as for your own peace of mind. And no matter how many children from how many partners one has, a parent is never doing a child any favors by favoring one over another!
As for children who find themselves in unjust and unfair circumstances, in God's strength and guidance one can still choose to rise above. Whatever our family situation is, we are not to be either arrogant or jealous, but we are to be humble, and love others and treat them as we would like to be treated. If there is any danger or potential danger, if the parents are not addressing it or if the parents are the issue... a child needs to report it. It can literally be a life-or-death scenario and not to be taken lightly! And if a parent already knows that a child is hated by the others, do not send them into potentially dangerous or volatile situations!
Regarding "snitches" - while I grew up in a generation where it was frowned upon to be a "tattle-tale" - we are told to reveal injustice and stand up for righteousness. Although there will be a right way and a wrong way of doing this, parents need to know if there are any issues. From everything we have read about Jacob, although he did step up from time to time, he did seem to let things slide. A parent should not choose to be oblivious to a child's bad behavior. It rarely works itself out. In fact, the older the children gets, the bigger the issues get. The sooner a parent can understand and deal with problems, with wisdom and discretion, the better. We have to know that where there is one sin with attempts to cover it up, there will be another, and another. One sin cannot be "fixed" with other sins.
Whether infractions are big or (still) "small", here are a few things the Bible says on the matter:
As the focus for the devotion is on relationships, the lessons found in this passage are quite simple. Having more than one wife is not only wrong, but it makes things extra messy. And let's not forget about the complications that can arise from having children with "exes". Once done though, a person has to make all these relationships "work" for the sake of the children, as well as for your own peace of mind. And no matter how many children from how many partners one has, a parent is never doing a child any favors by favoring one over another!
As for children who find themselves in unjust and unfair circumstances, in God's strength and guidance one can still choose to rise above. Whatever our family situation is, we are not to be either arrogant or jealous, but we are to be humble, and love others and treat them as we would like to be treated. If there is any danger or potential danger, if the parents are not addressing it or if the parents are the issue... a child needs to report it. It can literally be a life-or-death scenario and not to be taken lightly! And if a parent already knows that a child is hated by the others, do not send them into potentially dangerous or volatile situations!
Regarding "snitches" - while I grew up in a generation where it was frowned upon to be a "tattle-tale" - we are told to reveal injustice and stand up for righteousness. Although there will be a right way and a wrong way of doing this, parents need to know if there are any issues. From everything we have read about Jacob, although he did step up from time to time, he did seem to let things slide. A parent should not choose to be oblivious to a child's bad behavior. It rarely works itself out. In fact, the older the children gets, the bigger the issues get. The sooner a parent can understand and deal with problems, with wisdom and discretion, the better. We have to know that where there is one sin with attempts to cover it up, there will be another, and another. One sin cannot be "fixed" with other sins.
Whether infractions are big or (still) "small", here are a few things the Bible says on the matter:
(James 4:4) You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(Proverbs 17:15) One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
(Proverbs 17:15) One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
(Psalm 97:10) Hate evil, you who love the Lord, Who watches over the souls of His godly ones; He saves them from the hand of the wicked.
(Psalm 37:1-2) Do not get upset because of evildoers, do not be envious of wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass, and decay like the green plants.
(1 Timothy 2:1) First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people
(Matthew 5:43-44) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
(1 Chronicles 16:11) Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.
(Ephesians 4:15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,
(Romans 12:9) Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
(Ephesians 5:11-12) Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
(Amos 5:15a) Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate!...
(Amos 5:15a) Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate!...
(Proverbs 28:4) Those who abandon the Law praise the wicked, but those who keep the Law strive against them.
(Isaiah 1:17) Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, obtain justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.
(Galatians 6:1) Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
(James 5:20) let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
(Galatians 6:1) Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
(James 5:20) let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
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