Genesis 37: 3, 4: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”
A problem always arises when there is favouritism, real or perceived. This was the beginning of a long difficult period for Joseph, even though he didn’t know it at the time. he was given a special coat, on that meant he couldn’t work out in the fields with the other brothers. As a result of this his brothers hated him. We assume that this didn’t include his full brother Benjamin because he was probably too young to be involved at that stage. His brothers were so angry that they couldn’t even have a decent conversation with Joseph. Sometimes we allow our circumstances to make us so angry that we lose the ability to communicate with anyone at all. This is what happens when people go on a shooting or a bombing spree. They are filled with frustration and anger and feel that they can’t do anything about their situation. When this happens they are overtaken by an irrational urge and end up doing something that shocks everyone who knows them. It is better to turn your mind to prayer for God can make a difference. In Prov 21: 1 (“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”) We learn that the Lord is in control of everything and He can make the impossible happen. He is always working for our good in everything that happens if we love God and have been called according to His purpose (Rom 8: 28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”)
(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
No comments:
Post a Comment