By Teman Knight
Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS: FAMILY JEALOUSY
Genesis 37:1–4, 18–24, 31–34
Family dynamics are always difficult even in the best of circumstances. Jacob’s family included 13 children from four different mothers. Jealousy and favoritism in such a large, blended family inevitably led to conflict.
Many of us have been hurt by someone close to us, but how we respond to that pain will impact the entire family. Dealing with hurt feelings with communication, mercy and forgiveness are vital to maintaining healthy family relationships.
Avoid any behavior that encourages jealousy or ill feelings from others. (1–4)
Jacob and his family are dwelling in the promised land. Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob and his wife Rachel, is now 17 years old. Rachel had been barren for many years but was blessed late in life with Joseph.
This led Jacob to adore Joseph and show him preferential treatment compared to his brothers. Jacob did not learn from the problems that arose because of his parents’ favoritism. Instead he falls into the same trap and causes animosity between Joseph and his brothers.
Three events intensify the resentment of Joseph’s brothers. First, Joseph tattles on his brothers’ bad behavior to his father. Second, Jacob gives Joseph an ornate robe made of varying colors of fine cloth, which was a clear indication of Jacob’s preferential treatment of Joseph. His brothers hated Joseph because he received his father’s undivided attention and affection. Finally, Joseph’s dreams and his interpretation of them indicating that Joseph would one day rule over his family fueled his brothers’ jealousy and hatred. This appears to be the last straw, leading his brothers to act on their animosity.
Animosity and jealousy can lead to betrayal. (18–24)
Joseph is sent again to check on his brothers while they are grazing the flocks. He finds them down around Dothan. They see him coming from far away, recognizing the special coat their father had made for him. The brothers conspire to kill him. Reuben talks them into just throwing him into an empty cistern. A cistern is a pit dug into the ground to catch water. Evidently Reuben, the oldest brother, planned to come back to rescue Joseph. The brothers capture Joseph, strip off his coat and throw him into the cistern.
Our actions can either benefit or cause great harm to others in the family. (31–34)
While Reuben is absent a group of Midianite traders, also known as Ishmaelites, travel through the area on their way to Egypt. Judah and the brothers decide to sell Joseph to them instead of killing him. They receive 20 pieces of silver, the normal rate for a slave. The Midianites in turn sell Joseph when they get to Egypt. Reuben returns and finds Joseph gone. The brothers decide to hide their sin by lying to their father.
They slaughter a goat and dip Joseph’s coat into the goat’s blood. In his younger years Jacob had slain a goat to deceive his father, and now his sons deceive him with the blood of a goat. Upon examining the coat Jacob determines that Joseph was killed in an animal attack, and he immediately goes into deep mourning. Animosity and deception cause grief not only for those involved in the conflict but for the whole family. The church family is not immune from these same issues. We must not allow immaturity and slights to fester into bitterness.
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