Jealousy Brews Hatred

Joseph’s Dream, Genesis 37

As you shall see in the story of Joseph, jealousy brews hatred, evil schemes, and lies. The story of Joseph begins with his dream of reigning over his family. After telling his brothers and father about his dream where they would bow down to him, the brothers became jealous but the father kept what he said, in his mind. The brothers were jealous of Joseph because the father paid more attention to him. And when the brothers saw how much the father loved him, they hated Joseph. Perhaps the brothers did not know the reason that the father loved Joseph more. The father loved Joseph because he was born to him at an old age. Moreover, the brothers’ anger and jealousy caused them to hate Joseph. One day as Joseph was approaching them, they made the sarcastic remark “Oh look, here comes that dream expert!” And plotted to kill him. However, Reuben the first born convinced them not to shed blood or take Joseph’s life but instead, throw him into a pit. In agreement the brothers stripped him of his robe of many colors and threw him into the waterless pit. As the brothers sat to eat their meal, a caravan of traders from Gilead caught their eyes. Judah expressed that selling Joseph would be more profitable than taking Joseph’s life. So they sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites who then, took Joseph to Egypt. Once Reuben was informed by his brothers of the events that took place, in his fear of what to say to his father, agreed to tell the lie that Joseph was killed by a male goat. Proverbs 27:4 reads  “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?  

Through all Joseph’s troubles, God was with Joseph for He had a plan and purpose for his life. Romans 8:28 reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” As one further reads the story of Joseph, his dream did come true. For God was with him and had sent him to establish his family as a remnant within the land and keep them alive by a great deliverance, in addition to settling them in the land of Goshen where they were to be sustained (Genesis 45:7-11).

Reflection: Your family may have jealousy that brews hate, not knowing that the plan and purpose for your life may turn out to be for the good in their lives and the lives of many others in the land of milk and honey.