It´s Thursday (24)

'Now Jacob loved Joseph more than all his sons,....' Genesis 37:3 One would think that Jacob would have learnt something about the trouble and dissension caused to a family where parents favour one of their children more than another, for he had experienced it first hand, (Genesis 25:28). It was clearly evident to his other sons that Jacob loved Joseph more than they. The result was that they hated Joseph and couldn't speak a kind word to him,(v4).

Although Joseph never asked to be his father's favourite he suffered his brother's anger because of it. Sometimes we can suffer the resentment of others through no fault of our own. Sometimes we might not be able to think of a conceivable reason why someone should treat us with the disdain with which they do. Any attempt on our part to placate the person is met with rejection or contempt and no explanation for their attitude. We might well say 'Amen' to Christ's words, 'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you,' (Luke 6:27). But it's a very different thing to live it when you live in an environment where you are hated, cursed and ill-treated.

Having said all that, Joseph didn't help himself. Firstly, when he got back from tending his father's flocks with his brothers, he told tales on them, (v 2) and secondly he told his brothers about the dreams he had where his brothers bowed down to him. What he dreamed as a young teenager would one day prove to be prophetic, but there are times when God would have us keep to ourselves our observations and his very personal revelations, lest they be misunderstood by those we might be inclined to share them with. In Luke 2, vs 19 we are told how Mary, the mother of Jesus, treasured what she observed and heard and pondered them in her heart. Sadly, immature Joseph seems to have been incapable of keeping what he had experienced to himself, and his brothers hated him all