JACOB SERIES: PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT CAUSES STRIFE

Whereas in the chapters of Genesis 27 to 35, Jacob was the main character, in chapters 37 to 50, he becomes secondary, and his son Joseph is the main character. I am going to continue sharing the story of Jacob and how it relates to Joseph. However, if you desire to read about the life of Joseph, I did a blog series on his life, and you can find it in the archives of theteaherspick.com starting on September 26, 2020.

Genesis 37 opens by stating that Jacob was residing in Mamre, in the valley of Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Jacob’s son Joseph was seventeen years old, and like the characteristics of a younger sibling, Joseph was a tattler who shared the misbehavior of his older brothers with their father. Besides this act of Joseph, which caused friction in the family, his brothers realized that their father loved Joseph more than them because of his birth order; therefore, his brothers were unable to have a congenial conversation with him. Additionally, Jacob made Joseph a coat that represented royalty, and the scriptures consequently revealed that his brothers hated him. This hatred was compounded after Joseph had two dreams he shared with his brothers, dreams that elevated him above them. Jacob, who had heard the second dream, gently rebuked Joseph while noting what he had dreamt.

Jacob’s ten older sons took his flock to graze approximately 50 miles to the land he had purchased in Shechem. Wanting to know how things were going with them, Jacob sent Joseph to find out and report back to him. When Joseph finally found them, they had left Shechem and journeyed on to Dothan. Due to their animosity toward Joseph, the brothers took this opportunity when Joseph was apart from their father to do him harm, and they sold him to Ishmaelite merchants for twenty pieces of silver.

The bothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s coat that they stripped off him in its blood. Then they sent the coat to Jacob and asked him, “This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.” Following the tradition of Oriental mourning, Jacob tore his garment, put on sackcloth, and grieved over his son’s death for a long period. As to be expected, though Jacob’s children tried, they were unable to console him, for he lamented, “For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning.”

Here is additional information and nuggets:

Sentimental attachments can cause you to be drawn to a person.

Gifting an individual that you love is a common occurrence.

The coat of many colors that Jacob gave to Joseph was a long garment with sleeves, which a prince usually wore, hence his brothers envied him.

Not learning from previous mistakes causes continual conflict.

Favoritism within families causes disunity, alienation, and division.

Some parents are oblivious to the fact that their actions within their family generate strife.

It is believed that, because of the slaughter of the men of Shechem by Simon and Levi, Jacob was concerned about the safety and well-being of his sons and flock; therefore, he sent Joseph to see about them and bring back a report to him.

Hatred will make you insensitive to others’ feelings.

Apparently, the spirit of deception operated generationally in Jacob’s family. Jacob deceived his father with his brother Esau’s garment, and his son deceived him with Joseph’s garment.