Favoritism, Jealousy, And Hatred Within The Family

Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. -Genesis 37:3‭-‬4

A lot of jealousy starts within the family. In the case of Joseph, he was favored amongst all the other children by his father and his brothers resented him for that. 

To top it off, when Joseph began to have prophetic dreams which foreshadowed a position of authority and rulership then shared these visions, his brothers were even more offended, envious and filled with a seething rage that eventually came to the surface. 

Some people have interpreted Joseph’s admission of his dreams to have been made and accepted by him within an arrogant manner. However, in my read through scripture I never perceived the incident that way. It did not appear to be one done under any haughty, boastful, or hubristic tone to me. 

I just had a viewpoint of Joseph revealing what he dreamt and his impart being taken out of context or being looked at through his brother’s own distorted conception or erroneous outlook. 

I know I have said and shared things with people in my life meaning no harm, no prideful intent, no bragging of accomplishment, just a mention or exchange of instance and ideas. People have a tendency to interpret and draw out their own conclusions no matter how wrong or misguided they may be when interacting and trying to size up others. 

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant. -Genesis 37:9‭-‬11

With some individuals, they reflect onto others the traits in which they project themselves. Often innocent people get accused and penalized for things they were never at fault or guilty of. Simply criticized and judged over opinions, lack of wisdom/understanding, and subject to mere spite. 

Yes, preferential treatment at the expense of another child or other children by their parents is not proper, yet the situation exists within many family settings for many different reasons. Whether or not the circumstances are justified or unwarranted there is a way certain familial relation should be displayed and handled according to ethical behavior. 

Siblings as well as other members of the family may get bitter and discontent over another relative’s advantage or fortunate condition.  

When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. -Genesis 37:18‭-‬19

All of these things happen and take place in the lives of many. We live in a fallen and broken world and everyone does not want to be fixed, made whole, or even realize they need repair. 

The only thing we can do is to pray and stay close to God, putting everything into his capable and expert hands. He alone holds the key to locks that only he can open up to set people free. 

“Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. -Genesis 37:20‭-‬22

 

 

 

God’s Healing Touch

O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! Jeremiah 17:14

In 1984, my grandmother had a stroke. She remained in coma for three months and some presumed that she would eventually die.

A few associates of my mother’s told her to take me up to the hospital to see my grandmother, that maybe my presence could wake her up somehow, I guess.

One day my mother did take me to the hospital to visit my grandmother and I touched her hand and held it, and my grandmother awakened after three months of being in a comatose state.

Now I know that I myself didn’t have any power to actually bring my grandmother back to consciousness, but I know that God did because he wasn’t ready for my grandmother to have left the earth yet.

But I believe he may have intervened through my touch as he divinely works through who he chooses.

I was a child back then so maybe God had his reasons I don’t know and cannot say for sure why the incident transpired the way it did. I thought it was a beautiful moment, though.

It may have been a little faith on my part too for the Lord to wake my grandma up, it was so long ago I do not remember if I prayed for her or not but I do think I remember anticipating and believing she could wake up because others were encouraging my visit to her.

My grandmother recovered quite well and made very good improvements a while afterwards when she returned home.

I recall some women came to my grandmother to pray over her and to aid her in accepting Jesus as her Lord and savior.

She wasn’t one hundred percent capacitated as one side of her body was permanently paralyzed.

However, she was in her right mind, she was able to cook for herself, dress herself, wheel herself around the house, and she was able to verbally communicate with us (her family and others).

She just had a slight memory impairment as she knew what she wanted to say yet couldn’t get out some of her words but we articulated what she wanted to convey.

My grandmother lived another twenty years after the onset of her stroke, she probably would have lived longer if she hadn’t later on developed lung cancer from continuing to smoke.

Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. -Luke 6:19