Genesis 42:21-22
Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble. “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”
Matthew 13:57
And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”
Often the hardest place to prosper is among folk with whom we have grown up - especially our own brothers and sisters.
We have to be on our guard against subtle forms of jealousy that can creep in unawares, because there will always be things that our siblings can do better than we can.
Imagine growing up with Jesus as your brother.
He never did or say anything wrong. Perhaps Jesus' brothers and sisters secretly envied him and thought of Him as a "goodie-goodie"?
There are a few clues about this in the Gospels.
Certainly Joseph's brothers were jealous of him - enough to plan to kill him!
How could that be? They were his own flesh and blood.
It started with just a few small seeds of envy.
Forgive me for superimposing my own view of what may have gone through their minds....
They knew that their dad made a favourite of him - "that's not fair", they thought.
He got the special many coloured coat - "why didn't we get one?", they asked among themselves.
That piled on more jealousy.
He had dreams of them bowing down to him - "who does he think he is?", "he's just one of us, isn't he?"
Each instance threw more fuel on the fire of their resentment until it was a roaring furnace of destruction burning in their hearts.
We have to watch out for the seeds of envy in our own hearts and be prepared to let those closest to us succeed and be glad.
What helps is to realise that God gifts each of us with talents - so let one another thrive.
Concentrate on using your own unique gifts to the max.
If we plan evil against our family it will return to haunt us, as we see with Joseph's brothers.
Yet Joseph sets a brilliant example for us in forgiveness and provision for the brothers that had done him so much harm.
His saving grace was in focusing on God and not on what the brothers had done to him.
Genesis 50:20-21
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
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