Genesis 24 (which, by the way, is the longest chapter in Genesis!) tells of Abraham sending his trusted servant back to his family to find a suitable bride for his son, Isaac. A woman from Canaan would not do. It is a beautiful love story. The servant finds Rebekah, the daughter of one of Abraham's brothers ... and she agrees to travel with him and become Isaac's wife. She and Isaac have two sons, Jacob and Esau. It is through Jacob that the promised Messiah will come. Jacob marries 2 women, Leah and Rachel. Rachel he wanted ... Leah he got! In a race for babies, each of his wives "give" him their handmaids to father more children. So there are 4 women, 12 sons and 1 daughter. It makes interesting reading - especially if you think that families are messed up only in our day and time! (Genesis 29 - 30) Jacob has 12 sons ... and Joseph is one of those boys. He is not the oldest ... not even close. His mother is Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife. Nor is Joseph the one through whom Messiah will come. But he provides many examples for us to follow ... so we have much to learn ... and much to apply as we examine this man's life.
We will pick up the story when Joseph is 17 years old. Read Genesis 37: 1 - 11.
We do not need to do too much "imagining" to understand the family dynamics at play. Jacob was an older dad. Joseph was his 11th son ... BUT the first born of his best loved wife, Rachel. Verse 2 tells us that Joseph "reported" on his brothers to Jacob. We don't know what that report entailed. Was it something that needed to be told? Sometimes that is the case. There are circumstances that desperately need to be reported. When a friend or someone you love is trapped in a sin, it needs to be told. Help needs to be sought. When someone is heading down the death road of alcohol and drug abuse, it needs to be told. When you know of someone in danger, it needs to be told. When abuse is happening, it needs to be told. But ... there are things that need not be told! Was this something that fit the category of "telling on" his brothers? Did it just reek of "tattle-tale" stuff? We don't know what the bad report was ... I can't help but wonder if it was the second type because of the fuel that it seemed to add to the jealousy and resentment of the brothers toward Joseph.
And I wonder ... do you have siblings? Do you remember how it felt to be "told on"? If you do ... you are able to step right into the emotions of this story!
The next thing we learn is that Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children ... and they all well knew it. It was no secret. The favoritism was flagrant. So we are not surprised to learn that his brothers could not stand him! And to add insult to injury, Jacob made a special cloak for Joseph. Most commentators describe this cloak as one that would represent authority. Another opinion is that it was a full garment - not the short version that was common - not the sleeveless style that was common - but one of nobility - one that was worn by the more elite who did not have to work. Whichever it was ... it was special. The other sons did not have one. Imagine how that settled with the older brothers. Jacob has set the stage for hatred, for jealousy, for resentment. And how often it happens in family!
Parents ... are we careful about valuing each of our children? Do we pray about ... and reflect upon ... ways to communicate unique value and worth to each child that God places in our families? The larger your family - the harder the task!
You read about Joseph's dreams. And they are amazing. Was Joseph wise to tell them to his brothers - or were these dreams messages from God for Joseph's ears only? Again, we can't be sure. But my sense is that Joseph was unwise to share the message. Well, he is 17 - and while that age was considerably more grown up in his day and time than it is in ours - I still think about his being only 17. And I wonder if Joseph's favored position has bred a sense of self-importance in him. Perhaps it was his way of explaining to his brothers why he really was better than them - why he deserved his special treatment. After all, even his father and mother are pictured bowing down to him.
This lack of wisdom reminds me of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:6. He said:
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.We learn in Ecclesiastes 3: 7 "There is a time to speak and a time to be silent."
Jesus, Himself, did not answer Herod when interrogated by him. He chose silence. (Luke 23:9)
And so ... we must ask ourselves ... am I too quick to speak? Do I spend any time in prayer over what to speak about and what to keep between myself and God? You can tell your Lord all things. Talk everything over with Him. And, I believe, His Spirit will give you discernment about when to speak and when to be silent with others.
In this instance ... Joseph should have been silent. But he was not ... the arrogance of youth and entitlement and favored position spoke out ...
Lord, may we know when to speak and when to be still. May we know what to address and what to leave alone. Hold my tongue, Lord, when it needs to be held. And loose my tongue, Lord, when it needs to speak the things of You. For wisdom ... we pray ...
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