Read Genesis 37: 12 - 36 ... then come back!
In today's passage, we observe a truth that is played out over and over throughout history ... even played out in our own day ... sometimes in our own families. Jealousy and envy ... they lead us down a most horrific path. In fact, jealousy even leads us to do things that we would not even imagine in our right mind. They plant seeds of hatred ... and hatred leads to thoughts of murder ... often to the act of murder. Why do you think Jesus told us in Matthew 5 to deal with our anger before our anger deals with us? He knew where unaddressed anger goes ... and it is always ugly. We know why these brothers did what they did ... we find out in Acts 7:9 "Because the patriarchs (Joseph's brothers) were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt." So there is no mystery here. Jealousy did its dirty work.
Do you struggle with it in any arena of your own life? Do you find yourself envious of someone else ... either what they have or what they do? Before you can answer perhaps we need a definition to clarify the issue. According to the "Greek - English Lexicon of the New Testament", the Greek word used in Acts 7:9 means, "a state of ill will toward someone because of some real or presumed advantage experienced by such a person." I can see why Joseph's brothers were jealous. Now, what about me? You? Ill will toward someone ...
Remember, if you are a believer ... if you have been called by God to walk in His light ... if you are set apart unto God ... then you must deal with this thing. Spirit of God ... help us see ourselves ... help us eradicate this ugliness from our own lives and spirits.
Listen to some wisdom from scripture ...
Job 5:2 "Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple."
Proverbs 14:30 "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Proverbs 27:4 "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?"
Envy not only drove Joseph's brothers to feign his death and sell him as a slave, it led Jesus' brothers, the Jews, to plot His death. Even Pilate recognized that. Matthew 27:18 "For he (Pilate) knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him." This is ugly stuff indeed!
It is part of our flesh. It is part of our humanity. And it must be crucified! In writing to the early Christians, Paul said, "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Romans 13: 13-14)
He goes on to write to the Christians in Corinth about their immaturity and worldliness. To them (and us!) he writes: "You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you , are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3)
James, in his book, writes: "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."
We could go on ... but it becomes quickly evident that the child of God cannot harbor this characteristic of worldliness.
So today is for confession. Ask God to show you any envy that resides in your own heart. Do you harbor any ill will toward someone? Take that hurt ... that jealousy ... that feeling of being overlooked ... that sense of unfairness ... Take it to prayer.
The beginning of the road of jealousy may look relatively harmless. But, one thing I learn from Joseph's story in these verses today ... the end of the road is dark indeed!
So, my friends, let's get off the road! And by the power of God ... we can do it!
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