Joseph Elicits Jealousy

2This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate^a robe for him. 4When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

8His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

9Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. (Genesis 37)

Thoughts: Some would look at this and say that faith came from a dysfunctional family.  But Cain and Abel were dysfunctional.  Noah's sons were too.  Truth is, where is a functional family?  Every family is tainted with sin.  This doesn't mean families should not matter.  It just means we have to struggle against sin everywhere- even in our families! 
       In this passage, Joseph dreams of being in charge.  Even where his family bows down to him.  This seemed ludicrous, yet it was a dream of God.  In about 25 years it would literally become true.  The brothers would grow jealous and sell Joseph to slave traders headed toward Egypt.  There he would be put in prison but rise from prison to Pharaoh's right hand man. 
      What we might learn from this- is even if God gives you a dream, you might need to keep it to yourself.  Secondly, if you are in the place of the brothers- be more listening and kind with less jealousy.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to be less jealous, less proud, and more humble and loving in my family and with those around me.