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Monday August 25 - Favouritism’s sorry story
Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been
born to him in his old age; he made an ornate robe for him. Genesis 37:3
Jacob loved Joseph, his long-awaited son born to Rachel, with a preferential love. Jacob’s favouritism also extended to Rachel at the expense of his first wife, Leah. This weakness caused much angst in the family. Jacob’s gift of a hand-made, ornate robe didn’t help matters; a statement robe declaring Joseph to be special, set apart in his father’s eyes. Imagine labouring in the fields knowing that your working-age, younger brother rested at home sporting his ‘designer label’ coat! What’s more, Joseph had grassed on his brothers’ bad behaviour (v 2), so it’s no surprise that ‘they hated Joseph and could not speak a kind word to him’ (v 4).
The unfolding story is predicated on this root of resentment, planted by Jacob’s favouritism and watered by Joseph’s insensitivity. There are people we find it easier to get on with; personality types, common interests, backgrounds etc. all contribute, but they do not give us the right to be preferential. Favouritism is alien to the character of God. Paul instructs masters to treat slaves well because ‘there is no favouritism with God’ (Ephesians 6:9), and again to Timothy, ‘do nothing out of favouritism’ (1 Timothy 5:21).
Finally, let’s consider another robe – the robe the prodigal’s father threw around his repentant son (Luke 15:22), foretelling the Heavenly Father’s love for all his children, each of whom he clothes in his ‘robe of righteousness’ (Isaiah 61:10). How wonderful!
Lord God, show me areas of bias in my life so that I may love as you love, without discrimination. Amen.
Tuesday August 26 - Youth’s tactless story
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him
all the more. Genesis 37:5
Joseph was a young man, just 17 years old and seemingly living a favoured life. He certainly was not ‘flavour of the day’ in the eyes of his half-brothers, but things were about to get much worse. Joseph had a prophetic dream – in it his brothers’ harvested sheaves bowed down in homage to his sheaf. What should he do? Wise counsel would say “Hold it in your heart or speak to a trusted person to ‘test it’.” But alas, Joseph impetuously shared it with his brothers, who already had serious issues with him.
The outcome was predictable: ‘they hated him all the more.’ Whether it was simply Joseph’s immaturity, or his reaction to the disdain they had for him, we do not know; nevertheless his response was tactless. Impetuously, he shared a second dream, in which implicitly his brothers and also his parents bowed before him. This further inflamed the undercurrent of jealousy that already existed toward Joseph.
At Christ’s birth, while others excitedly shared the news, Mary chose to ponder and treasure things in her heart (Luke 2:19). Similarly, when Paul had a revelation of ‘the third heaven’ (2 Corinthians 12:2), he kept it to himself. Despite being offended, Joseph’s father Jacob ‘kept the matter in his mind’ (Genesis 37:11). Not so long ago, our dear friend Pastor Symplice sat at our breakfast table and said, “Silence is powerful.” Now that’s wisdom!
Father, help me to know when I should keep my own counsel, and when and how I should speak to others. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY