Genesis 37 | The Fire of Jealousy

It's deadly. When jealousy enters a human heart, it will always burn and destroy not only the jealous man but those around him. Nowhere is this seen more than in the lives of Joseph's brothers.

A PARTIAL DAD

Israel bore some of the responsibility for what happened. He "loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age." It was so apparent that "his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers."

Of all places, the home should be a place where there is no prejudice, where no one is preferred over another. This uneven love will pierce the soul of a child, as it did Israel's sons.

ANGRY BROTHERS

Joseph had a dream from God. Instead of being able to rejoice with him, their latent jealousy responded in further hatred. Notice the progressive jealousy and anger in the brothers in Genesis 37.

So they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. (verse 4)

So they hated him even more. (verse 5)

So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. (verse 8)

His brothers were jealous of him. (verse 11)

Jealousy not only makes us want what others have, but it also makes us want them NOT to have what they have. Joseph had the father's special love and also was receiving messages from God Himself. No matter what Joseph received from any source, it did nothing but infuriate the brothers.

JEALOUSY FINDS REVENGE

Jealousy is never static nor passive. It vents. You cannot hide how you feel forever. The brothers began to gossip and talk to each other. Then they made a plot. They did what jealousy always does: it tries to get rid of the object of their envy. It destroys.

The brothers sought to tear Joseph down. And they did. But God had another plan that was sovereign over the strategies of man. True to His visions to young Joseph, God raised him over his brothers to be a great deliverer in a time of great famine. In time, everything God had prophesied to Joseph came true.

The greatest losers in this whole story? The brothers. Think of what this jealous act did to their souls? Years later, when facing Joseph in Egypt, it is quickly evident that they carried their guilt and remorse for years, never finding relief.

But the fact is, everybody lost. They lost their relationship with God and their brother, Joseph; the father lost his son; and the son, Joseph, lost years of his life but was ultimately on a path that only God knew. God will reward us for our faith and surrender, and He will ultimately judge the judgers. In the end, the winner was Joseph as he walked with God and did not sin in his heart, even in the midst of his brother's attacks.

IS THERE ANY JEALOUSY IN ME?

This story is not meant to entertain us but to change our lives. Is there anyone that is the object of your envy? Or your anger? Or your gossip and slander? Be careful. Jealousy will not rest until it finds expression... and it's never good.

Father, thank You for the gifts You give to us. You put down one and exalt another for Your sovereign purposes. Help us not to compare. Deliver us from envy and jealousy.